It is not always easy to differentiate between feeling low and being in a bad mood and being depressed. To diagnose depression, it would require that the patient be assessed for the severity of the condition as well as some other factors related to depression. In any case, depression can be treated, and even though it is a common problem, it will require more than simply snapping out of the mood and getting proper depression treatment at the earliest.

The exact cause of depression may not as yet be known though genetics seems to be one of the reasons as too can be events that lead to depression including losing one’s job, having to end a relationship as well as being stressed. Once the symptoms appear and are diagnosed by a doctor, depression treatment may be begun with the help of a doctor, psychiatrist, counselor as well as psychologist or psychotherapist.

Many Forms That Depend On Severity Of Depression

Depression treatment can take many forms and it really depends on how severe is the depression. If the patient is only suffering from mild depression, there could be prescribed psychotherapies which are as effective as any medication. For more severe depression, the depression treatment would warrant taking medications with accompanying psychotherapy as well.

It is also necessary for patients with very severe cases of depression to be referred to a psychiatrist, and this form of depression treatment will require providing the psychiatrist with all necessary background information including current medication being used for treating the depression.

It is not advisable to bottle up one’s feelings within, and not let them out when in a depressed mood, because it would be much better to seek depression treatment by talking to others about the problem. There is no sense in lying about in one’s bed all day, or locking oneself from the world, which will only compound your problem. It would be much better to exercise regularly and get your mind of the problem. This may not be a depression treatment, but it sure will keep you from becoming totally lost to the world.

You can also get natural depression treatment if you do not wish to take medications. If you are worried that you will feel sedated as well as act like a zombie due to taking chemically manufactured drugs, then you can opt instead for natural remedies and also take therapy along with it to get better results. Of the many natural depression treatment available, perhaps St. John’s Wort is the most used natural means of treating depression.

Depression is an illness, just like heart disease or diabetes. And like any other illness, it can be treated with either depression medicines or therapy, or a combination of the two. For purposes of this article, the focus shall be on the former, which are depression medicines.

There are several types of depression medicines used to treat depression and other conditions that have depression as a component of the disease, such as bipolar disorder. These depression medicines are collectively known as “antidepressants” and they work mainly by increasing the availability of certain neurotransmitters, which are chemicals produced by the brain.

Since these neurotransmitters play an important role in the balance of emotions, increasing their production through the introduction of depression medicines can help improve the symptoms of the condition.

Major Types of Depression Medicines

Depression medicines are categorized into the following major types:

• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) – Depression medicines belonging under this category are among the first antidepressants used to treat depression. Basically, the drugs primarily affect two important neurotransmitters of the brain – norepinephrine and serotonin. Although very effective in treating the symptoms of depression, the use of these drugs are restricted because of known side effects.
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) – Another early form of antidepressant, these depression medicines are most effective in people with depression who do not respond to other treatments. Additionally, these drugs are also effective for other mental illnesses. As for side effects, MAOIs are known to react to substances found in certain foods, such as cheese, beverages like wine, and other medications.
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) – These depression medicines are a newer form of antidepressants. From its name, one can readily ascertain that the drug acts on the levels of serotonin produced by the brain. However, unlike TCAs, SSRIs work by selectively altering the amount of serotonin in the brain, leaving the levels of the other neurotransmitters as is.
• Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) – Another newer form of antidepressant, SNRIs treat depression by increasing availability of the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine.

 Some Important Things to Note

Because of its tendency to react to certain substances, when taking an MAOI, you must be careful to inform your doctor before taking any other medications. Avoid taking medications like Sudafed, an over-the-counter medicine, with MAOIs. Also, avoid eating certain foods like aged cheese, wine and beer, avocados, bananas, canned meats, yogurt, soy sauce, packaged soups and sour cream. These foods, as previously mentioned, contain substances that may trigger a reaction if taken with an MAOI.

In October of 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an advisory informing that depression medicines may increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders.

These days finding a way to treat depression has become much more widely available, and it is easier now than ever before to provide help to a patient of depression. In fact, nowadays the average physician is well informed about this condition and he or she is easily able to prescribe depression medication for it. So, it is not so necessary to go and visit a specialist to get treated for your depression.

Number Of Choices Available

Depression medication is one form of treating depression and there are a number of choices that can be made with each medication being different and having different side effects. You may thus need to try out several different depression medications till you find the one that is most suitable for your particular kind of depression. It is normal to see results of using depression medication in three to six weeks time if the medication has been taken regularly and in the right dosage.

When being treated with depression medication, the treatment medication may be categorized as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), bupropion, tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI). Regardless of the type of depression medication that is prescribed and used, results will be further improved if the medication is taken along with psychotherapy.

SSRIs include medications like Zoloft, Luvox, Paxil as well as Prozac and these drugs are most often prescribed for treating depression, and also do not have more than a few side effects that include mild headaches, feeling sedated, insomnia as well as nausea and a lower interest in sex. On the other hand, SNRIs like Effexor as well as Serzone are able to provide good results to the patient, and they have more or less the same side effects as SSRIs, and are quite safe even in the event of an overdose being taken.

Bupropion has some side effects including insomnia, restlessness as well as anxiety and is also not safe when an overdose is taken, and is therefore not the most suited depression medication to take. Tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil, Norpramin as well as Pamelor were the first medications used in treating depression though their side effects are many and they need to be closely monitored by a physician. Yet, they are still an effective method of treating depression and is a fallback depression medication when all else fails. Finally, MAOIs like Parnate as well as Nardil have also been around for some time and are very useful in treating atypical depression.