Both men and women have to deal with depression. However, because women have more hormones than men and because women experience more hormonal changes throughout their lives, women tend to be more prone to depression. Depression can come out of a sad, tragic, or stressful time in one’s life, or it can appear for no particular reason at all. Luckily depression is highly treatable.

Medication and Therapy

It is important to remember that antidepressants should be taken in conjunction with therapy. Most of the drugs should not be taken as a long-term remedy. Instead, they should be taken in conjunction with counseling so that they can be gradually reduced.

In addition, different antidepressants cause different people to react in varying ways. As a result, it is a good idea for a person to be closely monitored while they are taking antidepressants.

Maintain Schedule

People taking antidepressants should also remember that they should take their drugs no matter how they are feeling. Just because someone is having a day where they feel in good spirits does not mean they should not take their medicine. Stopping or restarting medication without the advice of a doctor can create a major reaction that may end in more sever depression than the patient began with.

Depression drugs work by replacing chemicals called neurotransmitters. Low levels of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, in the brain cause people to feel depressed. Antidepressants replace the neurotransmitters and, therefore, make people feel better.

Common Types

One of the most common types of antidepressants on the market today is SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). These drugs increase the level of serotonin in the brain, and therefore they improve one’s mood. These drugs are known to be very effective, but they may possibly cause destructive thoughts in the minds of children. The side effects of SSRIs are generally low and they include heartburn, drowsiness, and loss of appetite.

The other most common type of antidepressant is tricylic antidepressants. These drugs are very effective in treating depression, but they have more severe side effects. Side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth and, constipation.

MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) are also common drugs for depression, but they have potentially life threatening food and drug interactions. It is of utmost importance that patients taking MAOIs consult with their doctors.