Anti-Depressants - There are three main classes of anti-depressants.
SSRIs: The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, commonly known as SSRIs include Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine), Celexa ( citalopram), and Luvox (fluvoxamine). Luvox is mainly used to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
These drugs have fewer side effects, and most of them are not physiologically addicting. (From studies I have read, and from personal experience, Paxil seems to be the exception here. It may cause withdrawals if one does not take it on a regular basis). Side effects vary, and so many have been reported. Some have been reported by only a few patients and it is not known if they necessarily are related to the SSRIs.
Side effects include: Weight changes (loss or gain), somnolence (sleepiness), fainting when rising, loss of libido in both men and women, nausea, vomitting, sweating, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
Tri-cyclic Antidepressants: These drugs have been around for about 20 years. They are known as the "older" anti-depressants. There tend to be more side effects with these medications. These drugs do tend to work quite well on severe depression and panic disorder. A few are prescribed for OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) as well.
Tri-cyclics are non-addicting but can take several weeks to begin working. Side effects may include: dry mouth, difficulty urinating, weight gain, dizziness/sleepiness, fainting upon rising, loss of libido, and blurred vision.
MAOIs: Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors have been around the longest of any of the anti-depressants. There is a risk of severely elevated blood pressure on these drugs and one must adhere to a strict diet while taking them. They also have more drug interactions than the other classes of anti-depressants.
Side effects include: Weight gain, dry mouth, insomnia, sleepiness.
Monocyclic Aminoketones: The only drug I know of in this class is Wellbutrin. I have taken this for a couple of years. The generic name is Buproprion, but it is also marketed as Zyban, which is used as an aid to quit smoking. My doctor says it seems to work well in conjunction with other anti-depressants, such as the SSRIs. I take it with Lithium and Prozac.
Side effects include: Weight and appetite changes, heart palpitations, insomnia, increased sweating, and headaches.
Mood Stabilizers- The most common mood stabilizer is Lithium. I have tried to find out exactly what the term "mood stabilizer" means. Basically, it is a drug prescribed usually for the manic phase of bipolar disorder. In the research I have done, many pharmaceutical books say Lithium is the only truly effective drug for mania. There are others used for mania, that can work, but Lithium seems to be the most effective. The problem with Lithium is that you need to have your Lithium levels checked every few weeks. This entails a blood test. Believe me, this is not the most convenient drug to be on. I have taken it for over a year now and I have missed my blood work on occasion, because going downtown to the lab can be a pain.
Lithium is also supposed to alleviate the depression associated with bipolar disorder. I do not know about that, from personal experience.
Besides Lithium, the other drugs prescribed most widely for mania are Depakote, Tegretol and Neurontin. There is no evidence, however, that they work on the depressive part of the illness though.
I took clonazepam (brand names Klonopin or Rivitrol) for "acute mania". It is an anti seizure drug, and I took it for 7 years. It has a tranquilizing effect and is addictive, which is why I weaned myself off it and began the Lithium therapy.
