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What are
antidepressants; it’s funny how so many
people who have been prescribed with
antidepressants are unaware as to what
the particular drug is all about or its
purpose.
To explain what
antidepressants are in simple terms, they
are drugs that relieve the symptoms
of depression. Antidepressant was first
developed in the 1950s. There are almost
thirty different kinds of antidepressants
which are being prescribed on a daily
basis to help people suffering from
different disorders and conditions. There
are four main types:
Tricyclics - MAOIs
(Monoamine oxidase inhibitors) SSRIs (Selective
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) SNRIs (Serotonin
and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors) more can
be found out on each individual drug from your
doctor.
Today there is still a
little uncertainty as to how
antidepressants work, it is said that
they work by increasing the activity of
certain chemicals in our brain called
neurotransmitters which pass signals from
one brain cell to another. The chemicals
most involved in depression are thought
to be Serotonin and Noradreline. A
question raised more often than not is,
are antidepressants addictive? well in
answer to this query, antidepressant
drugs don't cause the addictions that you
get with tranquillisers, alcohol or
nicotine, meaning, craving for a fag or
another cup of coffee.
Antidepressants
can cause a patient to suffer from side
affects. For example” Tricyclics”commonly cause
a dry mouth, fast heartbeat, constipation,
sleepiness, a slight tremor and weight gain.
For the more elderly patient the side affects
are more recognised in causing confusion,
slowness in starting and stopping when
urinating, faintness/dizziness through low
blood pressure, and tumbles. Falls are not good
for the aged with brittle bones? Never take
more than the prescribed dose as this can be
very dangerous.
Another
affective method for treating depression
(minus drug intake) is talking
treatments.(Counselling) If you go along
to your local herbalist shop you will
find that many people take the herbal
remedy called Hypericum. Hypericum is
made from an herb, St Johns Wort, and is
available without prescription. Never
take any over the counter medication
without consulting with your doctor
first. What you have to remember is,
regardless of whatever health issue is
involved, each individual and their
suffering may differ greatly so certain
types of medication, medicines, pills or
tablets that work for one person may not
for the other.
No
matter the condition or ailment you must never
use another persons medication - or go off
their advice as this can be very dangerous
indeed. The only person you should listen too
or take advice from is either your doctor or
another expert in the field of medical matters.
This is the most vital of safety precautions a
person suffering from an illness can take to
ensure that they are recieving the right
treatment to treat a particular
cause.
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