One of the most common diseases caused by the rapid development of modern civilization is depression. According to disappointing forecasts, it will displace from the first place the ailments associated with the heart and blood vessels by 2020.
The modern pharmacological industry offers drugs related to the psychotropic class for getting rid of a depressed state. Antidepressants, the list of which is quite impressive, help to improve mood, relieve lethargy and anxiety, and reduce apathy and nervous tension. These tools contribute to the strengthening of psychological activity, increase the duration of sleep and normalize appetite.
Antidepressants, the list of which includes drugs that act as stimulants, are used to treat patients whose symptoms of illness are depression, lethargy, and apathy. These include Tsipramil, Paxil, Anafranil, Melipramine, Pyrazidol and Petilil.
With unaccountable anxieties, gloomy irritation and anxious depression, drugs with sedative effects are used. These include amitriptyline, Azafen, Ludiomil and Craxil.
Antidepressants, a list of which includes herbal preparations, are prescribed in the simplest cases. Such medicines include St. John's wort and Hypericin.
All existing antidepressants are divided into four groups.
The first includes drugs synthesized in the mid-nineteenth century and called “tricyclics”. Their chemical structure is based on a triple carbon ring. Antidepressants, the names of which belong to this group - Imipramine, Nortriptyline and Amiltriptyline. These drugs increase the concentration of serotonin and noripinephrine in the brain by reducing the level of absorption of these substances by neurons. The action of amitriptyline calms, and imipramine stimulates the nervous system. In individual cases, a positive effect, manifested in an improvement in mood, can be observed several days after the start of treatment. Side effects that may occur when taking these drugs are:
-lethargy;
- dry mouth;
-drowsiness;
constipation
- intensification of sweating;
-nausea;
-difficulties with emptying urine;
-decrease in potency;
- strengthening of the heartbeat;
-appearance of feelings of fear and anxiety.
Overdose can lead to serious consequences, including death.
Antidepressants, the list of which belongs to the second group, have an effect that weakens the activity of the enzyme that destroys serotonin and noripinephrine. This is a category of drugs called “monoamine oxidase inhibitors”. These antidepressants are recommended for patients on whom tricyclic group drugs have not had a positive effect. They are also often used in the presence of atypical depression and dysthymia. The most popular drug in this group is Moclobemide. When taking medicines belonging to this category, you must adhere to a diet that excludes the use of pickled and sauerkraut, beer and wine, cheeses and sour cream, various types of marinade and fish, as well as soy products. The most common unwanted side effects when taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors are dizziness, weight gain, swelling of the fingers, sleep disturbances, decreased potency, and increased heart rate.
The third group includes new generation antidepressants that have a minimal amount of unwanted side effects. These are inhibitors of selective absorption of serotonin. These include fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline and fluvoxamine. The effect of these drugs is based on preventing the reuptake of serotonin in the interval between neurons, leading to an increase in its concentration.
Antidepressants belonging to the fourth group are those that are not included in the first three. These drugs have differences in chemical composition, as well as in the mechanism of action. These include bupropion, trazodone, mitrazipine and others.