Pharmacist reveals the secrets for you: How drugs can save depression

Depression is a common and serious mental health problem that affects the quality of life and well-being of many people. For those who suffer from depressive symptoms, it is crucial to find effective treatments. In this regard, drug therapy plays a key role. Drugs can play an important role in the treatment of depression, bringing hope and improvement to patients. So, how do drugs save depression? What are the common antidepressant drugs? What should patients pay attention to? Pharmacists will reveal the secrets for you one by one.

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How do antidepressant drugs work?

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals between nerve cells in the brain. In depression, the main neurotransmitters involved include serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA). These neurotransmitters play a key role in regulating mood, emotions and psychological state. The main principle of drug treatment for depression is to regulate the level of neurotransmitters by affecting the synthesis, release, reuptake or degradation of neurotransmitters, thereby improving the symptoms of depression.

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What are the common antidepressant drugs in clinical practice?

1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI): This type of drug selectively inhibits the serotonin transporter and antagonizes the reuptake of serotonin by the presynaptic membrane, thereby increasing the concentration of serotonin in the synaptic cleft. Representative drugs include fluoxetine, paroxetine, citalopram, fluvoxamine, sertraline, escitalopram, etc. This type of drug has a clear therapeutic effect and relatively mild adverse reactions.

2. Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI): This type of drug can block the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine, and at high doses, it also inhibits dopamine reuptake. Representative drugs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, milnacipran, etc. This type of drug is characterized by rapid onset and high remission rate.

3. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA): This type of drug increases the concentration of serotonin and norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft by inhibiting their reuptake, prolonging their action time on the corresponding receptors and exerting an antidepressant effect. Representative drugs include amitriptyline, doxepin, desipramine, etc. The therapeutic effect of this type of drug is also good, but the adverse reactions are slightly more serious.

4. Other types of antidepressants: mainly include reboxetine (NRI), mirtazapine (NaSSA), bupropion (NDRI), agomelatine (MT receptor agonist; 5-HT2C antagonist), trazodone (SARI), moclobemide (MAOI), etc.

As can be seen from the above, the mechanism of action of antidepressants is complex and diverse. And everyone's response to drugs is different. Therefore, choosing the right drug and personalized treatment plan is the key and difficulty of drug treatment of depression. So as a patient, what should you pay attention to when receiving drug treatment?

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What should patients pay attention to when taking medication?

1. Slow onset of effect: For most patients, antidepressants usually take effect about 2-4 weeks after taking them. This onset time often causes many patients to think that "there is something wrong with the drug", but in fact it may just be that the drug takes a long time to take effect. Therefore, you must be patient enough when taking antidepressants.

2. Personalized medication: Depression symptoms vary from person to person, and there are many types of antidepressants with different characteristics. Which drug is the best for you? This requires not only the doctor's professional knowledge, but also the patient's positive feedback. Exploring a personalized treatment plan requires the joint efforts of both doctors and patients.

3. Long-term medication: Drug treatment for depression often requires a medication cycle of up to one year or even several years. In addition to the slow onset of the above-mentioned drugs and the search for the best drug, preventing relapse is also an important factor. Persistence is victory!

4. Stopping medication is important: Because patients have been taking antidepressants for a long time, their bodies have adapted to the medication, so during the withdrawal phase, the dosage needs to be gradually reduced to allow the body to slowly adapt to the state without the medication. If you stop taking the medication all at once, the body will easily experience a withdrawal reaction, which can easily lead to a relapse or even worsening of the disease, so you should stop taking the medication gradually under the guidance of a doctor.

5. Adverse reactions: The adverse reactions of antidepressants vary. If it is a mild adverse reaction such as dry mouth, nausea, constipation, etc., it usually occurs in the early stage of medication and can be gradually improved after taking the medicine. If it is a serious adverse reaction such as arrhythmia, hypertension, etc., you should communicate with the doctor in time, take appropriate intervention measures or change other drugs.

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Medication plays an important role in the treatment of depression. By regulating the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, medication can significantly improve the symptoms of depression and enhance the patient's mood and quality of life. As part of comprehensive treatment, medication and psychotherapy complement each other to provide patients with a comprehensive and effective treatment plan for depression. On the road to overcoming depression, medication is a ray of hope that provides patients with strength and change.

References:

[1] Li Lingjiang, Ma Xin, eds. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders in China[M]. Chinese Medical Electronic Audiovisual Publishing House, 2015.

[2] Yang Baofeng. Pharmacology[M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2013.