These drugs help to treat depression

General

There is a variety of different medications that can help with depression. Depending on the individual findings, concomitant diseases as well as occurring side effects, different drugs can be considered for therapy. The market for the different groups of active ingredients of the so-called antidepressants, i.e. drugs that help with depression, is very large.

All antidepressant drugs work on the basis of the theory that depression is caused by a lack of certain signal substances in the brain. Thus, these antidepressants intervene in the signalling system in the brain and are supposed to raise the blood levels of the signalling substances serotonin and noradrenalin. Some drugs are supposed to affect only one of the transmitter systems, while other drugs act at different sites. It should be noted that the hoped-for effect of the drugs usually only occurs after about 2-4 weeks, although side effects can occur after a few hours or days. Which drug appears to be appropriate in an individual case is best discussed by the treating physician in a familiar patient conversation.

Citalopram

Citalopram is the most prescribed antidepressant in Germany. It belongs to the group of so-called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and is therefore one of the drugs of first choice in the treatment of depression. Citalopram and other substances in this group of drugs work by ensuring that the serotonin released remains at the site of action for longer, thus causing an increase in the active serotonin level in the brain.

The increase in serotonin is intended to counteract depression, which is probably due to low serotonin levels. In addition to improving mood, the general drive is also increased and anxiety is reduced. A dependence on the drug is not known when taking it.

Sertraline

Sertraline belongs to a newer group of antidepressants, the serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). As the name suggests, they selectively inhibit the reuptake of serotonin from the synaptic cleft. In comparison to the rather non-specific tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline), side effects are less frequent.

However, the spectrum of side effects is also very broad: insomnia or drowsiness, concentration disorders, nervousness, restlessness, dizziness, headaches, gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, trembling of the hands (tremor), increased sweating, visual disturbances and sexual dysfunction. Side effects in the cardiovascular area, however, are very rare. Besides the treatment of depression, sertraline is also used in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders and panic disorders. The group of SSRIs, of which sertraline is one, is today considered the first choice for the treatment of depression. However, the most commonly prescribed drug from this group is citalopram and not sertraline.