Hello, hello, Lets break the stigma and address the wonderful science of anti-depressants. In this blog, I will be guiding you through the intricate details of various types, offering insights into their workings, side effects, and the crucial need for proper guidance during your healing journey.
How Do Antidepressants Work?
Antidepressants, like SSRIs, SNRIs, and more, function by elevating neurotransmitter levels in the brain, particularly serotonin and noradrenaline, meaning they can positively influence mood and emotion. Because they will increase levels of neurotransmitters, this can impact pain signals sent by your nerves, providing relief for long-term pain. It's important to note that while they treat symptoms, different forms of therapy is often combined to help for long-term treatment.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed, especially for cases that are persistent or severe. They are also typically the first type of Antidepressant a doctor may prescribe as they have been found to have the fewest side effects compared to other types (that being said you can still have them as I experienced but more on that later).
One of the other great things about SSRIs is that they don't just treat depression but they can also treat mental health conditions such as:
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Panic Disorder
- Agoraphobia & Social Phobia
- Bulimia
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
SSRIs work by increasing serotonin levels within the brain, serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is thought to have a positive impact on things like sleep, your general mood and emotions. Whilst increased serotonin is known to work to improve symptoms, its not the only thing that treats depression and you will typically be advised to have therapies such as CBT.
SSRIs are typically a form of tablet and a doctor will always start you on the lowest dose on your initial prescription. From there, a doctor will follow up with you 2 weeks then 4 weeks afterwards to find out how its been working for you. This is because around these time periods is when you should begin to feel a difference, if you don't it's very important you let your doctor know so they consider either increasing your current dose or trying a different type of antidepressant.
Depending on the severity of your condition it might be the case you are only taking medication for 6 months or it could be indefinitely but we will talk about coming off antidepressants later on in this blog!
About the Top 3 SSRIs:
Noradrenaline and Specific Antidepressants (NSSAs)
Typically NASSAs are only prescribed to you if you have not had much luck with SSRIs (above). In the UK there is only one that is prescribed called Mirtazapine. But how do NASSAs differ from our more commonly chosen antidepressants such as SSRIs? I will do my best to explain this as its quite complex; they work by increasing the amount of noradrenaline and serotonin in the space between neurons and block some serotonin receptors to aid treating depression.
NASSAs are not always used for depression and are quite commonly used to treat:
- General Anxiety Disorder in Adults
- Panic Disorder
- Social Anxiety
Since its only Mirtazapine in the UK please find more information below:
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
Tricyclic and Tetracyclic antidepressants can also be known as cyclic antidepressants. They are some of the earliest of their kind developed and whilst they are affective they have been replaced with the likes of SSRIs due to the number of side effects. Typically cyclic antidepressants will now be used if other forms of treatment have not been successful.
Similar to other antidepressants they work by affecting neurotransmitters that communicate to the brain. They alleviate symptoms by blocking the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine and increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters. The reason cyclic have more side effects is due to the drug also impacting other chemical levels within the body.
Serotonin Antagonists and Reuptake Inhibitors (SARIs)
Whilst serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors are classed as an antidepressant, they will typically get used for conditions such as insomnia and anxiety. They work by acting as antagonists to inhibit a certain serotonin receptor, by blocking the function of a serotonin transporter protein, and therefore causing an increase of serotonin throughout the central nervous system.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
MAOIs are typically used to treat a variety of things, such as depression, panic disorder, social phobia. They were one of the very first antidepressants introduced to the market but are no longer the first choice as they require several dietary restrictions, side effects and general safety concerns. This drug will typically be an absolute last resort for professionals to prescribe to patients.
Caution: Coming off Antidepressants
Talk to your doctor before stopping antidepressants. Abrupt discontinuation can lead to withdrawal symptoms. When you're ready, your doctor will likely recommend a gradual reduction over weeks or longer to prevent any adverse reactions. Always prioritse professional guidance for a safe and smooth transition. 🌟💚
#AntidepressantsExplained #MentalHealthTreatment #HealingJourney
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