In the modern world, a considerable number of people need assistance in overcoming depression. As a rule, when faced with such a problem, most representatives of the Russian population prefer to go to the pharmacy and purchase a package of antidepressants for themselves. How to choose them and what should you pay attention to?
General Information About Antidepressants
What are antidepressants? First of all, these are medications that help a person in the fight against his depressive state. However, besides this, there is some other purpose. They also help to combat various manifestations of longing, fears, and also relieve stress (especially emotional). In reviews of antidepressants, it is often said that with the help of this kind of drugs, people perfectly brought their appetite and sleep to a normal state. It has long been no secret that most heavy smokers, after deciding to quit addiction, resort to the help of antidepressants - according to them, this can solve the problem of neurosis and excessive stress.
In the modern world there is a huge number of drugs of this kind, and their number is growing every day. In order to understand them and choose the most effective remedy for yourself, you need to have certain knowledge and practical skills in the field of medicine and psychiatry. That is why, in order to choose a method of medical treatment, it is best to contact a doctor who is a proven specialist in this field.
So, we will consider what types of drugs are the most common, in which cases they should be used. In addition, we also consider what reviews about antidepressants leave fans of this type of drug.
How do antidepressants affect the body
Specialists in the field of medicine in various sources talk about the basic principles of the action of drugs assigned to the group of antidepressants. Carrying out various consultations, they say that the main effect of the components is their effect on the neurotransmitter systems of the human brain.
What are neurotransmitters? This is a kind of system in the body, which is responsible for the transmission of information and various signals between cells. Among the well-known substances of this group, mental health experts distinguish dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. As the studies of scientists once showed, it is the lack of these components that leads to depression and disorders, as well as melancholy. By their action, antidepressants support the production of the listed substances in the norm, due to which the mood of a person is stabilized.
The doctors' comments about antidepressants say that at present, medicine has not come up with a single drug with the properties of an antidepressant that would immediately give the expected effect. In other words, nothing will happen suddenly after taking one pill. That is why all antidepressants are designed to be taken within a certain course, the duration of which should be determined by the doctor.
Side effects
Like almost all medications, antidepressants have certain side effects that can occur as a result of improper selection of the drug. In the worst case, they can occur in the form of disorders associated with cardiac conduction, orthostatic hypotension, as well as anticholinergic action.
In addition, minor, temporary unpleasant symptoms can be observed, having noticed that after taking the drug, you should immediately contact the doctor who prescribed the tablets for the next consultation. Among the side effects, the most common include diarrhea, headaches, mania, anxiety, minor or significant violations of sexual function, constipation, loss of appetite. In addition, excessive drowsiness or, conversely, insomnia can often occur.
In patients' reviews of antidepressants, it is sometimes mentioned that after the start of taking the wrong components, a rash and swelling began to appear on their skin. Often they are accompanied by the occurrence of allergic reactions.
Drugs of this type, as a rule, are completely contraindicated for those patients who have problems associated with the work of the heart, liver and kidneys, and in some cases, the stomach.
Types of Antidepressants
In the modern pharmacological market, you can find a considerable amount of antidepressants. Reviews about each of their groups are peculiar, depending on the spectrum of their impact.
Doctors divide all drugs of this group into three large categories, depending on what they were made on the basis of: tricyclic, herbal and classic. Each of these types is divided into subgroups, depending on what mechanism of action they exhibit in the body: monoamine oxidase inhibitors, as well as selective and non-selective. Consider each group individually with the names of antidepressants (without prescriptions) and reviews about them.
Classical Antidepressant Group
Classical antidepressants are a new generation of drugs that have the best effect in dealing with problems associated with the psyche and mood. Among the most popular among them are:
- Afobazole
- Citalopram
- Mianserin
- Tianeptin
- Venlafaxine
- "Paroxetine."
The antidepressant "Fluoxetine" is also recognized as popular - its reviews say that this tool helps to feel improvement after the first few applications, and doctors say that after a week's intake of the components that make up it, the patient has a significant stabilization of mood.
Practice shows that drugs of this group exhibit fewer side effects than the rest (with the exception of herbal). This is what makes them especially popular among people who want to bring their emotional state back to normal. The funds assigned to this group are often offered to customers of pharmacies who wish to purchase medicine without a doctor’s prescription.
The reviews about the new generation antidepressants also talk about the fact that they do not have a toxic effect on the functioning of the heart and other organs of the cardiovascular system. Doctors say that these drugs are great for outpatient treatment.
Tricyclic antidepressants
Medications of this group are divided into selective and non-selective, depending on the mechanism of their action and the method of capture of neurotransmitters.
The number of drugs in these groups includes a huge number of items:
- Imipramine
- "Prolitilin",
- "Ftoracizin", "
- Amitriptyline "
- Elavil
- "Anafranil."
And also Tofranil, which is in great demand in pharmacies, can be attributed to the list of popular ones. All these medicines can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription, but this does not mean that they are all completely safe for the human body. The reviews about taking antidepressants of this kind often say that patients begin to experience special symptoms in the form of nausea, diarrhea, headaches, etc. That is why the doctor must prescribe the drugs of the tricyclic group and only after the examination is carried out and received test results. So, for example, in reviews of the antidepressant Amitriptyline, it is often said that if you start taking the drug on your own in an adult and, it would seem, a completely healthy person, heart and breathing problems begin.
So, let us consider in more detail the selective and non-selective subgroups of tricyclic antidepressants. All of them have neurotransmitter reuptake action , however, what are the differences between them?
Selective
In reviews of this type of antidepressant, experts often explain the peculiarity of their effect on neurotransmitters. The peculiarity of their functioning within the human body was laid in the name. In this regard, we can draw the correct conclusion that selective antidepressants excrete certain components in the body: serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, acting on each element individually, selectively. In order to determine which component should be stimulated, you must definitely consult a doctor for advice.
Reviews of the treatment with antidepressants of this type often say that they are rather inconvenient to use in practice, since in the process of their use it is impossible to take drugs of many other types, in particular, painkillers or colds. In addition, doctors recommend to their patients who are prescribed the funds of this group to refrain from eating legumes, salted fish, smoked products, as well as cheese and bananas. In addition to the above, there are a number of products that are forbidden to eat in this period. If you do not adhere to the recommendations, the patient runs the risk of exposing his cardiovascular system to all kinds of problems, including heart attack, stroke, or a sharp increase in blood pressure.
Among the selective antidepressants, doctors and their patients pay special attention to Selectra. In reviews of the antidepressant "Selectra" it is often noted that it has the most sparing effect on the cardiovascular system of the body, as well as on other organ structures. In addition, the elements that make up its composition, when ingested, give an excellent result.
Of the popular medicines of this group, Moclobemide, Pirlindole, as well as Befol are often distinguished.
If we consider drugs of a selective type, depending on which groups of neurotransmitters they act, then if necessary, increase the production of dopamine hormone should be asked at the pharmacy "Bupropion" or "Zyban", norepinephrine - "Venlafaxine", "Ixel", "Symbalta" and in case of insufficient production of serotonin, Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Clomipramine or Paxil should be purchased. In reviews of the antidepressant Paxil, one can often find patient comments that the components included in its structure, albeit not quickly, but quite effectively, restore mood and support it, activating the production of the necessary “hormones of happiness”.
Non-selective
A group of non-selective antidepressants, entering the human body, also directs its action to the reuptake of neurotransmitters, however, in this case, all neurons fall under the influence, without exception. In practice, the use of medicines of this group is not often done, due to the presence of a huge number of side effects resulting from their effects on the body. Among them, heart rhythm disturbances, insomnia or, conversely, excessive drowsiness, diarrhea, breathing problems, headaches, and many others are often found. However, despite this, there is a certain number of adherents of the method for treating poor mood with just such a group of drugs. In many positive reviews in the list of non-selective antidepressants, medications such as Iproniazide, Nialamide, as well as Isocarboxazide or Marplan are noted. All of them have approximately the same composition and vary mainly depending on the manufacturer and price.
In reviews of the new generation of antidepressants, it is often noted that they significantly exceed the funds assigned to the group of non-selective tricyclic medicines.
Herbal antidepressants
Even in antiquity, mood problems were often solved with the help of special herbs that grew in a certain latitude of Russia. Among the number of plants that are able to bring the balance of "hormones of happiness" back to normal, St. John's wort, mint, valerian, black moth, and hawthorn are especially famous.
Modern manufacturers of drugs, knowing about the features of these plants, took this into account in the development and came up with excellent drugs that can be purchased in pharmacies without a prescription. In reviews of the best antidepressants of this type, it is often said that they significantly help to fight a bad mood, and some of them almost instantly.
Among the best preparations based on herbs and other plant components, Novo-Passit, Leuzea extract, and natural tinctures (hawthorn, valerian, ginseng, lemongrass, etc.) are especially distinguished. In the recommendations of doctors, it is often said that these drugs are practically harmless and sometimes patients can independently choose the desired drug for themselves to treat and bring their mood back to normal. However, at the same time, they warn against drug overdoses - they can lead to the manifestation of side effects, which sometimes may not be so harmless.
How to take antidepressants
It often happens that having decided on the name of an antidepressant (without a prescription) according to reviews left on social networks or on various sites, customers, having discovered depressive symptoms, seek a pharmacy to purchase a medicine. How to take it without a doctor's advice?
First of all, it should be understood that the treatment process should be divided into two stages. One of them is the main one. It means taking the drug exclusively at a time when the main signs are observed that indicate the need for taking tablets or tinctures: neurosis, bad mood, autonomic dysfunction, etc. The second stage should occur when all the symptoms described are eliminated by the selected drug . In practice, the second stage should be less long than the course of treatment itself and it is necessary to take the drug in a smaller volume. At this stage, you should properly wean your body from the medication. All experts in the field of neurology and psychiatry do not recommend doing this sharply, as this will adversely affect the further functioning of the nervous system.
For how long is it recommended to take the drug? Practice shows that each case is individual. However, on average, the duration of a course prescribed by a doctor is from 2 to 5 months. As a rule, for the allotted period, all the symptoms of the disorders should be completely eliminated.
Stop taking the pills only after consulting a doctor, as well as undergoing examination and passing tests. Cancellation is made solely on indicators taken on the basis of a socio-psychological study of the patient's condition. This process should occur in strict accordance with the scheme previously appointed by the doctor, within the time limits set by him. As a rule, in this case, the patient does not experience any unpleasant consequences. If they exist, then, basically, they do not cause significant inconvenience to both himself and his close ones.
And finally: doctors do not recommend choosing the best antidepressant for themselves according to reviews of other patients. This is due to the fact that each situation is unique and each organism has its own characteristics.