Depression information and drug used in the treatment of depression
Depression has now become a very common disease in the present scenario. At present there are lots of drugs used in the treatment of depression. In this article I am giving you the details of disease depression along with the drugs used for the treatment of depression.
Nowadays, as the pace of life has increased many folds, more no. of people are suffering from the depression. This article is all about to discuss about the depression and the drugs used for the treatment of depression.What is depression?
Most of the people don't know whether they are suffering from the depression or not. In our whole lifetime, most of us have gone through the face of depression at some stage of life. The mild type of depression is not a problem at all as it can be healed with the span of time without any medication. The problem arises when this mild depression goes to sever one where a person must seek a medical advice.
Depression can be defined as an alteration of the mood of the person which is characterizes by prolonged sadness, worry and anxiety. The person suffering from the depression also experiences weight loss and loss of libido.
Drugs used for the treatment of depression
There are several medications available for the treatment of depression. The choice of the drug for treating depression depends upon the severity of depression and patient's history. Here I am discussing major classification of antidepressants used in the treatment of the same.Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors in depression treatment
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors include isocarboxazid, phenelezine, iproniazid and tranylcypromine.
Mechanism of action of monoamine oxidase inhibitors- MAO inhibitors act by making stable complex with the enzyme MAO, which is irreversible in nature and results in the inactivation of MAO.
This results in the prevention of deamination of biogenic amines like adrenaline, noradrenaline, serotonin, tyramine and dopamine. Therefore, it results in the increased concentration of biogenic amine in the mind, heart, blood and intestine. This increased concentration of these biogenic amines is responsible for the antidepressant action.Tricyclic antidepressants in depression treatment
Major trycyclic antidepressants used in the treatment of depression include Imipramine, Amitryptyline, Desipramine, Nortriptyline, Doxepin and protriptyline.
Mechanism of action of tricyclic antidepressants- The tricyclic antidepressants act by inhibiting the reuptake of biogenic amines after their release from the presynaptic neuron. This inhibition of the reuptake of biogenic amines results in increased concentration of the biogenic amines in the body and hence responsible for the antidepressant action.
In addition, tricyclic antidepressants also possess antihistaminic activity and alpha-adrenergic activity. Tricyclic antidepressants are the drugs of choice for the treatment of endogenous depression which is characterized by regression and inactivity.Serotonin reuptake inhibitors in depression treatment
The major serotonin reuptake inhibitors used for the treatment of depression include Fluoxetine, Sertaline, Paroxetine, Bupropion and Venlafaxine.
Mechanism of action of serotonin reuptake inhibitors- As the name is suggesting, these agents specifically inhibits the reuptake of serotonin released. This increased concentration of the serotonin is responsible for the antidepressant action of these agents.
Conclusion- From the above pharmacology of antidepressant drugs, we have seen that all depression is revolved around the low concentration of biogenic amines in the body. Thus, all antidepressants work by increasing the concentration of biogenic amines in the body. Above article is written for the purpose of knowledge only and should not be taken as for prescription.