Antidepressants: Know Your Side Effects
by Gabe
Mirkin, M.D.
zone3
Drugs to raise brain levels of serotonin are far more effective in
treating depression than just psychotherapy and talking, because
depression is associated with low brain levels of the neurotransmitter
serotonin.
Depression is a condition lasting at least two weeks in which sadness
prevents people from functioning up to their capacity. They lose enjoyment
and interest in usual activities, are sad and cannot express warm emotions
towards other people, sleep all the time or barely at all, are exhausted,
lose their ability to concentrate or think clearly, have feelings of
worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, feel that life is hopeless, and they
eat less or more than usual. Insomnia in young men is associated with a
marked increased risk for depression that persists for at least 30 years
afterwards.
Doctors treat depression with antidepressants, and the most used and
effective antidepressants are Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. They raise brain
levels of a specific chemical called serotonin that helps to make people
feel good. A once a week dose of Prozac can often control depression, but
high brain levels of serotonin often reduce sexual desire.
On the other hand, Wellbrutin does not raise brain levels of serotonin
significantly, does not reduce sexual desire and may even increase desire.
Patients who need to stay on the serotonin-uptake-inhibitor
antidepressants, but want to maintain interest in making love can take the
shorter-acting Paxil or Zoloft safely four days a week from Monday to
Thursday and not take them from Friday to Sunday. Taking Prozac
intermittently does not prevent loss of libido because it is a long-acting
antidepressant.
When a single drug fails to alleviate depression, two or more drugs
taken together are far more effective than larger doses of a single drug.
Buproprion (brand name Wellbruton) combined with Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft,
appears to relieve depression more effectively than the single drugs.
However, patients on the combination regimen still have a high incidence
of decreased sexual desire, insomnia, tiredness and tremor.
Antidepressants that raise brain serotonin levels are used for other
effects. Sibutramine is used to suppress hunger and treat overweight. They
may be the drugs of choice to treat premenstrual syndrome or attention
deficit disorder. They can be given safely to people with heart disease.
Check with your doctor.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and
practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four
specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his
fitness and health reports at http://www.drmirkin.com/. Free weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition. Journal references on antidepressants.
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