Treatments for Depression  

In the United States alone, more than 20 million people are suffering with symptoms of depression.  Also, these numbers are expected to increase due to the existing living conditions, stress, and pollution in America.  Over the years, a variety of treatments for depression have become popular. People have increasingly used several antidepressant medications. In fact, many pharmacological companies are investing billions of dollars towards developing new molecules that can effectively reduce symptoms of depression.  

An interesting aspect about existing antidepressant medications is that they are categorized depending on the way they modulate naturally occurring chemicals in the brain and ultimately reduce the symptoms of depression. Some of the more common medications for depression that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) are listed below: 

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) : Molecules belonging to this group inhibit the uptake of serotonin between neurons. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that helps in transmitting neuronal signals to the brain. Also, serotonin is responsible for stabilizing moods. Some examples of SSRIs include Prozac, Paxil, Luvox and Zoloft.  

• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) : These are prescribed only for individuals suffering with chronic depression or for patients not responding to other types of medications for depression. These molecules act by reducing the concentration of monoamine oxidase, an enzyme present in the brain that acts on neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine and regulates behavior and restores chemical balance in the brain. Some examples include Nardil and Parnate.  

Another variety of antidepressants are tricyclics that act by blocking neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, histamine and adrenergic receptors. One disadvantage of using any of these different medications for depression is that they can cause certain side effects.  Some of these side effects include seizures, heart arrhythmias, hypotension, sexual dysfunction, constipation, sedation and dry mouth.  In certain cases, the side effects are so intense that they can even lead to a coma and death.  Also, one must employ severe food restrictions while using MAOIs.  Failure to not follow these restrictions could be extremely detrimental to the person’s health.   

Apart from these medications for depression, also available are various alternative treatments for depression. One such method is using plant-based medications. Recent research has revealed that some of the commonly used herbal remedies for depression are extremely effective and are devoid of any side effects of synthetic drugs. Some examples of herbal remedies for depression include:  

• St. John’s Wort : Biologically known as Hypericum perforatum, this herb has proved extremely effective in reducing symptoms of mild to moderate depression.  
• 5-HTTP : Also known as 5-hydroxytryptophan, this is another effective herbal remedy for depression that is extracted from a plant called Griffonia simplicifolia.  
• S-adenosyl-L-Methionine : Commonly known as Sammy or SAMe, this chemical compound is naturally available in all the cells of human body. SAMe is an essential amino acid required to maintain neurological balance in the brain and ensure a balanced concentration and functioning of neurotransmitters between neurons.  

Other popular herbal remedies for depression include Amoryn, Folic Acid, B-vitamins, Siberian Ginseng and Ginkgo.  

By keeping this depression medications and herbal remedies in mind, you and your doctor should be able to determine what your best treatments for depression will be.