Antidepressants are a group of psychotropic drugs that are primarily used to treat depression of varying severity. The antidepressants chemically intervene in brain metabolism, where they block certain messenger substances such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in order to correct an imbalance of these substances. Although the thesis of the imbalance of neurotransmitters as the cause of depression has not been proven, it is generally assumed that depression is based on this lack of balance.
Antidepressants for depression and mood disorders.
Antidepressants are designed to correct an imbalance in neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This imbalance is what antidepressants seek to chemically influence. Antidepressants thus intervene in complex brain-organic processes to at least alleviate depression when complete improvement is not possible. The medical areas of application are diverse. Although antidepressants – as the name suggests – were (and are) primarily developed to combat depression, they are also used in other areas. Many antidepressants have other positive effects, so that they are also successfully used for other mental disorders. These are primarily obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorders and phobias. However, eating disorders, chronic pain, withdrawal symptoms, mood swings, symptoms such as listlessness and sleep disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder can also be successfully treated with certain antidepressants. Very good experience has been made with antidepressants for panic attacks. In the case of depression, the mood-lifting effect of antidepressants is used above all. However, antidepressants can also have other effects in addition to this. These include a deliberate increase in drive in cases of reduced drive or a calming effect (in cases of agitated depression and insomnia). Some psychotropic drugs in this group also have an antianxiety effect and have the effect of making patients more calm.
Herbal, natural, and chemical antidepressants.
A distinction is made between pharmaceutical antidepressants and herbal-natural ones. Among psychotropic drugs, there are a total of four types, depending on the criteria for differentiation. These are the serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI), the norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRI), the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), and the older-type tricyclic antidepressants. Each of these antidepressants has a mood-lifting effect but acts differently with respect to drive, sleep, and restlessness. St. John’s wort is known for its mood-lifting effect, as is SAMe, which is used as a natural antidepressant, especially in southern countries. This is an amino acid compound that occurs in the human body. SAM-E is not supposed to interfere with the processes in the body, as chemical antidepressants do. Another natural antidepressant is 5-HTP, which is based on the principle that the metabolism releases serotonin when it feels happy, with 5-HTP being the connection point for this. This thesis needs more scrutiny. There are also homeopathic remedies, but their effectiveness is controversial. Here, for example, is the Ignatia, which is supposed to be effective against neurotic depression in connection with feelings of sadness, nervousness and anxiety.
Risks and side effects
Especially antidepressants from the field of psychotropic drugs have a number of sometimes serious side effects. Here, first of all, is the frequent weight gain and increased appetite, a circumstance that is a major problem for many patients. In some cases, fatigue and lethargy may also occur, and on the other hand, restlessness and tremor. With certain antidepressants, suicidality can occur, especially in adolescents. Particularly severe side effects occur with the tricyclic antidepressants, which are effective but less well tolerated. Here, severe drowsiness and severe weight gain may result.
