Depression and the medications used to treat it are often misunderstood. Treating depression and similar disorders with medication is very complex since depression can have biological, psychological, and social causes and symptoms. Each type of medication comes with a raft of side effects that need to be considered very carefully before committing to medication treatment.
Here we have a rundown of the different types of depression medications that are available, along with their side effects.
To learn more about depression and help us advance our knowledge of this complex condition, consider participating in a clinical trial like the ones available at Power.
The Six Antidepressant Groups
There are six main groups of antidepressants, with each one having multiple medications and products available that use their ingredients. In the future, we may find more treatments and approve them for depression treatment.
1. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are the most common medication that is used to treat depression and similar conditions. The four main drugs are sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, and citalopram. You may know them by their product names, however – Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, and Celexa.
Here’s a list of the most common SSRI side effects:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Dry Mouth
- Exhaustion
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Inability To Orgasm
- Low Sex Drive
- Nausea
- Tremors
2. Serotonin & Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
SNRIs are handed out to fight depression as well as anxiety or pain if it has been persisting for a while. Popular SNRI drugs are venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, and duloxetine, though they are marketed as Effexor, Pristiq, and Cymbalta, respectively.
Taking SNRIs can cause:
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Dry Mouth
- Headache
- Heavy Sweating
- Insomnia
- Inability To Orgasm
- Low Sex Drive
- Nausea
3. Norepinephrine & Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs)
NDRIs are used to treat depression, especially for the depressive symptoms arising from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It may also be used to treat general anxiety, bipolar disorder, or ADHD for off-label use. There’s only one prominent NDRI that gets prescribed for depression. It’s bupropion, though the product is Wellbutrin.
Here are the main known side effects of bupropion:
- Constipation
- Dry Mouth
- Headache
- Increased Sweating
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Tiredness
- Tremors
4. Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
TCAs were the first group of antidepressants to be approved for widespread use. Their age means that newer, more capable drugs are often prescribed over them instead, especially since the newer drugs have fewer side effects.
Some TCAs are amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and imipramine. On your local drug store shelves, you’ll find those three are called Pamelor, Elavil, and Tofranil.
Here are some of those severe side effects that have become associated with older antidepressant drugs:
- Blurred Vision
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Dry Mouth
- Increased Fatigue & Sleepiness
- Increased Heart Rate
- Urine Retention
- Tremors
- Weight Gain
5. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Like TCAs, MAOIs were among the first antidepressants and were quickly replaced by more successful, less disturbing citizens in need. Existing drugs are phenelzine, isocarboxazid, and tranylcypromine – Nardil, Parnate, and Marplan.
NDRIs have quite a few risks of side effects – check out the list below:
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Dry Mouth
- Headache
- Inability To Orgasm
- Increase Sweating
- Insomnia
- Low Blood Pressure
- Low Sex Drive
- Nausea
- Tremors
- Urine Flow Issues
- Weight Gain
As you can see, MAOIs expose the average person to many more side effects, hence why they aren’t given out so freely anymore.
6. Non-Competitive N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Antagonists
Lastly, we have a mouthful – non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor analysis. You can just call this esketamine, which is sold as Ketanest or Spravato under certain brands. This is a new development from 2019, so we haven’t had time to come up with a catchier name abbreviation for this group.
These drugs are also unique because they are administered through the nose with a spray and should accompany a basic but reliable oral antidepressant too. The esketamine is typically brought in if the oral antidepressants alone aren’t enough. It can be misused and some have reported more suicidal thoughts when on the drug. Needless to say, you need a medical office to get esketamine for you.
Here are some of its side effects:
- Anxiety
- Dissociation
- Dizziness
- Drunk Feelings
- Increased Blood Pressure
- Lethargy
- Nausea
- Sedation
- Vomiting
Conclusion
Those are some of the most common medications used to treat depression, along with the side effects.
If you feel like you need help, reach out to medical professionals who can get you the right treatment. Where there may be social or psychological causes of depression, a combination of medication and therapy may be suggested to tackle underlying problems in your life.
Disclosure: collaborative post
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