What Is Depression?
Clinical depression is not just grief or sadness. It is an illness that can challenge the person’s ability to perform even routine daily activities. At its worst, depression may lead the person to contemplate or commit suicide. Depression represents a burden for the person and his or her family. Sometimes that burden can seem overwhelming.
Several different types of mood disorders exist.
Major depression is a change in mood that lasts for weeks or months. It is one of the most severe types of depression. Major depression usually involves a low or irritable mood and/or a loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. It interferes with the person’s normal functioning. The person may experience only one episode of depression, but repeated episodes often occur over the person’s lifetime.
Dysthymia is less severe than major depression but usually goes on for a longer period, often several years. Usually periods of feeling fairly normal occur between episodes of low mood. The symptoms usually do not completely disrupt the person’s normal activities.
Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression, usually severe, alternating with episodes of extreme elation called mania. This condition is sometimes called by its former name, manic depression. Antidepressant medications may be used for depressive episodes of bipolar disorder, but they are usually combined with other medications indicated for mood stabilization. Caution is warranted because antidepressants may induce mania in individuals with bipolar disorder.
Seasonal depression, which medical professionals call seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is depression that occurs only at a certain time of the year, usually in winter. It is sometimes called the winter blues. Although SAD is predictable, it can be very severe.
Antidepressant Medications
Anafranil (Clomipramine HCI) - Anafranil (Clomipramine HCI)
Synonyms: Clonil, Tridep, Clomipraminum, Hydiphen, Monochlorimipramine
Anafranil (Clomipramine HCI) is a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Celexa (Citalopram) - Celexa (Citalopram)
Synonyms: Citadep, Ferpram, Olpram, Cipram, Nitalapram
Celexa (Citalopram) is a selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Synonyms: Domperidone, Yentreve
Cymbalta (Duloxetine) is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat certain types of nerve pain.
Desyrel (Trazodone) - Desyrel (Trazodone)
Synonyms: Beneficat, Bimaran, Desirel, Molipaxin, Pragmazone, Sideril, Thombran, Tombran, Trazalon, Trazodil
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Trazolan, Trazonil, Trialodine, Trittico
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Desyrel (Trazodone) is a modified cyclic antidepressant used to treat depression. It may also be used for relief of an anxiety disorder (e.g., sleeplessness, tension), chronic pain or to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Dilantin (Phenytoin) - Dilantin (Phenytoin)
Synonyms: Epsolin, Fenotin, Fentotin, Aleviatin, Antisacer, Auranile, Causoin, Cerebyx, Citrullamon, Comital
Dilantin (Phenytoin) is an anticonvulsant used to treat seizures. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Effexor (Venlafaxine) - Effexor (Venlafaxine)
Synonyms: Venlor, Ventab, Elafax, Venlafaxina
Effexor (Venlafaxine) is an antidepressant used to treat depression and anxiety. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Elavil (Amitriptylin) - Elavil (Amitriptylin)
Synonyms: Amil, Diprol, Serotena, Adepress, Adepril, Amitid, Amitril, Amitriprolidine, Damilan, Damilen
Elavil (Amitriptyline) is a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat chronic pain and other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Synonyms: Zeldox
Geodon (Ziprasidone) is an antipsychotic used to treat mental and emotional disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. It may also be used to treat conditions as determined by your doctor.
Lexapro (Escitalopram) - Lexapro (Escitalopram)
Synonyms: Esitol, S-citadep
Lexapro (Escitalopram) is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor or SSRI used to treat depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Lithobid (Lithium) - Lithobid (Lithium)
Synonyms: Lithosun
Lithobid (Lithium) is an antimanic agent used to treat manic-depression. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Luvox (Fluvoxamine) - Luvox (Fluvoxamine)
Synonyms: Flavoxin, Flovaxin, Dumirox, Faverin, Floxyfral, Fluvoxamina, Maveral
Luvox (Fluvoxamine) is a selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It may also be used to treat depression and other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Synonyms: Acetexa, Allegron, Altilev, Ateben, Avantyl, Aventyl, Desitriptilina, Noramitriptyline, Noritren, Norzepine
Pamelor (Nortriptyline) is a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat chronic pain and other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Paxil (Paroxetine) - Paxil (Paroxetine)
Synonyms: Pexap, Pexep, Teprox, Aropax, Pexeva, Seroxat
Paxil (Paroxetine) is a newer class of antidepressant medication known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).
Remeron (Mirtazapine) - Remeron (Mirtazapine)
Synonyms: Mirnite, Mirtaz, Olsalazine
Remeron (Mirtazapine) is a tetracyclic antidepressant used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Risperdal (Risperidone) - Risperdal (Risperidone)
Synonyms: Risdone, Risodne, Risperin, Rispolept, Rispolin, Sequinan
Risperdal (Risperidone) is an antipsychotic agent used to treat emotional and mood disorders. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Synonyms: Sundopa
Generic Sinemet (Carbidopa + Levodopa) is an antidyskinetic combination used to treat Parkinson's disease. It is also used to treat Parkinson's disease-like conditions that may occur due to certain injuries or diseases of the nervous system. This medicine may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Synonyms: Doxin, Doxipin, Spectra, Adapin, Aponal, Curatin, Quitaxon, Triadapin, Zonalon
Sinequan (Doxepin) is a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Tofranil (Imipramine) - Tofranil (Imipramine)
Synonyms: Antideprin, Berkomine, Censtim, Depsonil, Dimipressin, Dynaprin, Estraldine, Eupramin, Imavate, Imipramina Tofranil (Imipramine) is a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Trivastal (Piribedil) - Trivastal (Piribedil)
Synonyms: Trivistal
Trivastal (Piribedil) a reference dopamine agonist effective in two major pathologies Parkinsons disease and cerebral aging.
Wellbutrin (Bupropion) - Wellbutrin (Bupropion)
Synonyms: Bupron, Wellbatrin
Wellbutrin (Bupropion) is an antidepressant used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor. This medicine works to help balance specific natural substances in the brain called neurotransmitters. When out of balance these substances are thought to be associated with the symptoms of depression.
Zoloft (Sertraline) - Zoloft (Sertraline)
Synonyms: Sertaj, Sertim, Sertima, Lustral
Zoloft (Sertraline) is a selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, and a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder — PMDD).
Zyprexa (Olanzapine) - Zyprexa (Olanzapine)
Synonyms: Olimet, Oliza, Pinsun, Zepol, Olansek, Symbyax, Zydis
Zyprexa (Olanzapine) is a thienobenzodiazepine used to treat certain mental disorders.
