Depression Medicine 

Depression medicine comes under many brand names, some familiar and some not as familiar.  A wide variety of depression medicine is available now that wasn’t available a decade ago.

Although I haven’t tried a depression medicine since I stopped taking them in 1998, depression help experts say that the newer depression medicines are safer and more effective than older depression medicines. Even so, all depression medicines have risks and all can still have unpleasant side effects. 

Major Depression Drugs—Three Types 

Major depression drugs come in three main types.  These three major depression drugs types include:  selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

1.  SSRI depression medicine is the most popular type of major depression drug.  It’s also the newest.

The way SSRI depression medicine works is that it increases serotonin levels in the brain.  Serotonin is a mood-related neurotransmitter in the brain.  When serotonin levels are increased, the neurotransmitters, which get impulses from one brain neuron to another, function as they’re supposed to, which removes major depression symptoms.

The side effects of SSRI depression medicine are generally milder and there are generally fewer of them than result from other types of depression medicine.  But SSRIs still have side effects.  The most annoying side-effects are weight gain and loss of interest in sex (I experienced both of these side effects when I took this depression medicine, and trust me, they’re not fun.)  It’s unfortunately common for men to become nearly impotent when they take SSRI depression medicine, and many women experience what I did, a weight gain of over 30 pounds.  (And by the way, that weight gain is tough to get rid of.  My weight problems began after I took depression medicine, and I still have those weight problems today.)  The most commonly known SSRI depression medicines are Prozac®, Zoloft®, Paxil®, Lexapro®, Celexa®, and Luvox®,

2.  Tricyclic depression medicine (TCAs) is an older type of major depression drug.   Tricyclics are named after their molecular structure, which includes three rings of atoms. Exactly how TCAs work isn’t known.  Scientists believe, however, that TCAs work by inhibiting the re-uptake of the serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in neurotransmitters. 

TCAs have many bothersome side effects, including dry mouth, constipation, loss of interest in sex or sexual dysfunction, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, and general lack of responsiveness to stimuli.  I experienced all of these side effects when I took TCAs years ago.  Because of these side effects, TCAs aren’t used as commonly now.  TCAs include Wellbutrin®, Elavil® and Tofranil®.

3.  MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) are the third type of depression medicine, but they’re hardly worth mentioning.  Because of serous safety risks and the restricted diet required when you’re taking MAOIs, these major depression drugs are rarely prescribed.

A final depression medicine falls outside of these three main types.  Effexor®, which can’t be classified as an SSRI, TCA or MAOI, does appear to impact serotonin in some way.

Before you choose any depression medicine, get the facts.  Find out the risk and the side effects you can expect.  Given my experience with depression medicine, I also recommend that you explore other depression treatment options before you begin taking depression medicine.

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