Antidepressants ? The feeling of depression (or rather numbness) is a condition that depends not only on seasonality but also on the circadian rhythm. The intake of enough fluids (water and especially fresh fruit juices), healthy foods (fruits, vegetables and last but not least – cereals), walks during the day and active sports activities (aerobics, jogging), as well as timely consultation with a specialist are factors that would minimize the possibility of depression conquering us.
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What causes depression?
It turns out that there is no single cause for depression, various psychological, biological and external factors can lead to this feeling. The state of depression is seen as a reaction to the loss of something that has been very valuable in a person’s life. For example, inadequate parental care or the loss of one parent in early childhood, divorce or job loss are also considered factors that affect the resilience of the adult psyche.
If you need to adapt to changed social conditions or a strong stressful situation, there is a high risk that this person will fall into a deep depression. Also, taking certain medications or alcohol can trigger depression. It is important to note that depression is not caused by weakness of character, laziness or lack of willpower, but very often it occurs spontaneously.
What happens in our brain?
Depression is a condition that causes a disruption in communication between neurons due to an imbalance of the three types of chemicals in the brain (norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine) that transmit electrical signals between cells. It establishes a genetic link, which in turn does not necessarily mean that anyone with a genetic predisposition develops depression.
There are vulnerability factors in depression that are of particular interest and have been the subject of intensive research for a long time. Vulnerability is defined as an inherited or acquired predisposition associated with an increased risk of developing a disease. Research by Dr. Marcus Ising of the Institute of Psychiatry in Munich shows that the risk of children of two sick parents also developing depression is twice as high as that of children of healthy parents.
Data show that women suffer from depression twice as often as men. The fairer sex is more vulnerable due to hormonal disorders that are characteristic of the premenstrual, postpartum and menopausal periods. According to American statistics, one in four women and one in seven men experience depression at least once in their lives. But definitely all racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups suffer from depression, with the peak incidence being 25-44 years of age.
Typical symptoms of depression
- feeling useless or guilty (“nobody likes me”) *
- easy or unreasonable crying
- feeling sad or emotionally empty
- a feeling of emotional depression, to the point of inability to cry
- loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies (“nothing ever goes right”) *
- slow thinking and poor concentration
- feeling constantly tired –fatigue
- difficulties in making daily decisions
- weight loss or gain
- sleep problems, especially early in the morning
- thinks of suicide or death (“nobody cares if I’m here or not”) *
Types of depression known in medicine
Depending on the severity and duration of symptoms, the following types of depression are observed:
- Clinical depression – the symptoms of this type exist throughout the day or almost every day: low mood, decline or loss of pleasure in almost all areas of life.
- Dysthymia – more than two years of depressed mood, decrease or increase in nutrition, low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness.
- Manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, is dominated by periods of mania and depression, alternating abruptly. In the depressive period there is a depressed mood, people feel very sad and distrustful. They do not want to do anything because it does not bring them joy. While in the manic phase we observe a euphoric person for whom everything is achievable. But sometimes it is possible for this uplifted mood to turn into irritability, aggression and anger.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by the following symptoms: increased self-esteem, high self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, excessive talkativeness, increased goals, excessive movement, unreasonable and risky activities.
These patients often require hospitalization to prevent actions that threaten them and others. In recent years, the so-called sports depression, which can be attributed to manic depression, has gained popularity.
In this type of depression, patients train too much and fanatically. They are systematically overloaded, maintaining a strict training regime only with the strength of their will. But over time, sports performance deteriorates, and patients stubbornly refuse to change their diet. In manic depression, there is an accumulation of bromine in the body, and this process blocks the liver’s ability to self-cleanse.
There are other types of depression that are less common:
- after – childbirth depression
- seasonal affective disorder
- atypical depression
- chronic depression
- double depression
- reactive depression
- psychotic depression
- catatonic depression
- agitated depression
- melancholic depression
Treatment of depression
Fortunately, depression can be successfully treated with medication (antidepressants, MAO inhibitors) with the help of a psychologist or a combination of both. The treatment that the doctor chooses depends on many factors, such as the severity and type of symptoms, lifestyle, taking other medications, etc.
Antidepressants – unlike psychostimulants, they activate mental activity only when it is pathologically suppressed. In healthy people, antidepressants do not have a stimulating effect. In depressed patients, they eliminate sadness, depression of the psyche and motility and activate the volitional processes. But not all antidepressants affect the anxiety that can be expressed in some depressed patients.
- Bicyclic antidepressants – are inhibitors of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, do not cause tremor with prolonged use of drugs. Representatives: Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxytin, Sertraline
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Tricyclic antidepressants (thymoleptics) – one of the most commonly used drugs to control depressive symptoms a few years ago. Their action is based on increasing the concentration of two main neurotransmitters – serotonin and norepinephrine, whose activity is suppressed in depression in certain areas of the CNS. Of particular importance for the activity of tricyclic antidepressants is their plasma concentration and the nature of the depressive state.These antidepressants also have some side effects: dry mouth, constipation, accommodation paralysis, and sometimes even profuse sweating. Representatives: Amitriptyline, Clopramine, Desipramine, Imipramine, Nortriptyline, Opipramol, Trimipramine.
- Tetracyclic antidepressants – show antagonism of adrenergic receptors, their action is similar to that of tricyclic antidepressants. Representatives: Maprolitin (Ludomil), Mianserin, Pyrazidol
Side effects of antidepressants
About 50% of people who take antidepressants experience unpleasant side effects during the first week of treatment, but they are usually mild and temporary. They are affected by changing the dose or changing the medicine or by therapy against the side effect. There are many cases when patients stop taking the medication due to the fact that they cannot tolerate these unpleasant side effects. And a sudden stop can cause withdrawal symptoms.
- nausea – usually disappears when the body adjusts to the antidepressant
- . increased appetite, increased weight – due to fluid retention, lack of physical activity, as well as the elimination of unpleasant symptoms of depression, which increases appetite.
- side effects in sexual life – include decreased desire, delayed ejaculation and orgasm. Erectile dysfunction has been reported with tricyclic antidepressants.
- easy fatigue and drowsiness – they are characteristic – mostly at the beginning of therapy (the first week).
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insomnia – it is possible because the antidepressant infuses energy into the body, which in turn leads to more difficult sleep. dry mouth – this is a common side effect of antidepressants, which have an anticholinergic effect by blocking the action of acetylcholine. Leads to dysfunction of the digestive tract, reducing salivatio
- blurred vision – again due to the blockade of acetylcholine, which causes dry eyes.
- Constipation – common when taking tricyclic antidepressants, again due to acetylcholine, the blocking of which disrupts the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.
- dizziness – common in tricyclic antidepressants, as they lower blood pressure, leading to dizziness.
MAO inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (thimeretics) – compared to tricyclic antidepressants, these drugs are of limited use because they have many side effects (Cheeze – syndrome, hepatotoxicity and are especially dangerous for hypertension). Today, their role is taken over by newer antidepressants.
MAO inhibitors are used mainly in the treatment of atypical depression, in which there are symptoms of anxiety, panic, phobias, increased tendency to sleep. They have a pronounced antidepressant effect in manic-depressive psychosis, endogenous and reactive depression. Representatives: Iproniazid, Moclobemide, Tranylcipromine
What can be used to treat depression?
Antidepressants and MAO inhibitors are drugs that can be successfully combined with other substances, for example: painkillers, B vitamins, amino acids, supplements and more. However, it is absolutely unacceptable to take medication to treat depression with alcohol, drugs, steroids.
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