Antidepressants
Antidepressants - what are they and how they can help you in your fight against depression.
Different types of antidepressants are used in treatment of depressive disorders. There three main types of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the tricyclics and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The newer antidepressants, chiefly the SSRIs have fewer side effects compared to older ones.
SSRIs target some brain chemicals know as neurotransmitters such as dopamine or norepinephrine. Usually doctors try different kind of antidepressants to find which ones work better for you. For some people SSRIs work better and for some (small number in fact) MAO inhibitors are better.
If you are suggested by your doctor to take a MAOI antidepressant, you should avoid foods that are high in tyramine leverls, such as some cheeses, wines and pickles. You should also be careful not to take decongestants while your are on MAIOs. The combination of MAOIs and tyramine will result in sharp increase in blood pressure that can consequently result in a stroke. So careful attention should be paid out to your diet while you are on a MAOI type of antidepressant. The best idea is to ask your doctor to provide you with a list of prohibited foods and carry it with yourself at all times.
Antidepressants are not considered as habit forming medications. However, their use should be carefully monitored by a professional to see if the correct dosage is being used. As with any other sort of medication, you should always consult your doctor before combining your medications of any sort. Drugs that are considered usually safe can lead to sever side effects when combined with other medications.
Alcohol or recreational drugs can affect the result of antidepressants and should be avoided. This includes any type of alcoholic beverage including wine, beer or hard liqueurs. In some cases, very conservative consumption of alcohol might be permitted by a doctor if the individual does not have a history of problem with alcohol if you are taking newer antidepressants.
If you are seeking other peoples experience with specific antidepressant, depression help is always available in depression discussion groups and forums.