When it comes to easing depression, antidepressants are the best prescription drugs to have. Aside from that, it can also be used to medicate nervousness, pain, and difficulty sleeping. Likewise, there are also cases where it has been seen to be effective in alleviating ADHD conditions.
These medications are known by several brand and street names. Some of its known brand names are Celexa, Paxil, Prozac, Nardil, Tofranil, Elavil, and more.
Its street names can be grouped based on color, effects, drug names, culture, geographical location, fictional characters, and deceiving names. A mixed example of its street names is the following: blue bullets, busters, barbies, Christmas rolls, Mexican reds, Mickey Finn, and Backwards.
In the market, there are four classifications of this medication: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Each category has its respective chemical structure and function.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the widely used drug to treat depression. Samples of this medication are Paxil, Prozac, and Celexa. It inhibits the brain from taking in serotonin which in turn balances one’s emotion.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are mainly used to medicate obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), abrupt mood changes, anxiety, and changes in mood due to menopausal period. Examples of this drug are Cymbalta and Effexor.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are also used to alleviate depression, restlessness, and stress. Examples are Pamelor, Elavil, and Tofranil.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are the medications first prescribed to patients before allowing them to take SNRIs and SSRIs. Examples are Parnate and Nardil.
In terms of physical appearance, these drugs are available in round or oval-shaped tablets and capsule forms. Likewise, they also have several color combinations which it got the street name “rainbows”.
Antidepressants, How They Work
The active ingredients of these medications target the brain through the alterations of the concentrations of some brain chemicals. These brain chemicals which influence brain communication and mood are dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline.
In terms of regulating the activity of the brain, serotonin makes a great impact on it. This brain chemical is also responsible for balancing behavior and mood. Overall, these medications aim to balance the mood and behavior of a person.
Addiction and Dangers
The strength of these medications is on a medium range wherein the effects can be felt for around two to four weeks. In addition, for constant ingestion, the effects can be felt at a maximum of six to eight weeks.
In terms of addictive potential, these medications have zero addictive traits but its withdrawal symptoms are a challenging experience for patients. These symptoms happen either from gradual or abrupt stoppage from taking it. Some of its common withdrawal symptoms include weight loss, abdominal cramps, uncontrolled sweating, hypersensitivity to sounds, quick mood changes, and unhealthy sleeping habits.
Moreover, the high risk of being unaware to see one’s dependence for the drug leads to higher chances of developing dependence and tolerance. The side effects of these drugs can be both short and long-term. Its common short-term side effects include numbness, an abnormal change in appetite, difficulty sleeping, and vomiting. Whereas, its long-term effects are the following: impotency, birth defects, suicidal behavior, and lack of enthusiasm.
Furthermore, if one plans to undergo a drug test, knowledge on how long these chemicals stay in the body is critical. There are also numerous factors affecting the duration of these chemicals in the body. Some of these factors are immune system, lifestyle, and the current health status of the person.
In relation to this, each brand of these drugs has a specific half-life inside the body. Half-life is the time it takes for the original amount of any substance to reduce into half. For instance, Venlafaxine (Effexor) has a half-life of 5 hours. So if you have 10 mg of it, after five hours it reduces to 5 milligrams.
Other examples of common antidepressants and their respective half-lives are the following: Prozac (4 to 6 days), Celexa (36 hours), Paxil (24 hours), Zoloft (26 hours), and Lexapro (27 to 32 hours).
Medications and Treatments
Going into treatment is not an easy decision as there are numerous variables to be considered. For any treatment program to be successful, the patient must gain acceptance and willingness to undergo therapy and medication.
It is important to know the symptoms for an overdose in order to have early detection and first aid treatment. The common symptoms of an overdose include vomiting, uneasiness, dryness of the mouth, stomach pain, and irregular heartbeat.
Once symptoms are observed, one can apply first aid treatment. First, one can apply sufficient pressure on the patient’s abdomen to induce stomach lavage. Second, to reduce more chemicals inside the body, allow the patient to ingest activated charcoal. Next, the patient can be injected with sodium bicarbonate. Lastly, do not allow the patient to be dehydrated.
After detoxification and medication, therapies are incorporated into any treatment programs to reinforce positive behaviors and hasten recovery. The three common therapies for this addiction are reward system, cognitive behavioral therapy, and recovery group.
In the Reward System, the therapist will formulate certain rewards for every positive behavior and successful abstinence from using the drug. This reward can either be monetary or non-monetary and redeemable.
In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the therapist guides the patient in identifying risk factors that trigger the craving for the drug. After, formulation of preventive measures and positive coping mechanism are developed to handle these risk factors.
In Recovery Groups, the patient becomes a member of a group with a similar condition. This intervention aims to reinforce and enhance the social communication skills of each member through the sharing of experiences and insights. Likewise, the group can do a community extension to show one’s interest in being a productive member of society.
Always remember not to do self-medication as it can be very bias and there are no objective means of assessing one’s recovery. Make sure to consult a credible and trusted medical personnel, psychologist or counselor for advice and treatment.
