Although Americans agree that depression results from physiological and/or psychological causes, they may differ on the best course of treatment. Depression is a serious issue that more than 50% of people deal with it on a daily basis. A lot of people do not know is that the reason they suffer from this terrible disease is because of the low levels of neurochemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine. Side effects of having low levels of neurochemicals include sleeplessness, mood swings, difficulty thinking, as well as emotional lows. By taking antidepressants, your brain tricks you into thinking that you have enough serotonin in your body so you are not a vegetable lying in your bed all day. When comparing both risks and benefits, do pharmaceutical medications or herbal remedies combat depression more effectively? The discovery of antidepressants is a fascinating and helpful discovery to all mankind. People in “the mid-1950s and early 1960s saw the first of the …show more content…
Serotonin is converted to 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid by enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO). Substances that inhibit the action of this enzyme prevent the degradation of serotonin. Such substances are called monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or simply MAO inhibitors; the strongest of these substances comprise an important class of orthodox drugs known as antidepressants” (162). Simply by extending the amount of time it takes for the serotonin to become acid results in less depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are anti-depression medications that prevent the neurotransmitter serotonin from being reabsorbed by the brain’s nerve cells (Facklam, 208). Again, this results in a higher level of well-being. Although there are multiple medications which treat depression, each one is a little different. Each person may need to try various antidepressants until he discovers the best one for