ipl-logo

Chemistry Of Antidepressants

1697 Words7 Pages

The chemistry of antidepressants How they work with the nervous system. Mental illness has always been a problem but it is now recently that the awareness for it has increased, with depression being one of the main illnesses. There are many medicines for treating depression that are widely used, but like so many medicines people do not actually understand what happens in the body once the drug has been taken. Through this essay I hope to explore the different types of drugs used to treat depression and how they work within the body. The symptoms of clinical depression are described as being in a state of low mood that can last for months that affects a person’s thoughts and behaviour leading to them having a lack of productivity. There are …show more content…

The main classes of antidepressants that will be discussed are the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It usually depends on the patient’s specific needs as to what medicine would be prescribed to treat the depression. SSRIs are the most popular and widely prescribed antidepressants by doctors because of the fewer side effects, whereas TCAs are not usually recommended as first time treatment due to the less pleasant side effects. TCAs are also supposed to be more dangerous in the case of an overdose, which is another reason these older antidepressants are not recommended as often. The antidepressant drugs work by altering how the neurotransmitters move in the nervous system. The drugs work in different ways by either decreasing the breakdown of the neurotransmitters that affect mood, or some antidepressants stop the reuptake of those chemicals. The main neurotransmitters that are targeted are serotonin and norepinephrine as when they are lacking in concentration, depression is more likely to be caused. Some people can have low levels of serotonin and norepinephrine due to their genetics. However some environmental, behavioural and …show more content…

Tricyclic antidepressant drugs were originally created to help treat those suffering with another mental illness known as schizophrenia, but the results were not as successful as hoped. On the other hand this research showed the first evidence that they help those with depression. Common anti-depressants in this class that are used are amitriptyline, amoxapine (Asendin), desipramine (Norpramin) and Imipramine (Tofranil), which was the first drug in this class of antidepressants to be used clinically. The TCA antidepressants work as they block the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. This means that these chemicals cannot be recycled which keeps more of these chemical messengers out in the synapse which increases the probability of the message reaching the postsynaptic neuron. The synapse is the small gap between two nerve cells which allows neurotransmitters to pass through by diffusion, and the postsynaptic neuron is where these neurotransmitters attach and either excite or inhibit this neuron. The tricyclic drugs are made up of a central ring of seven or eight atoms with a side chain containing at least 2 carbon atoms, though 3 seem to be better, and the amine group can be either tertiary or secondary. Although the structure can vary slightly all TCAs function in the same way, it is their selectivity and

Show More
Related
129 Words | 1 Pages

While Arehart-Treichel expresses statistics regarding how women are portrayed in three different psychiatric journals, she points out a commonality. Women are portrayed in psychotropic drug ads as fulfilling a family role, leisure role, or asleep and rarely portrayed in a professional role. Men on the other hand were shown in more independent and productive roles. Arehart-Treichel 's purpose of this is article is to accomplish a more equal representation of those who take anti-depressants. She hope to curve

Read More
413 Words | 2 Pages

The DOTCODE trial included phase 1, the open antidepressant phase (week 0 to week 16), and phase 2, the add-on donepezil/placebo double-blind randomized phase (week 16 to week 78). All patients continued to receive treatment for depression throughout phase 2. Patients on antidepressant medications at screening were eligible if a medication washout was clinically indicated, e.g., non-response to existing regimen or side effects. Antidepressant washout was per clinical judgment and ranged from immediate switch to 14 days. Patients previously on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram were also eligible and the physician chose to treat them with citalopram or started them on Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)

Read More
453 Words | 2 Pages

Cacioppo and Freberg (2013) discussed medication and its usage in the treatment of depression and bipolar disorders. Depression and bipolar disorder, both share the common experience and underlying biological roots of depression. The most common medications discussed are tranquilizers, antidepressants, behavioral and cognitive behavioral techniques are used to treat anxiety disorders. Surprisingly to what most individuals think aerobic exercise is way to treat the medical and cognitive behavioral. However, the number one option that is highly chosen is antidepressant medications.

Read More
1126 Words | 5 Pages

Ketamine for Treatment Resistant Mood Disorders and Neuroplasticity Daniel Blitch Dr. David Paltin PSY678 National University   Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Mood Disorders Mood disorders, specifically depression, are the most common mental health problem facing the world today. Disorders have an objective scale to be scored under and classified, yet the physical manifestation within different patients are unique. Sometimes, however, the profound intricacies of a particular mood disorder cannot be treated in the same way that other typical prognoses through route of medication or dynamic therapy techniques. In the last decade, implementation of controlled dosages of ketamine under clinical supervision have yielded positive results supporting

Read More
1205 Words | 5 Pages

"We were told that Paxil and Prozac were wonder drugs', remember Glenn McIntosh, of Austin, Texas, whose twelve-year-old daughter committed suicide within a month of taking antidepressants. "We were lied to" ("Are antidepressants"). Within the first month of anyone taking antidepressants is always the hardest, your body isn't used to the suppressants being there so it'll act out, but after the month or so they will begin to be very helpful. The topic of antidepressants in young patients has a deep history to consider, and there will always be both supporters and critics who continue to debate this topic.

Read More
467 Words | 2 Pages

Antidepressants can be an effective treatment for depression but, like all medications there are side effects, drawbacks but also many pro’s. In this essay I will discuss the pro’s and con’s of antidepressants such as cost, side effects, and safety. Antidepressants, while an effective treatment can be very expensive. For those who do not have insurance or struggle to afford medications, the high price of these drugs can lead to a patient's depression getting worse.

Read More
1017 Words | 5 Pages

Anti-depressants aid in the stability of neurotransmitters in the brain; they solve the sluggish feeling and change the way one thinks, eliminating depressing and suicidal thoughts. Even though this sounds like a victory for the person suffering from depression, the results are often temporary. When I was taking Prozac, the first couple of days were blissful; I was vibrant and radiating bliss. However as time progressed, I became depressed again and my symptoms escalated. Taking Prozac was temporarily effective, while on it; I could feel my thoughts changing, like literally feeling my thoughts change from morbidity to bliss was unsettling to me.

Read More
1864 Words | 8 Pages

These drugs include: Celexa, Zoloft, Prozac and Luvox. By researching these disorders I managed to grasp the pros and cons of them and see if they are worth it. Celexa, is considered to the most serotonin-selective of all the SSRIs used to treat depression (Koplewicz, 272). In addition, unlike other SSRIs stopping abruptly is less likely to cause significant side effects, however, in order for it to work properly it essential to be compliant and consistent with the medication (Koplewicz, 273). Furthermore, Zoloft’s side effects seem to be less significant, which is why it seems fewer patients seem to stop treatment with Zoloft and it is believed that patients can take a “drug holiday” to decrease the sexual side effects (Koplewicz, 271-272).

Read More
1136 Words | 5 Pages

The most prominent include physical side effects. The issue with arguments using side effects as an anchor topic is that none of them are detrimental in long-term or in any way, life threatening (“Antidepressants”). Of course side effects do occur, but their mostly standard: nausea, insomnia, and agitation (Wexler). Research and clinical trials have proved that most physical side effects happen in the first weeks, or in rarity, months, of prescription. Which makes sense, because the body is introduced to a new substance that changes and alters chemicals.

Read More
624 Words | 3 Pages

Here there will be an emphasis on two core biological theories, the monoamine hypothesis and the neurotrophic hypothesis. The monoamine hypothesis is one of the pioneering hypotheses based on the assumption that a depletion in certain monoamines, in particular serotonin (5HT) and norepinephrine (NE) can lead to depressive symptoms. The neurotrophic hypotheses is an alternative hypothesis that assumes the underlying biological basis of depression is due to an alteration in the synthesis of proteins that are required for neurogenesis and synapse

Read More
173 Words | 1 Pages

Depression is one of the most widely diagnosed mental health issue. The National Institute of Mental Health(NIH) define depression as persistent symptoms of depressive moods that last 2 years and interfere with day to day activities. Throughout the years, medical authorities and researchers have questioned whether or not the withdrawal from antidepressants causes dependence. This is an important issue for several reasons. Firstly, antidepressants are commonly used throughout the world.

Read More
721 Words | 3 Pages

As your body becomes accustomed to this un-natural increase in serotonin levels, it eventually will start losing its ability to do so naturally. Therefore, continued use of antidepressants will become mandatory to maintain a happier mood. “When the user discontinues the drug, the brain “overcorrects” triggering new depression” (Freeman, par. 6), essentially causing one to relapse. Ultimately causing a physical/mental

Read More
470 Words | 2 Pages

The most commonly abused are the following types of medications: opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants. Opioids are high dosage pain relieving drugs such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. CNS depressants, such as Xanax or Valium, are often used to treat patients with anxiety or sleep disorders. Drugs used to treat deficit disorders and also narcolepsy are Stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin. Each type of prescription drug can cause different side effects especially depending on the person.

Read More
849 Words | 4 Pages

In the present study ,The behavioral effects induced by harmine in rats reported are in coincidence with the literature data, which support an antidepressant action for harmine in basic studies wich could be due to interactions of harmine and related alkaloids s with several receptor systems act as agonists at serotonin receptors [61, 62; 63] ; involved in the modulation of behavioral and molecular actions of antidepressants. [62, 64,65, 28,29]. B carbolines, mainly harmine and harmaline, inhibit MAO activity [67], Furthermore, as MAO inhibitors, ß-carbolines can increase the level of serotonin in the brain [68],and are capable of inducing direct psychoactive effects [69,70]. [71] also suggested that harmine augments dopamine efflux via a novel shell-specific, presynaptic 5-HT2A receptor dependent mechanism, independent of MAO inhibitory activity.

Read More
724 Words | 3 Pages

Another well none antidepressant is Tricyclic and Tetracyclic these are older antidepressants. Symptoms of depression result when certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) get out of balance. These medicines balance the brain chemicals, which may help the symptoms of depression. Cyclic antidepressants block the absorption of the neurotransmitters, serotonin, and norepinephrine, making more of these chemicals available in the brain. This seems to help brain cells send and receive messages.

Read More

More about Chemistry Of Antidepressants

Open Document