NEW ANTIDEPRESSANTS FOR DEPRESSION
What is Depression?
One in every six people experiences depression during his life span. Depression is mainly the effect of imbalance in the brain chemicals that regulate our mood and increases pessimistic behavior. It may be accompanied with suicidal tendency, as well. Over 320 million people all over the world are suffering from depression and, hence it is becoming a concern at International level.
How Can We Measure Severity of Depression?
Depression can be intermittent and long lasting ailment. The severity of depression is evaluated with the help of “ Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression” which is a questionnaire containing 17 to 21 items. A score of more than 18 signifies depression.
How is Depression Treated?
The patient of mild depression is treated with psychotherapy (cognitive- behavioral therapy). For the patient with severe depression, current treatment includes psychotherapy and an antidepressant drug, which aids the brain to function appropriately.
How does the New Antidepressant Drugs Work?
The cells of the brain carry messages using chemical substances called neurotransmitters; there are nearly 100 different chemical substances active in the brain, but the two neurotransmitters that are especially affected by depression and Serotonin and Noradrenaline or neroepinephrine. An antidepressants that control the metabolic process of serotonin and neroepinephrine could be much more useful in curing the physical and emotional complaints during depression. The new antidepressants help in stabilizing the functions of these neurotransmitters with fewer side effects and other disadvantages. Prozac, for instance, is a new antidepressant that has extremely precise effect on the neurotransmitter serotonin. Today, the SSRIs medications command priority in the treatment of depression.
Which New Antidepressant Drugs are Available?
Today, there are about 40 antidepressants drugs available in the market including antidepressants include tricyclic, monoamine oxidaese, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) and serotonin neroepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). SSRIs and SNRIs are the newest antidepressant. They include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), escitalopram (Lexapro), and moclobemide. SNRI include Duloxetine (Cymbalta), Desvenlafaxine (Pristig), Venlafaxine ( Effexor, Effexor XR).
What are the advantages of New Antidepressant Drugs?
As compared to the older antidepressants these SSRI medications have:
· Been accepted for dealing with ailments like bulimia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic fatigue. It also helps depression in patients with schizophrenia, if not cured by antipsychotic drugs.
· Fewer side effects even when taken in an overdose and are well tolerated.
· Weaker membrane stabilizing properties even when the doses are increased, and hence are safer for the patient suffering from heart problems.
· Reduced side effects like dryness of mouth, blurred vision, tachycardia, and constipation due to absence of antimuscarinic effects.
· Little risk of blockade of histamine receptors as compared to the older medications.
· Absence of (alpha) 1 receptor blockade that reduces side effects like hypotension and ataxia.
· Less weight gain.
· A temporary phase of mild degree of nausea and gastrointestinal problems, sometimes.
· Dosage instructions are easy to compile with, one tablet daily.
· Reduced the risk of relapse.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF NEW DRUGS?
The only drawback of the new antidepressants over the older ones is there cost. These new antidepressants cost about 20 to 30 times more than the older antidepressants but they are worth using because of the benefits of less side effects and greater result that they have shown. Most of psychiatrists believe that the new antidepressants drugs that have been introduced in the last 20 years or so are not so effective as propagated. They feel that the scientific findings about those drugs is misrepresented and manipulated by the pharmaceutical companies and hence they are not reliable. Some even regard antidepressants as nothing more than a placebo.
CONCLUSION
The new antidepressants are catching the attention of the psychiatrists and are being widely prescribed for the treatment of depression. SSRIs and TCAs should not be prescribed to a patient at the same time because this can result in tricyclic toxicity. The new antidepressants are being regarded as more safer and appropriate therapy for the patient of depression. New antidepressants are no doubt proving to be safer and reliable than the older ones.
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