Anti Anxiety Medication - Choosing The Proper Anti Anxiety Medication

Though treatable, depression can be a serious disease. It is an ailment that sucks out the energy and joy from somebody silently. A continued state of sadness or emotions different from a person's usual behavior is termed as depression. If this behavior starts interfering with one's daily activities, it is time to consult a psychiatrist. Anger, social withdrawal, irritability, a feeling of sadness or hopelessness, fear of rejection, changes in sleep and appetite, fatigue, crying and difficulty in concentrating are the main symptoms of depression. In many individuals who are suffering from prolonged depression, there are chances of development of suicidal tendencies. Irrespective of age, depression can attack anybody.

Both medicines and counseling can treat depression effectively. If the depressed condition lasts for more than two weeks and interferes with one's ability to work and enjoy, medicinal treatment should be started after consulting a psychiatrist. For severe depressions, antidepressants are mostly used. These medicines help the depressed individual to feel happy and reduce the existing symptoms. Symptoms of terror and panic can also be blocked.

A psychiatrist prescribes medicines depending on the patient's symptoms. Usually, about one to three weeks pass before any improvement happens. Often, the patient's energy level or sleeping or eating patterns improve before the lifting of depression. The medicines are changed if no substantial changes occur after five to six weeks. However, one has to continue with the treatment for many months and sometimes, for years. For some persons, depression can continue to recur quite frequently and turn severe as one grows old. These people must continue with the antidepressants.

The more common medicines can be continued for long and have no long-term side effects. The dosage depends on the person's body weight, age and the type of drug and is accordingly prescribed. Usually, until the desired result is achieved, dosages are started low and increased gradually. The dosage is changed if any side effects occur. It is lethal to intake an overdose of antidepressants and immediate medical attention is required.

For treating major depressions tricyclic antidepressants are used commonly. MAOIS or monoamine oxidase inhibitors are useful in ‘atypical' depressions. Here, the symptoms are phobias, anxiety, oversleeping and panic attacks. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs are among the new antidepressants. Among them are fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft). For obsessive-compulsive disorder Luvox is used and for panic disorder Paxil. Two more antidepressants which have been approved by the FDA are venlafaxine (Effexor) and nefazodone (Serzone). Unlike the earlier tricyclic ones, these new medications have few side effects.

People may feel drowsy or anxious and restless when using tricyclic antidepressants. Certain heart problems can get complicated due to tricyclics. Dry mouth, blurred vision, weight gain, constipation, fatigue and changes in sexual desire are some of the other side effects. Some side effects can remain for the entire length of treatment but some disappear after a few days. Tricyclics have been found to interact with quite a few medications and hormone like the thyroid hormone, antihypertensive medications, oral contraceptives and some blood coagulants. Gastrointestinal problems, headache, insomnia and agitation are among the common side effects of the newer antidepressants.