Pills for depression: the best remedies, drug treatment, what to drink. Pills for depression and stress without prescription Which drug is better to take after severe depression

Mental disorders, characterized mainly by a decrease in mood, motor retardation and thought failures, are a serious and dangerous disease, which is called depression. Many people believe that depression is not a disease and, moreover, does not carry any special danger, in which they are deeply mistaken. Depression is a rather dangerous type of disease, caused by the passivity and depression of a person.

This disease is characterized by signs of reduced self-esteem, indifference to one's life, loss of taste for it. Very often, a person with symptoms of depression finds salvation in alcoholic or, worse, psychotropic substances. These substances, of course, help to get rid of the signs and symptoms of the disease, but the issue of the cause of depression is not resolved. In addition, the use of harmful substances worsens the situation and leads to the complete loss of a person.

Bioton tablets

Bioton tablets - a herbal antidepressant is used as a stimulant for functional disorders of the nervous system, depression, chronic fatigue, mental and physical fatigue. The energy components of the phytopreparation cheer up and increase...

Remeron tablets

Remeron Tablets (Mirtazapine) is a tetracyclic antidepressant with a predominantly sedative effect. The drug is most effective in depressive states with the presence in the clinical picture of symptoms such as inability to experience pleasure and...

Selectra tablets

Selectra tablets are an antidepressant, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Inhibition of serotonin reuptake leads to an increase in the concentration of this neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft, enhances and prolongs its action on postsynaptic receptor ...

Chlorprothixen tablets

Tablets Chlorprothixene is an antipsychotic, antipsychotic, thymoleptic, antiemetic, anticonvulsant drug. It has antiserotonin, anticholinergic and adrenolytic activity. Blocks dopamine receptors in polyneuronal synapses of the brain ...

Cinatropil tablets

Cinatropil tablets are a combined drug with nootropic, antihypoxic, vasodilating effects due to the action of its components - piracetam and cinnarizine. The drug improves cerebral circulation and metabolism in the central nervous system, reducing the resistance of smooth...

Tablets Velaksin

Tablets Velaksin - an antidepressant chemically not related to any class of antidepressants (tricyclic, tetracyclic or others), is a racemate of two active enantomers. The mechanism of the antidepressant effect of the drug is associated with its ability to potentiate the transmission of a nerve impulse to ...

Sevpram tablets

Sevpram tablets are an antidepressant, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Inhibition of serotonin reuptake leads to an increase in the concentration of this neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft, enhances and prolongs its action on postsynaptic receptor sites. Escitalopram has no or...

Anantavati tablets

Anantavati tablets - a unique phytoneuroregulator of brain activity, restores the natural balance of the nervous system...

Neuroplant tablets

Plant-based Neuroplant tablets contain dry extract of St. John's wort herb as an active ingredient. It has antidepressant, anxiolytic and sedative effects. Dry extract from St. John's wort inhibits...

Fluoxetine tablets

Fluoxetine tablets are derivatives of propylamine. The mechanism of its action is due to the selective (selective) ability to suppress the reuptake of serotonin in the central nervous system. At the same time, Fluoxetine tablets have a minimal effect on the metabolism ...

Tablets Adepress

Adepress tablets is an antidepressant, a selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) reuptake inhibitor by brain neurons, which determines its antidepressant effect and effectiveness in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder.

Tablets Valdoxan

Valdoxan tablets are intended for oral administration. After entering the gastrointestinal tract, active active substances are quickly absorbed through its mucous membranes into the general bloodstream. Under the influence of the drug, the sensation disappears in patients ...

Simbalta tablets

Simbalta tablets are a drug that has an antidepressant effect. Cymbalta contains duloxetine, a compound that is a combined norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Duloxetine slightly inhibits dopamine uptake, almost no...

Azafen tablets

Azafen tablets is a tricyclic antidepressant and belongs to the group of drugs that non-selectively inhibit (suppress) neuronal uptake of monoamines. The antidepressant efficacy of the active ingredient of the drug - pipofezin is manifested due to its ...

Melitor tablets

Melitor tablets - an antidepressant, affects the nervous system, is effective in various forms of depression, as well as desynchronization of circadian rhythms, stress and anxiety. The composition of the drug includes an active ingredient - agomelatine - which is ...

Tablets Coaxil

Tablets Coaxil is an antidepressant from the group of tricyclic derivatives. The mechanism of action of Coaxil is associated with an increase in neuronal reuptake of serotonin by neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Increases the spontaneous activity of pyramidal cells and increases their speed...

Nervochel tablets

Nervochel tablets are a homeopathic remedy that has a sedative and hypnotic effect, relieves depression, and relieves convulsions. The listed properties of the drug are realized due to its composition. Nervochel tablets contain Ignatia bitter, processed...

Seroquel tablets

Seroquel tablets are an antipsychotic drug used to treat chronic and acute psychoses. Seroquel refers to antipsychotic drugs - neuroleptics. The active component of the drug, in comparison with dopamine D1- and D2-receptors in the brain, exhibits more ...

Trittiko tablets

Trittico tablets are an antidepressant of the triazolopyridine group. It affects mental (affective tension, irritability, fear, insomnia) and somatic symptoms of anxiety (palpitations, headache, muscle pain, frequent urination, sweating, hyperventilation)...

Atarax tablets

Atarax tablets contribute to the provision of sedative, antiemetic, antihistamine (eliminates itching and urticaria), analgesic effects, relaxation of skeletal and smooth muscles, improves memory and attention. The use of the drug lengthens the duration of sleep, reduces the frequency of night ...

Alora tablets

The pharmacological action of Alora tablets is due to the properties of the active component of plant origin - passionflower herb, containing flavonoids, harmanol alkaloids, quinones and other compounds that have a calming and less pronounced anticonvulsant ...

Afobazol tablets

Symptoms of depression

Not every depression is a mental illness, to recognize the ailment you need to know the clinical signs of depression. There are the most recognizable symptoms of the disease, but this does not mean that they will be the same for everyone. These symptoms are highlighted in patients who turn to a psychiatrist. Here's what they're complaining about:

sadness, pity, indifference,
feeling tired, losing energy,
desire to isolate from the environment, refusal to communicate with relatives and friends,
lack of interest in what has always attracted, ignoring important responsibilities,
irritability, replaced by causeless anger, tearfulness, disappointment, constant discontent,
on the part of the physical condition: headache, increased or lack of appetite, sharp fluctuations in weight, decreased libido,
sleep disorders,
self-accusatory thoughts, feelings of worthlessness and failure, hopelessness and, finally, thoughts of suicide,
inability to concentrate, difficult work that requires intellectual effort.

Even a few of these signs are enough to make a diagnosis of depression.

Types of depression

In order to get acquainted with the types of depression, you should not use the international classification. This is rather dry and schematic, and even for a person who does not have a special medical education, it will be incomprehensible and uninteresting. It is better to consider a variety of depressions depending on the most famous symptoms. The most significant division of depression into endogenous and reactive.

Endogenous depression (unipolar affective disorder)

Its development does not depend on external causes and its appearance is not the result of any life psychotraumatic events. But sometimes there are facts that can mislead experts. Endogenous depression is a consequence of dysfunction of the brain, nervous and endocrine systems. Most often this leads to:

lack of endogenous amines - they have antioxidant properties (antioxidant), they model and generate oxidative processes in the body, thereby preventing it from wearing out very quickly.
a decrease in the level of norepinephrine, which is synthesized from dopamine for the most part in the adrenal cortex, resembles adrenaline in its properties. Responsible for our wakefulness and our activity, in stressful situations it provides an immediate reaction of the “fight or flight” type, increases concentration, increases heart rate, raises blood pressure
a decrease in the level of serotonin, which affects motor activity, vascular tone, is similar to adrenaline in other properties.

Thus, endogenous depression is a deeper disorder of mental and physical activity. A person does not perform the simplest tasks associated with self-service, the use of physical force. Often such patients feel guilty, think about suicide with a tendency to realization. In the case of the development of endogenous depression, psychotherapy is ineffective. Patients are severely exhausted mentally and physically in order to work with a psychotherapist and carry out his tasks. This clinical case requires unconditional treatment by a psychiatrist and, if necessary, placement in a medical hospital.

Statistics say that 50% of patients with unipolar depression try to commit suicide, 15% still manage to complete their plan. An endogenous depressive episode lasts about 6 months, but there are deviations, plus or minus two months. Often, patients recover completely when it is possible to associate the disease with some kind of somatic (bodily) disorder and eliminate the cause, and sometimes it becomes chronic and maintenance therapy with antidepressants must be taken for life.

Dysthymia (neurotic disorder)

Chronic mood disorder for several years. It proceeds less malignantly than endogenous depression. To a friend, this condition can be called subdepression, since there are not enough symptoms to classify it as one of the types already described. The disease occurs in 20-30 years. The symptoms are milder, but the condition of people with dysthymia is still severe - constant depressed mood, hopelessness, sadness. The vital energy potential is low, interest in everything is lost, such people are unable to concentrate, there is no interest in what is happening.

The first cause of dysthymia is social maladjustment, which is the result of a deep trauma in the past: they felt in danger in childhood, suffered traumatic events that led to the loss of a goal, as a result, dreams and elementary needs were not satisfied and did not come true.

The second reason is external biological disorders and related genetic changes, as in endogenous depression.

Progress in treatment can be achieved with the help of psychotherapy in combination with drug therapy.

Reactive depression

This is a reaction to a specific event in life, such as the death of a loved one or the breakup of a love relationship. Symptoms are similar to all other types of depression, but there is little difference from endogenous depression, there is no feeling of guilt and remorse and delusional thoughts. An unusually long reaction to grief lasts for about a few months and then returns to normal. Reactive depression does not require treatment, as it goes away on its own. But it is precisely the case when they say “time heals”, but it is better to alleviate the symptoms and seek help from a psychiatrist or psychotherapist.

postpartum depression

This depression occurs in one in six women in the postpartum period. Such women in labor have a feeling of pity, fear, anxiety. The great difficulty in diagnosing this depression is to distinguish it from ordinary sadness. From two to four days after the birth of a child, strong hormonal fluctuations occur in a woman's body. A woman who has just given birth may burst into tears for no reason, or be extremely cheerful, very often there are sleep disturbances, a feeling of fear of harming her child due to ignorance of the care of the baby. But after a few weeks, everything returns to normal and the mood background stabilizes. If by the fourth or sixth month it was not possible to overcome the feeling of sadness and tearfulness, the likelihood of developing a depressive state is high. Feelings of guilt, pity, fear gradually increase and then, almost suddenly, the newly-made mother falls into depression. Depression itself causes severe psychological and physical (bodily) discomfort, a feeling of constant fatigue and continuous sadness.

There are also distinctive symptoms for postpartum depression - lack of a sense of happiness, depression of mental activity, which makes it difficult to manage the household and solve household issues, take care of yourself and your child, an eating disorder - overeating or hunger, a sense of time is lost (the mother may not feel the difference and not distinguish 10 minutes from an hour), tearfulness for no reason, anxiety and panic attacks, lack of sexual interest in your partner, pain without a clear localization in the back, abdomen, heart. Treatment of postpartum depression requires the immediate provision of specialized medical care, as the mother's interest in the child decreases and this can affect the health of the baby. It is also very important to prevent the development of postpartum psychosis (a mental disorder accompanied by inadequate emotional reactions and actions).

seasonal depression

This seasonal mood disorder is characterized by the fact that mood changes occur on a superficial mental level.

Depression can occur in the off-season, sometimes the symptoms are actively manifested in winter. Patients are worried about anxiety, drowsiness, there is a clear lack of energy, sadness, hopelessness, increased appetite and weight gain, irritability, difficulty concentrating, there is no motivation to act, women may experience severe premenstrual pain, eating sweets in large quantities is typical.

The main reason for the appearance of these mood disorders is the lack of sunlight.

Bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder

Bipolar disorder is characterized by the periodic alternation of a state of mania or manic psychosis, depression and a normal state. It is one of the most severe cases of mood disorders. Bipolar depression usually begins in the 20s and 30s with an episode of mania that lasts from a few hours to several months. The episode itself is characterized by a sharp rise in mood, sexual emancipation, high self-esteem, an influx of ideas and thoughts, even when feeling sick, the patient can “turn mountains”. The clinical picture resembles the condition of a person who has taken the psychoactive substance amphetamine.

A depressive episode is similar to the previously described endogenous depression.

The causes of the disease are poorly understood. There are several hypotheses:

poor functioning of neurotransmitters
microtrauma or brain injury
genetic factors
intrauterine developmental defects

Often bipolar disorder is combined with alcoholism. The disease itself leads to social maladjustment, unusual conditions of the patient violate communication skills. The risk of suicide is very high - every fifth patient completes suicide.

The treatment of such depression is difficult, since when one episode is eliminated, it is often replaced by another. They are treated mainly with medications. Patients are under the supervision of a psychiatrist.

Features of depression in menopause

For many years it was thought that menopause caused depression, but then the World Health Organization did research. According to the data, the incidence of depression in women during menopause is not higher than in the rest of the population, but depression is often associated with age-related hormonal changes. In the search for the relationship between depression and menopause, several possible causes have been identified:

depression is caused by the loss of the possibility of procreation. As a rule, women who do not have children get sick, allegedly regretting the missed opportunity to become pregnant and start a family.
a decrease in estrogen levels, which affects serotonin levels. Due to the lack of a hormone, “hot flashes” appear, sleep is disturbed, which can aggravate depression.
psychosocial changes such as retirement, death of a spouse, children moving away from home.

Thus, there is no conclusive evidence that menopause causes depression, but it is certainly the cause that dominates the development of mood disorders. A risk factor is the presence of depressive episodes in the past. But it is not necessary that happy and healthy women during menopause begin to feel depressed and sad.

Magnesium deficiency leads to depression

Even in healthy people who do not have a predisposition to mood disorders, a deficiency of this element can cause depression. Magnesium is necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system, as it is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses.

With a lack of this element, irritability, impaired memory and concentration, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic fatigue appear. To avoid the development of the disease, you should include magnesium-rich foods (buckwheat, peanuts, cocoa) in your diet, exclude or limit the use of coffee and alcohol.

Features of depression in men

Not only women suffer from depression, although according to statistics, there are twice as many women with this disease. Symptoms are slightly different in men, most likely due to cultural considerations. Men think: "How can I afford it, I'm a man", there was a stereotype "men don't cry". Depression, as it were, infringes on courage, so men hide and do not seek help. Depression is considered, in the opinion of the male part of the population, a “female disease”, and the image of a man is the embodiment of strength and rigidity. Although sometimes women expect manifestations of tenderness and affection from men, no one wants to see a crybaby and a whiner at home. The task of modern psychiatry is to inform society that men, like women, are susceptible to depression. In the absence of the necessary treatment, the patient's next step is suicide. There are 80 suicides per 100 men with depression.

Insomnia and depression

Every tenth person suffers from chronic insomnia. Alternating depression and insomnia is a vicious cycle, one disease provokes another. As a result of lack of sleep, stress, fatigue, and bad mood accumulate. How to break this "vicious circle", provide yourself with a normal sleep and prevent the development of depression?

First of all, take care of the hygiene of your sleep and restore the correct daily routine. Here are the simple rules:

do not sleep during the day for more than 15 minutes,
be physically active throughout the day
avoid psychostimulants (coffee, tea),
do not overeat at dinner, reduce intellectual stress in the evening, as they contribute to mental arousal, eat before bedtime,
sleep at a temperature of 3-5 degrees below normal,
goes to bed at the same time

Do not start taking sleeping pills, as they are addictive.

Treatment for depression

Light treatment

Depression is described as a disease of civilization, so the market for services to help with this disease is growing rapidly, technical capabilities contribute to this. More and more modern methods for the treatment of diseases of this type are constantly emerging, such as, for example, phototherapy or light therapy. In the treatment of mood disorders, visible radiation, infrared or ultraviolet light is used. Sources can be natural or specially equipped fotaria.

You should also know that such an unconventional method as light therapy has found its application in the treatment of colds and allergies. For this purpose, red light is used.

The light treatment method is excellent for the treatment of seasonal depression, when daylight hours are still short, light treatment has a beneficial effect on the body. The underlying mechanism is based on the properties of tissue warming, as a result of which the metabolism is accelerated, relaxation in the muscles occurs. The resulting effect was called phytochemotherapy.

Light therapy is very important in our latitudes, since the local climate does not expect many sunny days, the weather in our region significantly affects mood deterioration.

If the medical institutions you know are not equipped with special equipment for phototherapy, then you can use the services of beauty salons to prevent the development of depression. Often they have at their disposal infrared saunas, Zepter "bioptron", as well as, in extreme cases, solariums. It is very good to relax in hot countries in the off-season, when the sun is not so aggressive.

Treatment of depression with a psychologist

The best way to treat depression is a combination of psychotherapy and drug treatment using pharmacological agents.

The causal method of treatment is a method based on the search for the cause that caused depression. Understanding the cause is difficult for the patient, as sometimes it lies in the depths of the subconscious and causes a depressed mood. The doctor has a specific therapeutic plan for the treatment of depression, it is based on the elimination of the root causes of the symptoms that arise. The psychotherapist determines the tasks for the patient, which are subsequently solved in sessions with him, and also provides incentive activities that will please the patient. The session lasts about an hour, working with the patient for a longer time can exhaust his psyche, so you need to try to keep within this time frame.

The patient, under the guidance of a psychotherapist, begins work on his own psyche. Together with the doctor, a search for memories is made, the patient answers personal questions that he has kept secret for a long time.

According to Freud's teachings, pathological (painful, incorrect) thinking is destroyed and is built in a new way correctly. The key to success is close cooperation between the therapist and the patient. The role of the doctor is auxiliary, he does not give any instructions. The patient goes all the way to recovery on his own, the doctor only leads to the right decision. The result of this therapy is aimed at the fact that the patient would learn to think positively and not allow negative thinking. How to catch bad thoughts and isolate them.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - The patient attempts to organize their thoughts in a cause-and-effect manner, trying to identify a logical relationship between their actions and consequences. This method is more superficial, takes less time, does not cause irreversible changes in the patient's personality.

Group psychotherapy is also effective, aimed at socialization, communication of the patient with other people with a similar problem. This method helps the patient to function better in the surrounding microenvironment, to recover faster.

Hide depression and survive on your own

All mental illnesses are stigmatized, and the same goes for depression. However, we are not always able to experience it in secret from others, especially if we decide to really fight the disease. We shouldn't feel embarrassed about having a mental illness, but we're even afraid to admit it to ourselves. Many feel fear that they will be excluded from normal society, classed as abnormal or "crazy". Without acknowledging your illness and being frank with those close to you, it is impossible to completely get rid of depression. Mental balance will not be restored, the symptoms will and will return, because you have not completed the full course of treatment. Try to get rid of prejudice, depression is not a stigma and shame.

Pharmacological treatment of depression

Opinions of doctors and patients about pharmacotherapy may be different. About 20 years ago, it was believed that antidepressants should be used for manifestations of depression, but then it turned out that antidepressants have not only a curative, but also a preventive effect. After stopping the intake, they are very quickly excreted from the body and depression can recur. It has been established that the duration of treatment should be 6-12 months. Supportive or prophylactic treatment is prescribed in cases where patients had more than three depressive episodes in a short period of time or in persons who had more severe manifestations of the disease and did not return to a completely normal state, as well as in cases of hereditary predisposition to dysphoria, with difficult life situations that lead to the development of stress.

Depression is diverse in its forms, so the effects of taking antidepressants can be completely different, and the recovery process for patients also looks different.

Antidepressants affect all symptoms of depression or lead to their complete disappearance. Often the first sign of drug action is improved sleep. Sleep becomes deep, nightmares disappear. In another case, the sedative effect is more pronounced. Irritability decreases, symptoms of fear and anxiety decrease. But it will take at least a week, or even a month, before the patient begins to feel improved mood, serenity, complete and deeper peace.

In the course of the entire treatment, a favorable trend always dominates. More significant improvements occur after 3-4 weeks, and depressive symptoms completely disappear after 1-2 months. There are exceptions, when patients already from the second day of taking antidepressants feel much better.

In the vast majority of cases, treatment for depression is characterized as substantially effective and is recommended for all patients with mood disorders.

Tranquilizers or benzodiazepines to treat depression

A group of strictly prescription narcotic drugs with a strong sedative and anti-anxiety effect. In the treatment of depression, they are used to block the time when the antidepressant has not yet begun to act. Then slowly the drug is canceled, because with prolonged use, the tranquilizer will cause addiction, and this is already an independent disease that will complicate the course of depression.

Benzodiazepines with a more pronounced anti-anxiety effect: phenazepam, alprazolam, bromazepam, gidazepam, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, chlorazepate, diazepam, lorazepam, medazepam, nordazepam, oxazepam, prazepam.

Tranquilizers with a hypnotic effect are used in the treatment of depression, where correction of sleep disorders is necessary, drugs: brotizolam, estazolam, flunitrazepam, flurazepam, loprazolam, lormetrazepam, midazolam, nimetazepam, nitrazepam, temazepam, triazolam.

Physical therapy for depression

Electroconvulsive therapy is an aggressive method known since 1940. Causes convulsions from electric shock. The current passes through the brain and thus a positive effect is achieved in the treatment. The decision to use this type of therapy depends on the severity of depression, provided that antidepressant treatment is ineffective.

Electrosleep therapy - pulses of low-frequency current of low strength, which affect the cerebral cortex and cause inhibition. Impulses are fed into the skull using a special device through the eye sockets. Increases brain nutrition, soothes, improves sleep.

Darsonvalization of the scalp and face - rapidly decaying current of high frequency, high voltage, low power. Relaxes, increases blood flow, nourishes tissues.

Massage - effective manual, hardware or self-massage. Helps to relax muscles, has a sedative effect.

Oxygen therapy - placement in a special chamber. The effect is the supply of cells with oxygen under pressure.

Prevention of depression

Take care of yourself, be a little selfish. Take some time for yourself, relax.
Always get enough sleep. Go to bed at the same time, close the room from daylight, this contributes to the production of melatonin (sleep hormone)
Lead an active lifestyle. Movement is the best antidepressant. Daily walks in the fresh air give the body energy and keep a good mood.
Eat healthy food. Think about your diet, make sure the food is low in fat, high in protein, rich in vitamins and minerals. Some products have natural ingredients that would prevent a decline in mood and help restore well-being. If you do not know how to organize your diet, you can consult a nutritionist.
Chat with friends and acquaintances. Depression isolates, closes in the walls of grief. If you feel that you are not sociable, worried that your acquaintances or friends have pulled away from you and think badly of you, try talking to them about it. When we feel bad, our judgment of others changes. If possible, try to maintain previous contacts with friends and colleagues.
Immediately without consulting a doctor, do not use psychotropic and psychoactive substances. Alcohol, drugs, sedatives (benzodiazepines) will bring only temporary relief and cause addiction.
If you have problems that you cannot cope with, seek the help of a psychotherapist. This will allow you to take timely action.

Depression is a serious mental illness that requires mandatory treatment. It is possible to do without drug therapy only at the initial stage of the pathology. In other cases, the psychotherapist prescribes drugs that are dispensed from pharmacies only by prescription. Treatment of depression is long - from 3 months. The first improvements will appear no earlier than 2 weeks of regular use of drugs. Pills for depression are selected on an individual basis, their choice depends on the overall clinical picture of the disease.

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Antidepressants

Antidepressants are the mainstay of treatment for various types of depression. These drugs regulate the concentration of neurotransmitters - serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine - and restore the biochemical background in the brain. Antidepressants help improve mood and activate psychomotor. Thanks to their use, the feeling of constant fatigue, anxiety, fear, apathy and anxiety disappears. Antidepressants are divided into the following groups:

Tricyclic.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors.

Treatment with antidepressants is undesirable for diseases of the heart, kidneys and liver. In extreme cases, the doctor selects the safest medicines with a minimum number of side effects. In severe depression, supportive medications may be needed to enhance the work of antidepressants.

If side effects appear after taking the tablets, this should be reported to the attending physician. It is strictly forbidden to stop taking antidepressants, as this can aggravate depression. The duration of the course of treatment is determined by the doctor individually.

Tricyclic

They are the cheapest and most common. These are the first antidepressants that were synthesized in the 50s of the last century. Their action is to capture serotonin and norepinephrine by neurons. They have a stimulating and sedative effect. The drugs of this group have a powerful effect and are used for depression of different stages. Tricyclic antidepressants include:

Amitriptyline.
Azaphen.
Coax.
Imipramine.
Doxepin.
Clomipramine.

The disadvantage of these drugs is a large number of side effects. Often they cause dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention and tachycardia. In the elderly, they can cause confusion, visual hallucinations, and increased anxiety. Long-term use of tricyclic antidepressants reduces libido and can lead to cardiotoxic effects.

IMAO

They block the action of the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which destroys serotonin and norepinephrine, which leads to an increase in these substances in the blood. Drugs are prescribed for the ineffectiveness of tricyclic antidepressants, atypical depression and dysthymia. The most common medicines:

Melipramine.
Pyrazidol.
Befol.
Tetrindol.
Metrolindol.
Sidnofen.
Moclobemide.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors begin to act only after a few weeks from the start of use. They can lead to pressure fluctuations, swelling of the extremities, dizziness and weight gain. These drugs are prescribed quite rarely due to the need to follow a special diet and avoid products containing tyramine.

SSRIs

Antidepressants of the modern class, the action of which is based on blocking the reuptake of serotonin. This group of drugs affects exclusively this substance, which makes them less aggressive to the human body. They have few side effects. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors include:

Sertraline.
fluoxetine.
Paroxetine.
Prozac.
fluvoxamine.
Citalopram.

These antidepressants are used for depression, accompanied by obsessive thoughts, anxiety and panic. Their use makes a person balanced and adequate. In severe forms of depression may be ineffective.

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

The latest generation drugs that act on 3 types of receptors - norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. In terms of effectiveness, they are not inferior to tricyclic ones, but they have a minimum number of contraindications and side effects. The drugs in this group include:

agomelatine.
Melitor.
Velaksin.
Alventu.

These antidepressants regulate human biological rhythms. With their help, in a week you can normalize sleep and daily activity. They help with severe depressive conditions and in a short time remove the feeling of anxiety, loss of strength and nervous strain.

tranquilizers

With depression, accompanied by anxiety, tearfulness, fear and insomnia, tranquilizers may be included in the treatment regimen. Therapy with these drugs is carried out only under the supervision of a doctor, as they can be addictive and drug dependence.

When prescribing tranquilizers, the dose increases gradually - from the minimum to the optimum to achieve a therapeutic effect. The course of treatment should be small and not exceed 2-3 weeks. The most powerful and effective tranquilizers include:

Chlordiazepoxide.
Elenium.
diazepam.
Seduxen.
Lorazepam.
Bromazepam.
Phenazepam.

Taking tranquilizers affects the speed of psychomotor reactions and concentration. Side effects include drowsiness, muscle weakness, tremors, constipation, urinary incontinence, and decreased libido. During treatment with these medicines, it is forbidden to take alcohol.

Antipsychotics

They have a pronounced antipsychotic effect and depressing effect on the entire nervous system. Their use is relevant for severe arousal, hallucinations, delirium and apathy. These drugs affect all organs and systems and should be taken only with pronounced changes in human behavior. The list of the best neuroleptics includes:

Aminazin.
Tizercin.
Leponex.
Truxal.
Haloperidol.
Fluanxol.
Zeldox.

Antipsychotics lead to a decrease in dopamine levels, which can cause muscle stiffness, tremors, and hypersalivation. They can also cause increased drowsiness, reduced concentration and mental deterioration. The safest antipsychotics with a mild effect are Rispolept, Clozapine, Olapzapin.

Nootropics

These medications normalize cerebral circulation and improve mental abilities. Unlike other drugs used in the treatment of depression, nootropics are not addictive, do not slow down a person's activity, and do not have a negative effect on the brain.

Their purpose is relevant in case of a decrease in the level of vital activity and mental abilities, a violation of the adaptive function of the body. These drugs help stabilize mood and can be used for nervousness, irascibility and impulsivity. Nootropics should be included in the treatment regimen for depression accompanied by mania.

The drugs are prescribed for astheno-depressive conditions and as an adjuvant in neuroleptic therapy to eliminate lethargy and drowsiness. They can be used prophylactically by healthy people who are often under stress. The cheapest and most common nootropics are:

Piracetam.
Nicergoline.
Nootropil.
Phenotropil.
Mildronate.

In most cases, nootropics are well tolerated. Sometimes they can cause headaches, agitation, sweating, dry mouth, tachycardia and euphoria. If side effects and individual intolerance occur, the use of drugs should be abandoned.

Treatment of depression during lactation and pregnancy

During pregnancy, taking pills for depression is especially relevant. If the expectant mother is in a depressed state, then she endangers not only herself, but also the child. A disorder of the nervous system can provoke postpartum depression, this condition requires treatment under the supervision of a qualified specialist.

Particular care must be taken when choosing medications in the first trimester to avoid congenital fetal anomalies. Often, doctors prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to expectant mothers, which are the safest for the patient's body. These include:

Fluxen.
Sertraline.
Paroxetine.

A few weeks before the birth, it is necessary to stop using antidepressants so that the child does not inherit the addiction. During the entire course of treatment, the patient's condition should be monitored by a doctor. For early stage depression, doctors recommend avoiding serious prescription drugs. They can be replaced with herbal medicines, which include St. John's wort, motherwort, valerian, thyme.

When breastfeeding (LF), antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs can also have a negative effect on the baby. The list of pills that are allowed during pregnancy includes:

Valerian preparations.
Motherwort.
Nott.
Glycine.
Novo-Passit.
Persen.

If herbal preparations during lactation did not have the desired effect and the nursing mother has a severe form of depression, the doctor prescribes antidepressants, and the newborn is transferred to artificial nutrition. During HB, therapy most often includes the following drugs:

Zoloft. The safest antidepressant for mothers during lactation. It has a pronounced therapeutic effect and in a short time helps to cope with feelings of anxiety and apathy.
Amitriptyline. The concentration of the drug in milk is low, but the antidepressant itself has a large number of side effects and can cause individual intolerance. It belongs to the very first drugs of the group and is sold only by prescription.
fluvoxamine. An effective remedy, but during its administration it is necessary to stop lactation. This medication has not been studied enough.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, tranquilizers and antipsychotics are prohibited, the course of treatment with antidepressants should be at least 6 months. The choice of dosage and drug is carried out by a doctor.

Preparations for children

Mild depression in children is treated with psychotherapy and natural remedies. Doctors recommend drinking the following safe medicines:

St. John's wort.
Fish fat.
Novo-Passit.

With depressive disorders of the middle and severe stages, the psychotherapist prescribes antidepressants. Under the age of 12, fluoxetine is the safest and most effective drug. After 12, the list of medicines increases and includes:

Cipralex.
Lexapro.
Escitopralam.
Tizercin.
Amitriptyline.

Difficulties in the treatment of childhood depression are that in 50% of cases the patient's body is immune to antidepressants. You can notice this already from the second week of using the medication, when the positive effect of therapy is completely absent. In such cases, the doctor replaces the antidepressant. Also, drugs in this group have a negative effect on the liver and increase the risk of its toxic damage.

During therapy with antidepressants, it is necessary to carefully monitor the child and discuss his condition with him. The effect of the treatment occurs after 4-7 weeks, and the course has a duration of 6 months. You should not stop taking medications on your own - before that, you need to consult with a psychotherapist who will help you correctly reduce the dosage and reduce the concentration of the antidepressant in the blood to a minimum.

Treatment of depression should be carried out under the supervision of a physician. All psychotropic drugs are prescribed in an individual dosage; it is impossible to choose an effective scheme on your own.

Antidepressants are drugs that are active against depression. Depression is a mental disorder characterized by a decrease in mood, a weakening of motor activity, intellectual scarcity, an erroneous assessment of one's "I" in the surrounding reality, and somatovegetative disorders.

The most likely cause of depression is a biochemical theory, according to which there is a decrease in the level of neurotransmitters - biogenic substances in the brain, as well as a reduced sensitivity of receptors to these substances.

All drugs in this group are divided into several classes, but now - about history.

History of the discovery of antidepressants

Since ancient times, mankind has approached the issue of treating depression with different theories and hypotheses. Ancient Rome was famous for its ancient Greek physician named Soranus of Ephesus, who offered lithium salts for the treatment of mental disorders, including depression.

In the course of scientific and medical progress, some scientists resorted to a number of substances that were used against the war with depression - ranging from cannabis, opium and barbiturates, ending with amphetamines. The last of them, however, was used in the treatment of apathetic and sluggish depressions, which were accompanied by stupor and refusal of food.

The first antidepressant was synthesized in the laboratories of the Geigy company in 1948. This drug has become. After that, they conducted clinical studies, but did not begin to release it until 1954, when it was received. Since then, many antidepressants have been discovered, the classification of which we will discuss later.

Magic pills - their groups

All antidepressants are divided into 2 large groups:

Timiretics- drugs with a stimulating effect, which are used to treat depressive conditions with signs of depression and oppression.
thymoleptics- drugs with sedative properties. Treatment of depressions with predominantly excitatory processes.

Indiscriminate action:

Selective Action:

block the uptake of serotonin- Flunisan, Sertraline,;
block the uptake of norepinephrine- Maproteline, Reboxetine.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors:

indiscriminate(inhibit monoamine oxidase A and B) - Transamine;
electoral(inhibit monoamine oxidase A) - Autorix.

Antidepressants of other pharmacological groups - Coaxil, Mirtazapine.

Mechanism of action of antidepressants

In short, antidepressants can correct some of the processes that occur in the brain. The human brain is made up of a huge number of nerve cells called neurons. A neuron consists of a body (soma) and processes - axons and dendrites. The connection of neurons with each other is carried out through these processes.

It should be clarified that they communicate with each other by a synapse (synaptic cleft), which is located between them. Information from one neuron to another is transmitted with the help of a biochemical substance - a mediator. Currently, about 30 different mediators are known, but the following triad is associated with depression: serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine. By regulating their concentration, antidepressants correct the impaired brain function due to depression.

The mechanism of action differs depending on the group of antidepressants:

Neuronal uptake inhibitors(indiscriminate action) block the reuptake of mediators - serotonin and norepinephrine.
Serotonin neuronal uptake inhibitors: Inhibit the process of serotonin uptake, increasing its concentration in the synaptic cleft. A distinctive feature of this group is the absence of m-anticholinergic activity. Only a slight effect on α-adrenergic receptors is exerted. For this reason, such antidepressants are virtually free of side effects.
Norepinephrine neuronal uptake inhibitors: prevent the reuptake of norepinephrine.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that destroys the structure of neurotransmitters, as a result of which they are inactivated. Monoamine oxidase exists in two forms: MAO-A and MAO-B. MAO-A acts on serotonin and norepinephrine, MAO-B on dopamine. MAO inhibitors block the action of this enzyme, thereby increasing the concentration of mediators. As drugs of choice in the treatment of depression, MAO-A inhibitors are more often stopped.

Modern classification of antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants

There are data on the effective use of antidepressants as an auxiliary pharmacotherapy for early ejaculation and smoking.

Side effects

Since these antidepressants have a variety of chemical structures and mechanisms of action, side effects may vary. But all antidepressants have the following common symptoms when they are taken: hallucinations, agitation, insomnia, the development of a manic syndrome.

Thymoleptics cause psychomotor retardation, drowsiness and lethargy, decreased concentration. Thymiretics can lead to psychoproductive symptoms (psychosis) and an increase.

The most common side effects include:

constipation;
mydriasis;
urinary retention;
intestinal atony;
violation of the act of swallowing;
tachycardia;
impaired cognitive functions (impaired memory and learning processes).

Elderly patients may experience - disorientation, anxiety, visual hallucinations. In addition, the risk of weight gain, the development of orthostatic hypotension, neurological disorders (,) increases.

With prolonged use - cardiotoxic effect (cardiac conduction disorders, arrhythmias, ischemic disorders), decreased libido.

When taking selective inhibitors of neuronal serotonin uptake, the following reactions are possible: gastroenterological - dyspeptic syndrome: abdominal pain, dyspepsia, constipation, vomiting and nausea. Increased anxiety levels, insomnia, increased fatigue, tremors, impaired libido, loss of motivation and emotional dullness.

Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors cause such side effects as: insomnia, dry mouth, dizziness, constipation, bladder atony, irritability and aggressiveness.

Tranquilizers and antidepressants: what's the difference?

From this we can conclude that tranquilizers and antidepressants have different mechanisms of action and differ significantly from each other. Tranquilizers are not able to treat depressive disorders, so their appointment and use is irrational.

The power of "magic pills"

Depending on the severity of the disease and the effect of the application, several groups of drugs can be distinguished.

Strong antidepressants - are effectively used in the treatment of severe depression:

- has a pronounced antidepressant and sedative properties. The onset of the therapeutic effect is observed after 2-3 weeks. Side effects: tachycardia, constipation, urination disorders and dry mouth.
Maprotiline,- similar to Imipramine.
Paroxetine– high antidepressant activity and anxiolytic action. It is taken once a day. The therapeutic effect develops within 1-4 weeks after the start of treatment.

Light antidepressants - are prescribed in cases of moderate and mild depression:

Doxepin- improves mood, eliminates apathy and depression. A positive effect of therapy is observed after 2-3 weeks of taking the drug.
- has antidepressant, sedative and hypnotic properties.
Tianeptine- relieves motor retardation, improves mood, increases the overall tone of the body. It leads to the disappearance of somatic complaints caused by anxiety. Due to the presence of a balanced action, it is indicated for anxious and inhibited depressions.

Herbal natural antidepressants:

St. John's wort- contains hepericin, which has antidepressant properties.
Novo-Passit- it contains valerian, hops, St. John's wort, hawthorn, lemon balm. Contributes to the disappearance, and.
Persen- also incorporates a collection of herbs peppermint, lemon balm, valerian. Has a sedative effect.
Hawthorn, wild rose - have a sedative property.

Our TOP 30: the best antidepressants

We analyzed almost all antidepressants that are available for sale at the end of 2016, studied the reviews and compiled a list of the top 30 drugs that have virtually no side effects, but at the same time are very effective and perform their tasks well (each one):

Agomelatine- used for episodes of major depression of various origins. The effect comes after 2 weeks.
- provokes inhibition of serotonin uptake, are used for depressive episodes, the effect occurs after 7-14 days.
Azafen- used for depressive episodes. The treatment course is at least 1.5 months.
Azona- increases the content of serotonin, is included in the group of strong antidepressants.
Aleval- prevention and treatment of depressive conditions of various etiologies.
Amizol- prescribed for and arousal, behavioral disorders, depressive episodes.
– stimulation of catecholaminergic transmission. It has an adrenoblocking and anticholinergic effect. Scope of application - depressive episodes,.
Asentra is a specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It is indicated for, in the treatment of depression.
Aurorix- MAO-A inhibitor. Used for depression and phobias.
Brintellix- antagonist of serotonin receptors 3, 7, 1d, agonist of 1a serotonin receptors, correction and depression.
Valdoxan- a stimulant of melatonin receptors, to a small extent a blocker of a subgroup of serotonin receptors. Therapy.
Velaksin- an antidepressant of another chemical group, enhances neurotransmitter activity.
- used for mild depression.
Venlaxor is a powerful serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Weak β-blocker. Therapy for depression and anxiety disorders.
Heptor- in addition to antidepressant activity, it has antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. Well tolerated.
Herbion Hypericum- a drug based on herbs, is included in the group of natural antidepressants. It is prescribed for mild depression and.
Deprex- an antidepressant has an antihistamine effect, is used in the treatment.
Default- an inhibitor of serotonin uptake, has a weak effect on dopamine and norepinephrine. There is no stimulating and sedative effect. The effect develops 2 weeks after administration.
- antidepressant and sedative effect occurs due to the presence of St. John's wort extract. Approved for the treatment of children.
Doxepin- H1 serotonin receptor blocker. The action develops 10-14 days after the start of administration. Indications -
Miansan- stimulator of adrenergic transmission in the brain. It is prescribed for and depression of various origins.
Miracitol- enhances the action of serotonin, increases its content in the synapse. In combination with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, it has pronounced adverse reactions.
Negrustin- antidepressant of plant origin. Effective in mild depressive disorders.
Newwelong- serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.
Prodep- selectively blocks the uptake of serotonin, increasing its concentration. Does not cause a decrease in the activity of β-adrenergic receptors. Effective in depression.
Citalon- a high-precision serotonin uptake blocker, minimally affects the concentration of dopamine and norepinephrine.

There is something for everyone

Antidepressants are most often expensive, we have compiled a list of the most inexpensive of them by increasing price, at the beginning of which are the cheapest drugs, and at the end of the more expensive ones:

The truth is always beyond theory

To understand the whole point about modern, even the best antidepressants, to understand what their benefits and harms are, it is also necessary to study the reviews of people who had to take them. As you can see, there is nothing good in their reception.

Tried to fight depression with antidepressants. She quit, because the result is depressing. I looked for a lot of information about them, read a lot of sites. There is conflicting information everywhere, but wherever I read it, they write that there is nothing good in them. She herself experienced shaking, breaking, dilated pupils. Frightened, I decided that they do not need me.

Three years ago, depression began, while running to the clinics to the doctors, it got worse. There was no appetite, she lost interest in life, there was no sleep, her memory deteriorated. I visited a psychiatrist, he prescribed Stimulaton for me. I felt the effect at the 3rd month of taking it, I stopped thinking about the disease. I drank for about 10 months. Helped me.

Karina, 27

It is important to remember that antidepressants are not harmless drugs and you should consult your doctor before using them. He will be able to choose the right drug and its dosage.

You should carefully monitor your mental health and contact specialized institutions in a timely manner so as not to aggravate the situation, but to get rid of the disease in time.

Patients with depression require mandatory medical treatment. Only at the initial stage of the disease can you do without drugs. In other cases, the doctor individually prescribes pills for depression to the patient in order to prevent complications.

Are Depression Drugs Dangerous?

Depressant sedatives can be dangerous when used long-term and when overdosed. In this case, the body gets used to these drugs. At the same time, the patient feels constant anxiety and cannot sleep peacefully. You should not self-medicate with depression, before taking medications, you should always consult with a specialist.

What to drink for depression

There are several groups of drugs that help fight depression. The choice of medicines depends on the stage of the disease and the condition of the patient. After a thorough examination, the doctor prescribes the necessary course of treatment.

Antidepressants

The main drugs used in the treatment of depression are antidepressants. The disease often occurs against the background of problems with serotonin, the lack of this hormone causes a decrease in concentration, memory impairment, mood deterioration. Antidepressants are used to increase serotonin levels.

With mild and moderate stages of the disease, new generation drugs are used. They are mild, non-addictive, and do not harm the general health of the patient. These antidepressants are divided into sedatives and stimulants, they can be purchased at the pharmacy without a doctor's prescription, these include: Afobazol, Persen, Novo-Passit, Zyban, etc.

tranquilizers

Complex therapy may include drugs for depression, accompanied by anxiety, panic, aggression, insomnia, causeless tearfulness - these are tranquilizers. Treatment begins with a minimum dosage, which is gradually increased. The course of therapy should not exceed 3 weeks to avoid addiction of the body. Effective drugs include: Elenium, Seduxen, Phenazepam, Diazepam, etc.

Antipsychotics

With overexcitation, which is accompanied by hallucinations and delusional states, patients are prescribed antipsychotics. These drugs should be taken only with severe changes in the patient's behavior, because they act on all systems and organs. Clozapine, Rispolept are considered effective medicines with a mild effect.

Nootropics

For mild depression, over-the-counter drugs - nootropics - are prescribed. They do not reduce the activity of the patient and do not affect the functioning of the brain. Nootropics are used in a nervous state, irascibility to improve mood and increase efficiency. Thanks to them, mental abilities increase, drowsiness and lethargy disappear. These drugs can be used as a prophylaxis if a person is often under stress.

Common nootropics include: Phenotropil, Piracetam, Mildronate.

Contraindications and side effects

Sedatives for depression should not be taken for a long time and without medical supervision. There are a number of factors in which these drugs are contraindicated:

individual intolerance to the constituent components;
glaucoma;
stroke and heart attack;
pregnancy and lactation;
age under 18 years old.

Antidepressants are not recommended for patients with diseases of the liver, kidneys, heart. Tranquilizers can cause drowsiness in patients, muscle weakness, and reduced concentration. Constipation, urinary incontinence, and decreased sexual desire may occur.

Taking neuroleptics can lead to increased drowsiness, muscle stiffness, and reduced mental capacity. Taking nootropics in some cases can cause headaches, excessive sweating, overexcitation and heart palpitations.

Treating depression without medication

At the initial stage, drug treatment for depression can be replaced by other equally effective methods. Under the guidance of a specialist, the patient is invited to independently identify and analyze negative emotions, to understand the reason for their appearance. Such consultations help to get rid of anxiety and find solutions to their problems.

To cope with depression, feasible physical exercises that contribute to the production of serotonin also help. It is useful to take daily walks in the fresh air, outdoor games and swimming are recommended.

Massage has a relaxing effect, after which patients feel calm and protected, while stressful situations are more easily tolerated. A relaxing massage can alternate with an active one that invigorates and tones. It is useful to combine massage procedures with aromatherapy.

Yoga and meditation are considered powerful tools in the fight against depression. Acupuncture is also practiced, in which biologically active points on the body are irritated.

With this disease, it is useful to drink infusions and decoctions using such medicinal herbs as mint, lemon balm, chamomile, dog rose, St. John's wort, hawthorn. It improves mood and nutrition, the diet should include meat dishes, various cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits. To saturate the body with B vitamins, it is necessary to consume pine nuts. The daily menu should include dairy products, cheese, mushrooms, bananas.

The number of patients suffering from depression increases with the onset of autumn, there is a lack of sunlight. In this case, sessions of light therapy are prescribed, bright light increases vitality. If possible, stressful situations should be avoided, favorite activities and good rest will help in this.

All of these methods help to reduce the unpleasant symptoms that occur with depression, without drugs.

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By "" many of us often understand simply a "bad", dreary state. But this is not true. Depression is a serious mental illness, and mere comfort is not an effective remedy for it. One of the essential treatments for depression is medication. Pills for depression must be selected correctly and carefully, and only a specialist should do this.

What medications to take for depression

If depression has taken you by surprise, you can’t get away from taking pills. And the main drugs in this case are antidepressants, the name of which directly speaks of their only purpose.

Additional drugs used for various types of depression are antipsychotics, tranquilizers, nootropics and sedatives. Each drug should also be selected only by a qualified specialist. Incorrect selection of drugs can result in the fact that the effect of the treatment will be the opposite of what is expected. So, antipsychotics are drugs used to inhibit reactions in case of increased excitability, and in forms of depression associated with slow reactions of the body, they will not have the desired effect. Various drugs have certain side effects, the implementation of which can be dangerous for the patient if used incorrectly.

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The best cure for depression is antidepressants.

Antidepressants are the main drugs for combating various forms of depression. They are psychotropic drugs, that is, those that have a strong effect on the functioning of the central nervous system.

Antidepressants affect the level of neurotransmitters in the body, in particular, the presence of norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. The effect of their action for the patient is that his mood rises, longing, fear, and anxiety decrease, appetite and sleep normalize, apathy disappears, and mental activity increases. The action of these drugs in a sense is similar to the action of drugs, which are also classified as psychotropic substances. But there are also differences. For example, many antidepressants do not improve mood in people who do not suffer from depression, that is, they are initially “sharpened” only for pathological manifestations of mental activity.

The effectiveness of antidepressants in recent times, however, has been disputed in some studies. It is possible that they show their real effectiveness only in severe manifestations of the disease, and in other cases their action is close to the effect. However, these considerations have not been definitively proven.

The whole variety of antidepressants can be divided into several types.:

MAO inhibitors (monoamine oxidase) - an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitter molecules. Nialamide and Moclobemide are examples of such drugs.
Means that stop the process of reuptake of monoamines (the same molecules of neurotransmitters). Such drugs are Fluoxetine, Maprotiline, Imipramine and others. Such drugs can be selective (that is, block the uptake of only serotonin or noradrenaline) or non-selective (block the uptake of all monoamines).
Monoamine receptor agonists, that is, those agents which excite said receptors.

Various antidepressants have other features of action. Among them there are preparations of sedative, stimulating and balanced action. These are additional factors, and unlike the actual antidepressant effect, which is activated over a long time of taking the drug, the stimulating and sedative effects are realized already in the first days of taking it. The division of antidepressants on this basis is extremely important, since prescribing the wrong antidepressant may not lead to the action that is expected from it.

Balanced action antidepressants can be both stimulant and sedative at the same time. Most often, the effect of such tablets depends on the dose used: a sedative effect is created by average daily doses, and a stimulating effect is created by small and high doses.

Antidepressants are quite serious means, so their use requires special conditions. These conditions depend on the type of antidepressant. For example, non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors are not combined with many other drugs, including painkillers; in addition, their intake requires a special diet, non-compliance with which will lead to a specific "cheese syndrome" - this is arterial hypertension, often ending in a stroke or myocardial infarction. Many side effects have tricyclic antidepressants, the most severe of which include confusion, schizophrenia-like psychosis, diabetes mellitus and other diseases; most often, however, the case is managed by dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, etc.

Due to the abundance of severe side effects, some antidepressants in developed countries are excluded from use. Such, for example, are some types of tricyclic antidepressants.

Tranquilizers for depression

But antidepressants alone will not have a truly full-fledged effect on the patient's psyche. One of the additional means in the treatment of depression are tranquilizers. Translated from Latin, it means "sedative". These are also strong psychotropic drugs that are used to treat various diseases. Currently, tranquilizers are usually understood as anxiolytics - pills that relieve fear and anxiety. Previously, these drugs were called "small tranquilizers", while neuroleptics were considered "large"; but this terminology is now obsolete, since not all neuroleptics have a calming effect.

Most modern tranquilizers are benzodiazepines. Examples of such drugs are Chlordiazepoxide and Diazepam. These drugs began to be used in the late fifties and early sixties; in their action they surpassed all other tranquilizers known at that time and therefore are considered classic.

Today, there are drugs that have anti-anxiety effects, but are not related to benzodiazepines and do not cause dependence. These are, for example, Atarax and Afobazol. These characteristics distinguish them from classic tranquilizers.

Pills for depression - antipsychotics

Antipsychotic drugs are also called antipsychotics. Their main purpose is the fight against psychosis and other manifestations of mental arousal. These pills can handle such phenomena as hallucinations, delusions, illusions, disorders and other severe manifestations of mental illness, including depression.

All currently known medicines related to neuroleptics have a similar mechanism of action. Namely, they slow down the transmission of nerve impulses to those areas of the brain where dopamine serves as a transmitter of impulses. At the same time, certain antipsychotics have certain side effects.

When taking antipsychotics together with antidepressants, there is a mutual enhancement of action. However, the effect of side effects may also increase.

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A group of nootropics for depression

Special drugs that affect higher nervous activity are nootropics. These are pills that are able to enhance cognitive functions, mental activity, improve memory, and increase learning abilities. It is known that mental activity significantly slows down during depression.

Piracetam is considered the first drug from the group of nootropics. It remains an important drug even today, when other similar drugs are released.

Nootropics improve the energy state of brain cells, enhance synaptic transmission of information between cells, improve glucose disposal and have a beneficial effect on cell membranes. These processes are part of how the brain works.

The problem is that the effectiveness of nootropics has been repeatedly challenged. This applies even to such a classic medication as Piracetam. A beneficial effect on brain processes is often only declared by manufacturers, but clinical studies of such drugs have not been carried out. Some nootropics do not have official indications for use at all. Nevertheless, the pills of this group remain in demand, if only because patients and many doctors believe in their therapeutic effect. However, a number of nootropics still have a certain effect; such medicines are not homeopathy and contain an active substance, despite the fact that the mechanism of action of individual items has not yet been studied.

Sedative drugs without side effects

Many drugs used to treat depression are unsafe. They have a lot of side effects, which is why their use is allowed with restrictions. An example of such pills are antidepressants with a sedative effect, which are used only in certain cases. But there are sedatives that do not have significant side effects and are indicated for wider use. However, the effectiveness of these drugs, of course, is weaker.

Such sedatives can be used as additional, improving the patient's condition in case of fairly mild manifestations of depression. The most effective of them are plant-based. A classic such preparation is peony tincture. However, there are also such “medicines” that are homeopathic, that is, they do not contain an active substance at all. The effectiveness of such "drugs", if any, is based only on the phenomenon of placebo, that is, the sincere belief of the patient that the pacifier works. The market for homeopathic pills is currently overcrowded, as their production brings huge profits. It happens that the patient does not even realize that it is a homeopathic remedy in front of him, because unscrupulous manufacturers do not write this on the package.

In addition to unscrupulous manufacturers, there are, at least in our country, unscrupulous doctors. For various reasons, they refuse to prescribe serious drugs to the patient, including antidepressants, and recommend them to be “softer”, “sparing” medicines - at best, these are herbal preparations. This is observed not only in the treatment of mental illness, but even somatic. As a result, the patient does not receive the medical care he needs.

Medications for depression during pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy and breastfeeding is the period when the female body becomes especially sensitive. Due to the abundance of side effects and contraindications, serious drugs for depression (such as antidepressants) must be avoided, otherwise they will affect the health of the unborn child. In this case, plant-based sedatives are just right.

Remedies for depression for children

What medications are available for depression for children? It is clear that strong medications for depression should be prescribed to young patients very carefully. First of all, children are prescribed drugs from this group, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. They are by far the safest. In some cases, the so-called atypical antidepressants may be suitable, but they are prescribed only in a hospital under the mandatory supervision of a physician.