New generation antidepressants: scope and detailed description of drugs by classifications

More and more people today are faced with such an ailment as depressive disorder. Frequent stress, constant conflicts, fast or even frantic pace of life, domestic quarrels - all this can cause depression. Not a single person is insured against the occurrence of an illness.

Oddly enough, but a child can suffer from such a pathology, which only adults often complain about. Mental disorder can be caused by: misunderstanding in the family, difficult living conditions, the loss of a loved one, divorce, financial problems, childhood trauma.

Often, a pathological condition develops against the background of inappropriate or prolonged use of certain medications: corticosteroids, beta-blockers, interferon. Often, the disease occurs in people who abuse alcohol, as well as smokers and those who take drugs.

Depressive disorder can also be provoked by: previous head injuries, the presence of chronic pathologies, in particular diabetes, diseases of the CVS, lungs. The disease must be treated. The sooner a person realizes that he is sick, the sooner he can get rid of the disease.

Today there are many drugs for the treatment of the disease, both herbal and synthetic. Antidepressants are especially effective in combating mental disorders.

Before you start treating an ailment, you need to know for sure that it is depression.

The disorder is accompanied by the following characteristic symptoms:

• constantly depressed mood;
• diminished interest or pleasure in previously favorite activities;
• decreased sex drive;
• unreasonable weight loss;
• loss of appetite;
• insomnia;
• psychomotor agitation, anxiety;
• increased irritability;
• rapid fatigue;
• chronic fatigue;
• suicidal thoughts.

The ailment may be accompanied by disruptions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract: upset stools, nausea, vomiting. Often, patients are tormented by guilt, anxiety, repeated thoughts of suicide. Such people need help not only from relatives, friends, but also qualified specialists. If you do not take this state into account, it is fraught with critical consequences.

The modern pharmaceutical industry has a vast array of drugs for the treatment of mental disorders. Antidepressants are often prescribed to combat depression. Only a doctor can choose the right medicine, therapy regimen, and the duration of the treatment course.

What it is

Antidepressants - the designation of a pharmacological group of drugs that help alleviate symptoms, as well as prevent depressive disorders. Such drugs help in correcting the biochemical activity of the human brain. Nerve cells constantly interact with each other thanks to special substances - neurotransmitters.

A mental disorder, according to one theory, appears due to a significant decrease in the concentration of a certain amine (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) or a neurotransmitter in the brain. Antidepressants of any generation are able to regulate or correct the processes occurring in the brain by changing the level of one or another amine.

What are we for

In addition to the fact that such formulations contribute to the fight against the manifestations of depressive disorder, they show excellent results in the fight against such problems: feelings of unclear etiology, sleep disorders, appetite disorders, fatigue, loss of energy, nervousness, constant tension, problems concentrating, memorization.

Popular modern thymoleptics

There are many drugs that have antidepressant properties. However, do not forget that such drugs, in addition to benefits, can cause significant harm to the body. To prevent the negative consequences of taking medications, experts strongly recommend that you abandon self-medication.

Only a doctor can choose a medicine, a dose, a regimen, as well as a course of therapy, taking into account the patient's age, ailment, its severity, as well as the individual characteristics of the organism.

Practitioners are increasingly prescribing SSRI drugs for patients. The most popular formulations include: Fluoxetine, Milnacipran, Duloxetine, Velaxin.

An overview of the popular powerful thymoleptics:

• Fluoxetine has pronounced antidepressant, stimulating properties. The use of the composition contributes to: minimizing anxiety, combating feelings of fear, improving mood. The remedy is effective in the treatment of apathy, depression, obsessive compulsions.
• Paroxetine. One of the most powerful, fast-acting antidepressants.
• Wellbutrin. The active ingredient of the drug is bupropion. Helps in increasing the amount of norepinephrine, a dopamine in the brain. Preparations with such an active component contribute not only to the fight against mental disorders, but also overcoming the emotional consequences of quitting smoking, eliminating nicotine addiction.
• Simbalta. Differs in fast action. The effect after application is noticeable by the end of the first week.

How much is

In pharmacies, drugs of different price categories are presented. There are inexpensive drugs, and there are very expensive ones. The doctor, in any case, will select an available remedy.

Approximate prices for thymoleptics:

• The average cost of tricyclic antidepressants: Amitriptyline (Elavela) - 60 rubles, Imipramine (Imizin) - 340 rubles, Clomipramine (Anafranila) - 285 rubles, Maprotiline (Lyudiomila) - 350 rubles;
• The approximate price of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Sertraline (Zoloft) - 700-1300 r, Paroxetine (Paxila) - 300-2000 r, Fluvoxamine (Fevarin) - 800 rubles, Fluoxetine (Prozac) - 500 rubles.

Interaction with other medications

Tymoleptics interact with other agents, even the most familiar and safe ones. To prevent undesirable consequences, before you start taking this or that remedy for a depressive disorder, you should make sure that the possibility of combining the intake of an antidepressant with drugs of other groups, even sedative herbal infusions, biologically active additives, vitamins.

Alcohol and antidepressants

Experts strongly recommend that you stop drinking alcohol during treatment. Antidepressants, like alcohol, have a strong effect on the central nervous system and the brain. The combined use of ethanol with thymoleptics is fraught with unpredictable consequences.

Strong antidepressants: drug classifications and rules of use

Only a doctor can prescribe the use of a medicine. If the disease is mild, it is quite possible to do without medication. In those cases, when the disorder is serious, the doctor selects the drug after examination.

Classification of funds according to the principle of exposure to the body

There are several types of drugs that have an antidepressant effect. The first classification is based on the clinical effect of the compounds on the central nervous system. The drugs in this group have a sedative, activating, balanced effect.

Thymoleptics, which have a sedative effect, are able to have a calming effect on the psyche, help to eliminate anxiety, and increase the activity of processes in the brain.

Medicines with an activating effect are effective in the fight against apathy, lethargy. The balanced formulations are versatile. Strong antidepressants should not be taken without the knowledge of a doctor. This can lead to unpredictable consequences.

Biochemical classification

This is a traditional classification. Based on the composition of the funds, as well as their effect on biochemical processes in the central nervous system:

• Tricyclic antidepressants. Promote an increase in the activity of neurotransmitters. These drugs are powerful, however, their use is fraught with the risk of side effects. Often doctors prescribe the use of: Trimipramine, Amitriptyline, Imipramine, Mianserin, Clomipramine.
  One of the most powerful antidepressants is Amitriptyline. It has an antidepressant, mild pain relieving effect. Effective in the fight against depression, sleep disorders, mixed emotional disorders, chronic pain syndrome, migraine, enuresis.
• MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors. Timoleptics 1st generations. Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that breaks down various hormones, in particular neurotransmitters. MAO inhibitors help prevent this process, and, consequently, increase the level of hormones, activate mental processes. These funds are inexpensive, effective, but have a considerable list of side effects. Reception of the formulations is associated with hypotension, hallucinations, insomnia, visual impairment, constipation, light-headedness, sexual dysfunction.
  Often doctors prescribe the use of: Moclobemide, Pirazidol, Betola, Razagilin. A prominent representative of the group is Moclobemide. It has antidepressant, immunostimulating properties. Effective in the fight against schizophrenia, social phobia, mini-depressive psychosis, depression, alcoholism.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This is the third generation of thymoleptics. Relatively safe drugs that are practically not addictive, are well tolerated by patients.
  The funds help to increase the activity of serotonics, normalize the brain. Strong antidepressants in this group: Escitalopram, Sertraline, Fluoxetine.

Fluoxetine is often prescribed. The tool helps in the rapid elimination of feelings of depression, the fight against bulimia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorders, depressive conditions of various origins.

Difference between antidepressants and tranquilizers

Many people do not see the difference between tranquilizers and thymoleptics, therefore, these drugs belong to the same group. In fact, the compositions vary significantly.

Antidepressants are medications with stimulating effects that help normalize mood and combat mental problems. This group is long acting. In addition, the funds do not affect people whose central nervous system is healthy.

As for tranquilizers, these drugs are fast acting. They can be used to treat depression, but only as an auxiliary method. The essence of such remedies is the suppression of the manifestations of negative emotions, and not, like in antidepressants, the correction of the emotional background. These drugs are often used to combat panic attacks, fear, anxiety, and agitation. They are rather anti-anxiety drugs.

Is it possible to buy without a prescription

Strong thymoleptics cannot be purchased without a prescription. The exception is herbal preparations. One of these is Afobazol - a drug that has an anti-anxiety, mild antidepressant effect. The drug is non-prescription.

The dangers of self-treatment for depression

Only a psychotherapist or neuropathologist can analyze all the factors, choose the right drug so that it brings exceptional benefits to the body. Doctors prescribe funds taking into account the patient's health status, physiological characteristics of the body, age, disease and its severity. An ordinary person cannot do this.

How to get a prescription

Everything is simple here. If you suspect a mental disorder, you need to see a doctor. He, after studying complaints, symptoms, will prescribe a medicine, write a prescription.

New generation antidepressants: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation drugs

Drugs with antidepressant effects were discovered in the middle of the twentieth century. Today, depending on the time of the invention, several generations of funds are allocated.

First generation drugs

Drugs 1st generations - tricyclic thymoleptics of cyclic exposure, discovered in the fifties of the last century. These include: Amitriptyline, Nefazodone, Anafranil, Melipramine. The formulations help block the reuptake of norepinephrine and increase its level.

This group includes monoamine oxidase inhibitors Isocarboxazid, Tranylcypromine, Iproniazid. They suppress the activity of nerve endings in the brain, increase serotonin levels.

New generation antidepressants are widely used. The drugs are effective, but they can only be used with the knowledge of the doctor.

Second generation

It is represented by tetracyclic irreversible as well as reversible monoamine reuptake inhibitors. Among this group, the use of Lerivon, Pyrazidol is often prescribed. But in general, the compositions of this group, due to the many side effects, are rarely prescribed - only in case of urgent need. More and more doctors are now prescribing new generation antidepressants.

Third generation tools

The third generation is represented by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Zoloft, Tsitaloprom, Prozac, Tsipralex, Paroxetine. They are slightly weaker than the means 1st generations, but they have a smaller list of side effects.

Fourth generation

Presented by selective inhibitors of the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin: Simbalta, Remeron, Zyban, Effexor. There is no unequivocal opinion about the best antidepressant of the new generation. The drugs are selected on an individual basis.

Natural remedies for depressive disorders

The most common plant-based remedies for blues are composed of the following components: chamomile, mint extract, motherwort, valerian. The most popular, effective remedies are based on St. John's wort.

Hypericin, which is part of St. John's wort, helps to accelerate the synthesis of norepinephrine from dopamine. Also, the plant is endowed with other substances that have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, other body systems: essential oils, tannins, flavonoids.

Herbal preparations are several times weaker than synthetic ones, therefore they help in the treatment of mild mental disorders. The products are sold without a prescription and are inexpensive. This includes Neuroplant, Deprim, Negrustin.

A striking representative of natural thymoleptics is Negrustin. The tool has anti-anxiety, antidepressant properties. Effective in the fight against depressive conditions of mild, moderate severity, anxiety, chronic fatigue.

Antidepressants - a list of the best made in Russia, Ukraine:

• Escitalopram - produced by the Berezovsky pharmaceutical plant;
• Citalopram - ALSI Pharma;
• Trittico - produced by CSC Ltd;
• Stimuloton - Egis Rus;
• Ixel - Sotex;
• Siozam - VeroFarm;
• Azafen - production of MAKIZ Pharma;
• Adepressa - VeroPharm.

Amitriptillin, Afobazol, Heptor, Clomipramine - drugs made in Russia and Ukraine. This is not a complete list of the best antidepressants.

Drugs with antidepressant properties, if taken incorrectly, can lead to critical consequences. Do not self-medicate. Only a doctor can choose the correct composition.