AntiDepressants Drug Database

Antidepressants Drug Database Depression patients should realize that depression is a chronic illness just like diabetes or asthma. People experiencing depression feel hopeless. They may have feelings of worthlessness and experience a loss of interest in every-day activities such as work, hobbies or physical intimacy. Many factors can trigger depression such as: being out of work, serious illness, divorce, flunking out of school, loss of a loved one.Sometimes there is no apparent factor that triggers a depression.There are many prescription drugs as well as illegal drugs that can cause depression. Fortunately, depression is a highly treatable condition. If you are diagnosed with depression and you take the medications that your doctor prescribes, there is an excellent chance that your depression will fade away, like a bad dream. Scientific studies have determined that antidepressants work best when they are combined with counseling, such as seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or other health professional on a regular basis.It is essential that depressed people who are on medication do not discontinue taking their medication even when they feel great. You need to take your medications religiously every day regardless of how you feel.If you discontinue taking your medications without the advice and approval of your doctor, there is a good chance that you will fall into a tailspin and become depressed again, possibly severely, and the medicines may take longer to work.Antidepressants are powerful drugs and should never be taken without a doctor's prescription. You don't want to self treat depression (even if you are a doctor) because the consequences could be disastrous.Use in childrenAntidepressants carry a strong warning regarding their use in childrenand adolescents. This warning admonishes doctors and parents that " Patients who are started on therapy should be observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior". If your child is taking an antidepressant you must notify the prescriber at once if you notice any change in his behavior.How can drugs help depression?The brain communicates with itself through the use of special chemicalscalled neurotransmitters such as "serotonin" and "norepinephrine". There is correlation between the amount of these chemicals in the brain and a person's mood. Low levels of serotonin and norepinephrine have not been proven to cause depression but it widely believed that elevation of these chemicals is associated with improvement in mood in depressed people, particularly when their use is combined with psychological counseling.Doctors elevate these brain chemicals with the use of drugs. There are many different families of antidepressants available today. The two most common groups are:- SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) These drugs ncrease the brain's level of serotonin, and are associated with an improvement in mood. SSRI's have also been shown to be useful in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and some forms of severe shyness.These drugs come with strong warnings regarding their use in children. There is data to suggest that occasionally when kids takeSSRI's some of them engage in self destructive thoughts. However, many times the benefits of giving your child a SSRI far outweigh the possible side effects. That is a decision for you and your doctor.They are generally well tolerated and effective. Some common SSRIside effects include: heartburn and drowsiness. They can sometimes produce a transient loss of appetite. SSRI medications can have drug interactions. You should consult with your doctor or pharmacist prior to mixing them with other medications.Tricyclic antidepressants get their name from their chemical structure. Tricyclics were first discovered in the 1950's. Prior to that, depression was commonly treated with barbiturates or shock treatment.This class of drugs is effective in combating depression but is associatedwith troublesome side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation. They are also associated with weight gain and sleepiness.Another drawback to tricyclic antidepressants is that these drugs are dangerous when taken in an overdose. For this reason, doctors usually prescribe the smallest number of pillspossible -- they do not want a patient to commit suicide by taking an overdose of tricyclics.Tricyclic antidepressant medications can have drug interactions. Youshould consult with your doctor or pharmacist prior to mixing them with other medications.- MAOI's (monoamine oxidase Inhibitors). MAOI's are very effectivebut have potentially life-threatening drug interactions and food interactions. If you are taking a MAOI drug, it is important that you consult with your doctor before you take any other medicines. Your doctor will also tell you which foods to avoidmixing with your medicine.SSRI's: General Citalopram; Drug Family: SSRI; sometimes referred to as "Celexa".These days, nobody buys brand Name Celexa. However, generic citalopram is widely available at low prices.Citalopram Drug Information DatabasePrescribing Information Literature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)Official Website ; Prescribing information; Depression InformationGeneral Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Compare Prices ( Source A) SSRI's: General Lexapro (escitalopram HBr: Drug Family SSRI - Forest Laboratories)Lexapro is a cleaner, improved version of Celexa. Lexapro is moderately expensive. It is indicated to treat depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Lexapro compares favorably to other antidepressants such as Zoloft or Effexor.Lexapro is an interesting compound. It is effective as the other SSRI'sbut it has a side effect profile equal to a sugar pill. For this reason,Lexapro has caught on very fast. Most people start with 10mg per day, and the doctor can go up to 20mg per day as needed. It's also available as a 5mg tablet or a tasty peppermint flavored liquid for people who have a hard time swallowing a pill.Lexapro costs about $2.85 per pill if you buy it from your local drug store. If you shop around on the internet, you should be able to find a better price. Click Here to comparison shop for LexaproThere is no such thing as generic Lexapro, so if you see an advertisementfor generic Lexapro, stay away from it. This so-called generic Lexapro is a bootlegged copy made in some lab in Mexico or Cambodia or someother undeveloped country. If you can not afford Lexapro, ask your doctor to switch you to genericCelexa or citalopram. Citalopram is similar to Lexapro but it is less expensive.Click Here To Comparison shop for generic Celexa (citalopram) Another inexpensive alternative to Lexapro is generic Prozac or generic Paxil. These two products have very similar actions to Lexapro but theyare much cheaper because they are generics.Click Here To Comparison Shop for generic Paxil.Click Here To Comparison Shop for generic Prozac.Lexapro Drug Information Database:Comparison Shop For LexaproPrescribing Information PDF FileLiterature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)Official Website: PI, Patient Info, Depression InformationGeneral Information Patient Information, picture of Lexapro pill, etc.Compare PricesLuvox (fluvoxamine; Drug Family: SSRI - Solvay)Luvox was the old brand name for fluvoxamine. When Luvox went generic, people stopped buying brand name Luvox and switched over to generic fluvoxamine.Fluvoxamine is useful in treating patients with obsessive symptoms. Somehow, the fluvoxamine short circuits obsessive thought patterns, so a person can get these ideas out of their minds.Fluvoxamine Drug Information DatabasePrescribing Information Literature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Paxil (paroxetine)There are two forms of Paxil these days. Glaxo has introduced a timedrelease formulation of Paxil called Paxil CR. It costs about three times as much as generic paroxetine. You should be able to obtain generic paroxetine for $1.00 per pill or less if you shop around. Prescribing InformationLiterature SearchGeneral Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Compare Prices For Generic ParoxetineProzac, Prozac Weekly(fluoxetine; Drug Family: SSRI - Lilly); generic availableClick Here to comparison shop for generic ProzacProzac, Prozac Weekly Information DatabaseProzac used to be one of the most popular drugs in the United Sates. As soon as it went generic and Lilly stopped promoting it, the sales of Prozac plummeted. Prescribing Information Prescribing Information Source B; PDF FileLiterature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)Prozac.com - The official Prozac website General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Prozac Comparison Shopping: In the US, the druggist buys generic Prozac for about 5 cents per pill. They don't usually pass on the savings to their customers. There is a lot of competition between sites that sell generic Prozac. This competition drives down the prices. You can get your best price on Prozac and generic Prozac if you comparison shop. Click here to comparison shop for Prozac & Generic ProzacZoloft (sertraline; Drug Family: SSRI - Pfizer)Zoloft has recently gone generic. The generic name for Zoloft is"sertraline". Sertraline is the same thing as Zoloft but it is cheaper.Make sure that you take your Zoloft (sertraline) with food or milk. If you take Zoloft on an empty stomach, you may get a painful heartburn.Zoloft has many uses besides being a remedy for depression. Zoloft can be used to treat extreme shyness or post-traumatic distress syndrome. Click Here to comparison shop for Zoloft. You should visit at least 3 web sites before you buy anything. That's the beauty of the internet -comparison shopping is very easy and convenient.Zoloft Drug Information Database:Prescribing Information Prescribing Information Source BOfficial website; Prescribing Information; Depression InformationLiterature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Compare Prices There is a lot of competition between sites that sell Zoloft because Zoloft is a popular expensive drug. Tricyclics:Amitriptyline; GENERIC (Drug Family: tricyclic - various manufacturers)Amitriptyline was introduced By Merck as Elavil. Many doctors and patients are rediscovering amitriptyline because it is an effective and inexpensive antidepressant. Amitriptyline is sometimesoff-label to treat nerve pain associated with diabetes and other painfulconditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.amitriptyline is also used off-label to treat conditions such as bed wetting, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia and migraine headache. Amitriptyline Information DatabasePrescribing Information Literature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Compare Prices There is a lot of competition between sites that sell amitriptyline because it is a popular drug. Amitriptyline cheap to buy - the drugstore gets amitriptyline for pennies per pill. Even if a drug store sells you amitriptylline at a low price, it is still a profitable item. Click Here to comparison shop for amitriptylineDesipramine; GENERIC (Drug Family: tricyclic - various manufacturers)Desipramine is similar to amitriptyline. It is unpopular for the same reasons that tricyclics went out of fashion - side effects such as weight gain, dry mouth and drowsiness.Desipramine drug information databasePrescribing Information Literature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Nortriptyline; GENERIC (Drug Family: tricyclic - various manufacturers)Nortriptyline Drug Information DatabasePrescribing Information Literature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Compare Prices ( Source A) Compare Price (Source B) Misc:Cymbalta (Duloxetine; Drug Family: SSNRI; serotonin and norepinephrine uptake inhibitor).Cymbalta is an interesting drug. Cymbalta works to treat more than one condition. It is useful in treating depression. It is also effective intreating diabetic nerve pain. Like the other brand name antidepressants, Cymbalta is expensive. It will cost you about $3.35 per pill.If you are on Cymbalta and you do not have insurance you should use the internet to comparison shop or ask your doctor for inexpensive alternatives such as generic zoloft or generic prozac or amitriptylineCymbalta Drug Information DatabasePrescribing Information (WebMd version; computer friendly)Cymbalta.com Official WebsiteLiterature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)General Information layman's monograph; a cross between the drugstore flyer and the full PI.Cymbalta's FDA Approval Packet approval History and Related Documents; label information.Buy Generic Cymbalta as low as $0.43 per capsuleEffexor, Effexor XREffexor is a powerful antidepressant. It works increasing the presence of the brain messenger chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine.You should start off taking Effexor with a small dose and build it upgradually. If you start with too high a dose, you can get side effects such as nausea, sleeplessness and loss of appetite. Fortunately these side effects subside with time. Effexor is available as a generic generic - we are talking the tablets, not the time release capsules. The time-release version of Effexor(Effexor XR) is not available as a generic and it is expensive.Wyeth is working on a new product that is similar to Effexor. It is referred to as "son of Effexor". It is called "desvenlafaxine". Desvenlafaxineknown by the code-name "DVS-233". Effexor Drug Information Database:(venlafaxine; Drug Family: serotonin and norepinephrine uptake inhibitor - Wyeth Laboratories)Prescribing Information Prescribing Info; PDF File; US Residents OnlyLiterature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)Effexor XR.com; official web site; Prescribing Information; Depression Information General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Compare Prices ( Source A) Compare Price (Source B) Mirtazepine(Drug Family: tetracyclic - Organon)The brand name for mirtazepine is Remeron. However, Remeron wentgeneric and hardly anyone still uses the Remeron brand - everyone uses generic mirtazepine.The major drawback to mirtazepine therapy is that it is associated withincreased hunger and weight gain. People on mirtazepine have beenknown to eat and eat without satisfying their hunger. (A former colleague of mine was on mirtazepine and it caused him to eat like a horse; you could practically see sparks coming from his knife and fork; I had never seen anything like it).Mirtazepine is also known to cause drowsiness. For this reason it is typically administered at bedtime.Mitrazepine Drug Information DatabasePrescribing InformationLiterature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Nardil (phenelzine; Drug Family: MAOI - Parke-Davis)Nardil is a powerful drug with many dangerous side effects. It should only be prescribed by a psychiatrist or some other expert. Mixing Nardil with certain other drugs or certain foods (such as black licorice, aged cheeses) or alcoholic beverages can cause a serious reaction or death.Because of all the side effects associated with Nardil, this drug is usually used only as a last resort - when the other drugs have failed.Nardil Drug Information DatabasePrescribing Information Literature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Compare Price (Source B) Parnate (tranylcypromine; Drug Family: MAOI - SmithKline)Parnate is a powerful drug with many dangerous side effects. It shouldonly be prescribed by a psychiatrist or some other expert. Mixing Parnate with certain other drugs or certain foods (such as blacklicorice, aged cheese) or alcoholic beverages can cause a serious reaction or death.Because of all the side effects associated with Parnate, this drug is usually used only as a last resort - when the other drugs have failed.Parnate Drug Information DatabasePrescribing Information Literature Search (National Library of Medicine Database) General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Compare PricesSerzone (withdrawn from USA Market In June, 2004)(nefazodone; Drug Family: phenylpiperazine - Bristol-Myers Squibb)Serzone is no longer available in ther USA. Serzone was withdrawn due to safety concernsPrescribing InformationLiterature Search (National Library of Medicine Database)General Information Patient Information, picture of Serzone pill, etc.Trazodone; GENERIC (Drug Family: triazolopyridine - various manufacturers)Prescribing InformationLiterature Search (National Library of Medicine Database) General Information Patient Information, picture of pill, etc.Compare Prices WellbutrinWellbutrin SR (twice a day)Wellbiutrin XL (Once a day)(bupropion; Drug Family: aminoketone - Glaxo)Wellbutrin's claim to fame is that it is an effective antidepressant that has no sexual side effects unlike most other antidepressants.An unusual side effect of Wellbutrin is that it can cause a person to sweat excessively in response to heat, nervousness or hot spicy foodslike hot sauce or chili peppers.This excessive sweating is not dangerous, just an inconvenience. Sometimes when it is mildly warm a person on Wellbutrin will be sweating like crazy while nobody else in the room is sweating.Another use for Wellbutrin is for smoking cessation. For some reasonWellbutrin removes the pleasant taste and soothing effects cigarette that smokers