Antidepressants: Which Drugs Are Effective? Video
Unfortunately, constant stress and, as a result, depression and nervous breakdowns, become an indispensable attribute of the life of a modern city dweller. When other methods have already been tried and did not have the desired effect, you have to resort to the help of antidepressants. But like all drugs, they can cause complications. Your task is to minimize the risk of this.
Effectiveness of antidepressants
Today on the market for drugs with antidepressant effect, there are three groups:
- tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- inhibitors of selective serotonin uptake (SSRI)
The first group of TCAs includes drugs developed in the 50s of the last century, all of which contain active substances such as imipramine, amyltriptyline and nortriptyline. The second includes those that were synthesized in the second half of the last century, the active substance in them is feniusin, tranylcypromine and isocarboxazid. The third, the most recent group of antidepressants, has been synthesized recently.
A distinctive feature of TCA and MAOI, which are still widely used in Russian medicine for minor disorders due to their affordable price, is the presence of many complications (TCA) and strict requirements for compatibility with other drugs (MAOI)
For the treatment of generalized mental disorders, lingering depressions that have taken on a chronic form, panic attacks, etc., the latest antidepressants of the IIPS group are used. These drugs have fewer side effects, but their cost is quite high, which in Russian realities is the reason for their limited use. Their action is based on the selective reuptake of the serotonin mediator, the amount of which determines the mood of a person.
An overview of the newest antidepressants
In terms of their effectiveness, all modern antidepressant drugs are almost the same, the main question is only to choose one that will cause less harm to health. Indeed, in their effect on concomitant symptoms, as well as in the number and severity of possible complications, they differ quite strongly.
Fluoxetine, or “Prozac”, belongs to the new generation IIPS; at present, many generic drugs are produced on its basis under various names. In addition to an affordable price, they have no special advantages. According to the results of the studies, when some of the subjects took the drug, and some – the placebo, the side effects were quite pronounced: 24% of those who took the drug suffered from nausea, while in those who took placebo, this symptom was observed only in 9%, insomnia was observed in ratio 19 – 10%, increased sleepiness – 12 – 6%, anxiety – 12 – 6%, nervousness – 13 – 8%, tremor – 9 – 2% and asthenia – 11 – 6%. Complications from this drug include sexual dysfunction due to decreased sex drive, weight change. The drug is addictive, but the withdrawal syndrome is not very pronounced.
As a result of taking antidepressants, in many cases there is an increase in appetite, which leads to the appearance of excess weight.
The newest group of anti-anxiety drugs includes generics: fluvoxamine, paroxetine, citalopam, escitalopam, seratolin and vilazodone. The latter has only been approved for sale in the United States for 2 years, so it is not yet possible to buy it in Russian pharmacies. All of them have a good antidepressant effect and give about 50% of positive results during treatment and 20% of long-term remissions. But complications include all the same sexual dysfunction in both men and women.
The only side effect of sexual dysfunction is not seen with antidepressants such as nefazodone and bupropion.
Sertraline is one of the drugs that works well for protracted depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic attacks, social phobia, and post-traumatic stress syndrome. On its basis, in pharmacies you can buy medicines such as “Asentra”, “Stimuloton”, “Surlift”, “Serenata”, “Thorin”, etc., the cost of which ranges from 700 to 1400 rubles per pack of 28 tablets. These drugs can cause nausea, insomnia, diarrhea, drowsiness, dizziness, tremors, and sexual dysfunction, but they are 1,4 times more effective than fluoxetine.
The drug that, with the same effectiveness, gives fewer complications, is escitalopam. In dosage forms, it can be found as “Tsipralex” and “Selektra”.
While taking it, be prepared for insomnia or drowsiness, dry mouth, weakness and fatigue, constipation, stomach upset and sweating
As you can see for yourself, even the newest antidepressants have some pretty unpleasant side effects and complications. Medical research carried out allows us to confidently assert their effectiveness only in cases where the disorders are pronounced. When used to treat mild depression and disorders, their effectiveness was comparable to placebo. In these cases, you should not take pills – herbal preparations and herbal medicine, the correct mode of life and nutrition will come to your aid.
Also interesting: the three-day diet.