Friday, January 22, 2010

How does an anti depressant help in controlling or directing emotions?

It controls brain chemicals that are inbalanced, or releases new ones to even them out.How does an anti depressant help in controlling or directing emotions?
An antidepressant is a medication designed to treat or alleviate the symptoms of clinical depression. Some antidepressants, notably the tricyclics, are commonly used off-label in the treatment of neuropathic pain, whether or not the patient is depressed. Smaller doses are generally used for this purpose, and they often take effect more quickly. Many antidepressants also are used for the treatment of anxiety disorders, and tricyclic antidepressants are used in the treatment of chronic pain disorders such as chronic functional abdominal pain (CFAP), myofascial pain syndrome, and post-herpetic neuralgia.





The main classes of antidepressants have similar efficacy, but the newer types are generally regarded to have a more benign side-effect profile and less risk of lethality if taken in overdose.





Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)


Tricyclic antidepressants


Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)


Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)


Selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (NARIs)


Dopamine reuptake inhibitors (DRIs)


Opioids


Selective serotonin reuptake enhancers (SSREs)


Novel antidepressants


Tetracyclic antidepressants


Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors





Fluoxetine - of the SSRI class (Prozac, Sarafem, Fluctin, Fontex, Prodep, Fludep, Lovan)


Sertraline - of the SSRI class (Zoloft, Lustral, Apo-Sertral, Asentra, Gladem, Serlift, Stimuloton)


Venlafaxine - of the SNRI class (Effexor)


Citalopram - of the SSRI class (Celexa, Cipramil, Talohexane)


Paroxetine - of the SSRI class (Paxil, Seroxat, Aropax)


Escitalopram - of the SSRI class (Lexapro, Cipralex)


Fluvoxamine - of the SSRI class (Luvox, Faverin)


Duloxetine - of the SNRI class (Cymbalta)


Bupropion - of the DRI class (Wellbutrin, Zyban)





The therapeutic effects of antidepressants are believed to be related to an effect on neurotransmitters, particularly by inhibiting the monoamine transporter proteins of serotonin and norepinephrine. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) specifically prevent the reuptake of serotonin (thereby increasing the level of serotonin in synapses of the brain), whereas earlier monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) blocked the destruction of neurotransmitters by enzymes which normally break them down. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) prevent the reuptake of various neurotransmitters, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Although these drugs are clearly effective in treating depression, the current theory still leaves unanswered questions. For example, concentrations in the blood build to therapeutic levels in only a few days and begin affecting neurotransmitter activity immediately. Changes in mood, however, often take four weeks or more to appear. One explanation holds that the ';down-regulation'; of neurotransmitter receptors鈥攁n apparent consequence of excess signaling and a process that takes several weeks鈥攊s actually the mechanism responsible for the alleviation of depressive symptoms. Another theory, based on recent research published by the National Institutes of Health in the United States, suggests that antidepressants may derive their effects by promoting neurogenesis in the hippocampus.Recent research suggests that antidepressants act on transcription factors termed ';clock genes';, which also are involved in actions of drugs of abuse and possibly in obesityHow does an anti depressant help in controlling or directing emotions?
anti depressants (called SSRIs) control and balance the level of serotonin in your brain - the chemical that controls mood.

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