The most common treatment for your depressive symptoms includes a combination of antidepressants and psychotherapy.
SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are prescribed by a doctor and are the most common medications used for depression with the exception of certain conditions, such as bipolar disorder that calls for different medications.
Usually, it is an imbalance of the mood regulating neurotransmitter, serotonin that plays a key role in depression and SSRIs decrease the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, leaving more of it inside the brain.
SSRI Medications:
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- Trazodone (Oleptro)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
- Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva, Brisdelle)
SSRIs may have some side effects, including, sexual problems, headaches, nausea, but not everyone will experience these, and they do lessen over time. Doctors will advise patients about these, and it is important to note that medical experts agree that the benefits of antidepressants far outweigh the risks, and careful monitoring by a doctor helps to decrease the possibility of side effects.
