Antidepressants
Introduction
An antidepressant is a drug that is prescribed by a doctor to treat symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Antidepressants can also used to treat disorders like bulimia, anorexia and/or chronic pain.
Facts
- Anti-depressants are not the sole solution in treating depression. A person has a better chance to overcome the condition when they seek help through counselling, therapy, support of family and friends, a healthy diet, exercises and enough sleep.
- Antidepressants take to up to a few weeks before they become effective.
(Source: CAMH)
How it works
Recent studies show that depression is caused by chemicals in the brain that stop working properly, and antidepressants work to restore this imbalance (CAMH).
There are three main types of antidepressants: MAOIs, tricyclics and SSRIs. It is important to know that each person is unique and will react differently to the treatment and effective treatment varies greatly from one individual to the next.
Side effects
Even though antidepressants are meant to improve one’s wellbeing, they can also produce negative side effects. These side effects usually go away or become tolerable after a certain amount of time. In order to minimize them, doctors will often prescribe a smaller dose at first and gradually increase it. Possible side effects include: nausea, dizziness, weight gain, insomnia and increased heart rate (Mayo Clinic).
Tolerance and dependence
Antidepressants are not psychologically addictive but they can still cause symptoms of withdrawal when an individual stops taking them. Those symptoms are very similar to the side effects created by the drug but also include, dizziness and headaches (CAMH).
Laws
Antidepressants are regulated under the Canadian Food and Drugs Act.
What you can do
If you need more information on antidepressants, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Information about antidepressants can also be found in Health Canada’s Drug Product Database.
Links
Centre For Addiction And Mental Health (CAMH)
Controlled Drugs And Substances Act
Health Canada: Drug Product Database
Mayo Clinic: MAOIs
Mayo Clinic: Tricyclics
Mayo Clinic: SSRIs
