Tricyclic Antidepressants-Waging The War Against Depression
You may have questions. What exactly is a tricyclic antidepressant? How does it work to treat depression? What are the benefits and risks of using one of these drugs?
Tricyclic antidepressants have been used since the 1950s. These drugs receive their name from their molecular structure, which includes three rings of atoms.
They are thought to work by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine, or serotonin by nerve cells. A tricyclic antidepressant will often be called upon in treating clinical depression..
Your doctor will decide upon one that will be appropriate for you, taking your age, your medical problems, your current medications, possible previous use of antidepressants, and your history of depressive symptoms into account.
If the one chosen does not suit, it is sometimes necessary to adjust the dose. Also, if tricyclic antidepressants do not help then another type of antidepressant may be chosen.
Side effects may be encountered and include dry mouth, constipation, sweating, slight hesitancy in passing urine, blurring of vision, and drowsiness. These effects will often diminish as your body becomes used to your tricyclic antidepressant. A lower dose can be started with, to decrease adverse effects—although this would delay beneficial clinical effects of the drug.
It is important to remember that your depression is not a condition that will go away on its own and your doctor will weigh possible side effects against tangible benefits. It is very important to get clinical depression under control and tricyclics have proven to be valuable in battling depressive symptoms.
There are different types of tricyclic antidepressants: imipramine, amitriptyline, doxepin, nortriptyline, to name a few, under different brand names: Elavil, Tofranil, Adapin, among others. Tricyclics are not tranquillizers and are not considered addictive. Most people can stop using antidepressants, reducing the dose gradually to lower the risk of any withdrawal symptoms.
Your doctor may also recommend psychotherapy in conjunction with a tricyclic antidepressant to treat your depression. Many people find that talking about their condition reduces the stigma and helps them to realize that it is not “all in their head,” that they have a legitimate health condition.
Another popular treatment approach is use of natural remedies. Natural supplements work in a fashion similar to antidepressants, relieving and alleviating symptoms. Chemical changes in the brain are at the root of depressive disorders and play a large role in well being. By correcting and restoring neurotransmitter functioning, supplements act to restore brain balance. Many find that natural supplements work as effectively as tricyclic antidepressants, without adverse side effects.
What do herbal preparations contain? Natural supplements include potent ingredients which work to calm the nervous system and treat depression effectively. A good quality natural preparation will contain vitamins and minerals, amino acids, enzymes, specialty supplements and herbal extracts. Ingredients may include chamomile, which offers beneficial anxiolytic effects (anxiety reduction); valerian (which research suggests has a neuroprotective effect), used for treating mood disorders such as depression; calcium and magnesium, included to alleviate emotional and physical stress; and ginkgo biloba, shown to increase oxygen content to the brain, aiding in concentration and mental acuity. Ginkgo biloba is also used for treatment of depression. These supplements are specifically formulated to tackle depression head-on, similar to a tricyclic antidepressant.
It is important to discuss any depression treatment with your doctor and then to take preparations as directed.
With the treatment options available in modern times, utilizing either tricyclic antidepressants or natural remedies, depression can become a distant memory. You can wage the war against depression and emerge the victor!
Athlyn Green is an avid health enthusiast with an interest in natural remedies for treatment of health disorders. She has contributed to Tricyclic Antidepressant, a section of www.beat-your-depression.com dedicated to natural treatments and prescription drug alternatives for this disorder.