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Every second inhabitant of the metropolis suffers from depression. To treat this disease, psychiatrists or neurologists prescribe special medicines. Many patients are interested in whether it is possible to buy strong antidepressants without doctor's prescriptions. It is important to note that for the acquisition of a powerful remedy, the appointment is mandatory, because they have a lot of contraindications. There are mild over-the-counter medications that can help manage the symptoms of a nervous breakdown.

Indications for the use of antidepressants

Before buying over-the-counter depression pills at the pharmacy, it is important to make sure that the problem requires medical therapy. Perhaps a person only needs to eliminate the factors that provoke the development of symptoms of the disease. Experts recommend that you review your lifestyle, avoid stress, and get more rest before taking the pills. Over-the-counter medications are not suitable for people with major depressive disorders. This category of patients definitely needs specialist advice and full treatment.

All antidepressants have side effects, contraindications, so it is important to consult a neurologist or psychiatrist before using them. Preparations have a different chemical composition, structure, differ in ways of influencing the body. The same medication can affect different patients in different ways, so you should not treat depression with medications on your own. This is especially true for chronic forms of mental illness.

If you need to reduce the susceptibility of the nervous system to external stimuli, then you can use mild antidepressants without a doctor's prescription. Such drugs significantly improve the quality of human life without causing serious harm to health. They can be used in the following pathological conditions:

• pain of an indefinite nature;
• anorexia;
• sleep disturbance, appetite;
• bulimia;
• groundless anxiety;
• attention disorder;
• chronic fatigue;
• alcohol addiction;
• irritability;
• drug addict.

Non-prescription herbal antidepressants

The safest drugs for depression are based on medicinal herbs. They will help with stress, nerve exhaustion, various phobias, appetite and sleep disorders. Herbal remedies for depression without prescriptions do not have a negative effect, they gently affect the body. Before taking any tablets or capsules, you should carefully read the composition, indications, side symptoms and instructions for use.

Novo-passit

This tool is one of the most popular antidepressants based on natural ingredients. The composition of the herbal preparation includes extracts of the following herbs:

• hop;
• St. John's wort;
• hawthorn;
• Melissa;
• valerian.

This light antidepressant is especially popular among office workers, for whom the state of permanent stress and continuous time pressure has become familiar. Novo-Passit helps to cope with menopausal syndrome, neurocirculatory dystonia, irritability, migraine, increased nervousness, neurasthenia, and normalizes sleep. The drug provides a stable sedative effect. You can buy the medicine in the form of tablets or syrup. The price varies from 200 to 600 rubles.

Before you start using the drug without a doctor's prescription, you should study the contraindications. These include the following:

• myasthenia gravis;
• age up to 12 years;
• allergy to components:
• liver disease;
• epilepsy;
• traumatic brain injury;
• acute diseases of the digestive tract;
• alcoholism;
• brain diseases.

If you do not follow the instructions, taking Novo-Passit can cause problems with concentration, drowsiness, nausea, and spasms. Tablets are taken in 1 pc. three times daily with an interval of 4-6 hours. Doubling the dosage is allowed if the patient has a serious condition. With the development of side symptoms, drink ½ tablet at a time. The syrup is taken three times a day, 5-10 ml. If the patient does not tolerate the antidepressant well, then the single dose is reduced to 2.5 mg.

Persen

Another popular drug based on natural ingredients that can be bought without a prescription from a doctor. Especially for patients with interrupted sleep, insomnia, early awakenings, there is a separate form of the remedy - Persen night. The standard version of the drug has a mild effect. The antidepressant is available in the form of tablets, contains an extract of lemon balm, peppermint, valerian. The medicine provides a pronounced antispasmodic, sedative effect, fights against increased excitability. The cost of tablets is 195–250 rubles.

Persen is effective in various types of disorders of the nervous system. Indications for the use of tablets are as follows:

• neurosis, in which potent therapy is not necessary;
• vegetovascular dystonia;
• insomnia;
• prevention of psychosomatic manifestations in people exposed to stress.

While taking pills, patients may develop constipation, allergic reactions, bronchospasm, peripheral edema. Before using Persen, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications. These include the following:

• intolerance to fructose or lactose;
• cholangitis;
• glucose-galactose malabsorption;
• cholelithiasis;
• age up to 12 years;
• arterial hypotension;
• lactation period;
• pregnancy;
• gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Persen provides for the use of the drug orally, regardless of the meal. Tablets must be washed down with water. Adults and adolescents over 12 years of age are shown to use them 2-3 times a day, 1 pc. For insomnia, take 2-3 tablets 30-60 minutes before bedtime. You can not drink more than 12 pcs. per day to avoid drug overdose. The course of therapy should not exceed 1.5 months. In case of an overdose, the patient may develop weakness, lethargy, tremor of the limbs, nausea, dizziness. Intoxication with Persen has not been previously recorded.

Neuroplant

This natural remedy with a minimum number of contraindications helps to improve mood, increase efficiency. Neuroplant is dispensed without a prescription from a doctor. The drug contains ascorbic acid, St. John's wort extract. Taking Neuroplant helps to improve the psycho-emotional state and mood of the patient, provides an antidepressant effect. Drinking pills is recommended for depression, pain of unknown origin, anxiety, psychovegetative disorders. Price - from 340 rubles.

Before you start taking Neuroplant, it is important to familiarize yourself with the contraindications. These include the following:

• taking HIV protease inhibitors (Cyclosporine or Indinavir);
• increased photosensitivity;
• age under 12 years old.

Tablets are taken in 1 pc. 2-3 times a day, depending on the patient's condition. The course of therapy is not limited in time due to the comparative safety of the drug. While taking Neuroplant, the following side effects are possible:

• photosensitivity;
• skin itching;
• dyspeptic disorders;
• increased fatigue of the body;
• psycho-emotional stress.

Considering cheap non-prescription antidepressants, this remedy is worth noting. Leuzea extract has a general tonic, adaptogenic, stimulating, strengthening effect on the body, improves mood, increases efficiency. The medicine is produced in the form of tincture and dragee. An antidepressant is produced using a dry extract of safflower leuzea rhizomes. The cost of the drug is from 90 rubles.

Before you start taking tinctures or tablets, you should familiarize yourself with the indications. Leuzea extract is effective in the following conditions:

• asthenia;
• overwork (intellectual or physical);
• decrease in working capacity;
• premenstrual syndrome;
• vegetative-vascular disorders;
• the period of convalescence (recovery of the body after serious illnesses).

Although the drug has a natural composition and is dispensed from pharmacies without a prescription from a doctor, it has a stimulating effect on the nervous system and has a large number of contraindications. These include the following:

• pregnancy;
• lactation period;
• chronic pathologies of the liver or kidneys;
• arterial hypertension;
• sleep problems;
• arrhythmia;
• acute infectious diseases;
• increased nervousness;
• epilepsy;
• alcoholism;
• hypersensitivity to components;
• age under 12 years old.

It is important to note that the maral root contained in this antidepressant often provokes the development of side symptoms. Against the background of taking Leuzea Extract, the following side effects may occur:

• increased blood pressure (blood pressure);
• dyspeptic disorders;
• insomnia;
• headache;
• increased irritability.

Instructions for use of the drug depends on the chosen form:

• Liquid extract on alcohol is taken 20-30 drops 2-3 times every day. You can dilute the medicine with water. The course of therapy is no more than 1-1.5 months.
• Tablets or dragees are taken with food, 2-3 pieces up to 2 times daily. The course of treatment is not longer than 1 month.
• Homemade tincture is drunk 100 ml before meals in the morning and in the afternoon. To prepare it, 1 gram of dry roots is brewed with 1 cup of boiling water, boiled in a water bath for 15 minutes, cooled. The course of therapy is 2-3 weeks.

Synthetic antidepressants without a prescription

In addition to natural drugs, synthetic tranquilizers can be purchased at the pharmacy without a prescription from a doctor. They also gently affect the patient's body, but contain active chemicals. Light tranquilizers can be used to correct minor nervous disorders. Before using antidepressants, you should study the instructions for use, contraindications and the composition of the drug.

Glycine

Among the inexpensive and effective over-the-counter antidepressants, these pills are the best known. Glycine is especially popular among students and schoolchildren during the exam period. The price of a package is 17–40 rubles. The tool is made on the basis of a non-essential amino acid, which activates metabolic processes in the body. Glycine helps to cope with aggressiveness, increased nervousness, psycho-emotional stress. The drug activates brain activity, reduces the severity of autonomic disorders.

The antidepressant has practically no contraindications, except for hypersensitivity to the components. During pregnancy and lactation, women can take Glycine only after consulting a doctor. Of the adverse symptoms in the annotation, only allergic reactions are indicated. Dosage and method of administration of tablets are selected individually. For sleep disorders, drink 1 tablet at night. To increase efficiency, with lesions of the central nervous system (central nervous system) and psycho-emotional stress, drink 1 pc. 2-3 times daily. The course of therapy is 2-4 weeks.

Afobazole

This antidepressant is characterized by low toxicity, mild action. Afobozol is dispensed from pharmacies without a prescription. It is a selective non-benzodiazepine tranquilizer (anxiolytic). The antidepressant does not affect benzodiazepine receptors, it acts on sigma-1 receptors in the brain. Taking the drug helps to improve memory, control emotions, fine motor skills, sensory perception. The drug demonstrates effectiveness in a variety of pathological conditions. Afobazole is available in tablets. Package price: 375–450 rubles.

Before you start taking an antidepressant, you should read the indications. Afobazole is effective for the following disorders:

• anxiety states;
• asthenic neuroses;
• premenstrual syndrome in women;
• VVD (vegetovascular dystonia);
• NCD (neurocircular dystonia);
• sleep disorders;
• withdrawal syndrome in the treatment of tobacco dependence;
• neurasthenia;
• alcohol withdrawal (alcohol withdrawal syndrome).

The tool is relatively safe and is dispensed from pharmacies without a prescription, but has many contraindications. These include:

• allergy to components;
• age up to 18 years;
• galactosemia (galactose intolerance);
• pregnancy;
• breastfeeding period;
• monosaccharide intolerance;
• lactase deficiency.

While taking an antidepressant, patients may develop side effects. Often Afobazole provokes the following conditions:

• itching of the skin;
• urticaria;
• sore throat;
• rhinitis;
• headaches;
• sneezing
• nausea;
• vomiting;
• dermatitis.

According to the instructions, the antidepressant is taken after meals. A single dose of the drug - 10 mg, daily - 30 mg. Drink Afobazole 1 tablet up to 3 times daily. The course of therapy is 2-4 weeks. The effect of the antidepressant is noted after 20 days of use. Individually, the daily dosage and duration of taking the tablets may increase. Treatment with Afobazol is recommended to be agreed with a specialist.

Tenoten

This drug belongs to the group of nootropics. Tenoten is a homeopathic remedy in the form of lozenges with a pronounced antidepressant effect. The drug contains affinity-purified antibodies to the brain-specific protein S-100. Tenoten has anti-anxiety, neuroprotective, sedative and antihypoxic effects. Tablets help to cope with psycho-emotional overload, support the body in cases of cerebrovascular accidents and intoxication.

Indications for the use of an antidepressant are nervous disorders, irritability, autonomic disorders. Tenoten is dispensed from pharmacies without a prescription, has practically no contraindications and side effects. It is possible to use this remedy for the treatment of nervous disorders in children, nursing mothers and pregnant women. The cost of the drug is from 200 rubles per pack.

The drug is taken orally, regardless of the meal period. The treatment regimen for depression with Tenoten is as follows:

• 1-2 pills at a time;
• no more than 4 doses per day;
• The course of therapy is calculated individually from 1 to 3 months.

Phenotropil

Another good non-prescription antidepressant is this remedy, which is part of the nootropic group. Phenotropil helps to improve mood, increase the body's resistance, regulate the processes of inhibition and excitation in the cerebral cortex, activate mental activity, and increase the resistance of tissues to hypoxia. Phenotropil has no contraindications (except for hypersensitivity to components). The cost of this tool starts from 500 rubles per pack.

The medicine should be taken for disorders of the nervous system. Indications are depressive disorders, which are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• apathy;
• sleep problems;
• lethargy;
• violation of metabolic processes;
• problems with cerebral circulation.

Phenotropil is taken orally orally with a large volume of clean water. It is recommended to drink the medicine in the morning. The maximum daily dose of an antidepressant is 750 mg. At one time, an adult patient can take 100-300 mg. The course of treatment of depressive conditions - up to three months. In some cases, you can extend the time of application of the capsules for 30 days. In order to improve performance Phenotropil take 100-200 ml in the morning. The course of therapy in this case is 15 days.

Neurofulol

Another remedy for depression, which can be bought without a prescription from a doctor, is widely used for neurotic and mental disorders. Neurofulol contains the following substances:

• amino acids (methionine and tryptophan);
• magnesium;
• B group vitamins.

An antidepressant helps keep the nervous system working. Indications for the use of the drug are as follows:

• chronic fatigue;
• panic attacks;
• phobias;
• neurotic disorders;
• depressive states;
• digestive disorders caused by stress;
• anxiety states;
• sleep problems.

Taking Neurofulol helps to increase efficiency, improve the mental endurance of the body, the general well-being of the patient and normalize the activity of the central nervous system. The drug has almost no contraindications, except for hypersensitivity to the components. Adverse symptoms during therapy with this antidepressant are not observed, so it is sold without a prescription. The price of the drug starts from 800 rubles per pack.

Neurofulol is recommended to drink 1 pill 3 times a day after meals. The interval between doses of the medicine should not exceed 8 hours. The course of therapy is 3 weeks. Depending on the specific case, the dosage and duration of treatment can be adjusted by a specialist. In the absence of effect or the development of side symptoms, you should consult a doctor for advice.

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Attention! The information provided in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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Sooner or later, a modern person is faced with the need to purchase antidepressant drugs used in the complex treatment of a depressed emotional state. Antidepressants are "called" to serve a person to cheer up, create a positive emotional background, and ultimately.

When do you need a doctor's prescription for antidepressants?

The dosage, daily regimen of medication is prescribed, of course, by the doctor. Only a qualified specialist will be able to assess the true state of your psyche, accurately calculate and prescribe the doses of drugs. Compliance with the prescription in the treatment of depression is one of the components of success in the fight against depression.

A prescription for the purchase of antidepressant drugs is required only in the following cases:

• exacerbation of the disease;
• treatment of the most severe forms of depression;
• with an atypical course of the disease.

The doctor in this situation prescribes monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These are potent antidepressant drugs, which are used in case of ineffectiveness of other types or with severe side effects.

The most effective in the treatment of severe forms of depression are moclobemide, phenelzine, isocarboxazid and tranylcypromine.

Phenelzine, isocarboxazid, and tranylcypromine are time-tested drugs that have been used since the 1950s and have many side effects. Moclobemide is a new generation drug with faster action and fewer associated adverse reactions.

Light antidepressants of a new generation. What is the feature?

A mild form of depression can be "corrected" with drugs for which pharmacies do not ask for a prescription. Antidepressants of the new generation, as a rule, do not cause such harm to the body as drugs produced in the last century. Modern "over-the-counter" antidepressants are fundamentally different from heavy drugs and older generation drugs.

Advantages of modern antidepressants:

1. a faster effect on the body and the elimination of a depressive state;
2. fewer side effects;
3. the possibility of simultaneous administration with many other drugs;
4. lack of significant addiction to the action of the drug.

According to the effect the drugs have on the mental state of a person, antidepressants of stimulating and sedative properties are distinguished.

It is very important to accurately determine the nature of the disease and the subsequent correct choice of antidepressant medication (for excitation or inhibition of the central nervous system). The time and effectiveness of treatment largely depends on this.

List of non-prescription mild antidepressants (15 products)

Over-the-counter antidepressants are divided into different groups according to the degree and type of their effect. We list the main groups and the drugs included in them. Let's start the list with a list of stimulant antidepressants.

1. Maprotilin (Maprotilin)

Name of the drug: Maprotiline (Maprotiline).

Analogues: Ludiomil, Ladiomil, Flexyx.

Indications: endogenous, involutional, psychogenic and neurotic depression, exhaustion, somatogenic, latent, menopausal depression.

Action: reduction of apathy, improvement of mood, removal of psychomotor retardation.

Side effects: headache, lethargy, drowsiness, hearing loss, hallucinations, tachycardia, arrhythmia, vomiting, nausea, dry mouth, urticaria, edema, weight gain, sexual disorders, stomatitis.

Contraindications: epileptic disease, diseases of the kidneys, liver, pregnancy.

2 Prozac

Name of the drug: Prozac.

Analogues: Fluoxetine, Prodel, Profluzak, Fluval.

Indications: depression, bulimia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder (obsessive thoughts and actions).

Action:

• get rid of emotional overload, obsessive thoughts;
• alleviate anorexia nervosa;
• eliminate premenstrual disorders;
• reduce anxiety and panic.

Side effects: at the beginning of treatment and with increasing doses - anxiety, drowsiness, headache, nausea. Rarely - convulsions. Possible skin rashes, muscle and joint pain, fever

Contraindications: hypersensitivity, pregnancy, lactation.

3. Paxil

Name of the drug: Paxil.

Analogues: Reksetin, Adepress, Aktaparoksetin, Plizil, Paroxetine hydrochloride hemihydrad, Sirestill.

Indications: depression of all types in adults and in children 7-17 years old.

Action: in the first weeks of taking the symptoms of depression decrease, suicidal thoughts are eliminated. Prevents relapses of depression.

Side effects: drowsiness, insomnia, decreased appetite, tachycardia, nausea, constipation, seizures, sweating.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to paroxetine and drug components. Pregnancy, lactation.

Name of the drug: Deprim (Deprim).

Analogues: Gelarium hypericum, Doppelhertz Nervotonik.

Indications: chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, emotional exhaustion, decreased ability to work.

Action: increase in working capacity, mental and physical activity, normalization of sleep.

Side effects: dry mouth, changes in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, fatigue.

Contraindications: children under 6 years old. Individual intolerance. With extreme caution should be taken during pregnancy and lactation.

Along with drugs of chemical origin, herbal preparations can be taken in the fight against depression. Antidepressants of plant etiology are herbal infusions that can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared at home.

5. Leuzea extract

Name of the drug: Leuzea extract (safflower raponticum).

Indications: as a complex therapy.

Action: general tonic effect, increased efficiency, improved mood, increased appetite .

Side effects: headache, irritability, increased blood pressure, allergic reaction, insomnia.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity, epilepsy, chronic sleep disorders, acute period of infectious diseases.

6. Ginseng tincture

Name of the drug: Ginseng tincture.

Indications: hypotension, increased fatigue, overwork.

Action: increased efficiency, reduced fatigue, increased blood pressure.

Side effects: insomnia, headache, diarrhea, nausea, nosebleeds.

Contraindications: hypertension, children under 16 years of age, hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.

7. Lemongrass tincture

Name of the drug: Lemongrass tincture.

Indications: hypotension, neurasthenia, depression.

Action: stimulation of the central nervous system, increased blood pressure, improved visual acuity.

Side effects: overexcitation of the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Contraindications: insomnia, high blood pressure, acute infectious diseases.

Let us consider in more detail the class of sedative antidepressants.

8. Azafen

Name of the drug: Azaphen.

Indications: astheno-depressive syndrome, anxiety-depressive state, alcoholic depression, endogenous depression, exogenous depressions, depressive conditions in chronic somatic diseases.

Action: elimination of anxiety-depressive state, manifestations of senile depression, smoothing out the negative state caused by long-term use of neuroleptics.

Side effects: nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, acute infectious diseases.

9. Persen

Name of the drug: Persen (Persen).

Indications: poor sleep, irritability, increased nervous excitability.

Action: sedative and antispasmodic action.

Side effects: allergic reaction. With prolonged use - constipation.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, arterial hypotension. Children under 3 years old (tablets), children under 12 years old (capsules)

10. Mianserin

Name of the drug: Mianserin.

Indications: depressions of various origins.

Action: improved sleep, reduced nervous excitability.

Side effects: drowsiness, hypokinesia, convulsions.

Contraindications: manic syndrome, pregnancy, lactation, children's age (up to 18 years). Liver and kidney failure.

11. Amitriptyline

Name of the drug: Amitriptyline.

Indications: manic-depressive psychosis, bulimia nervosa, childhood enuresis.

Action: sedative effect, antidiuretic effect in bedwetting, analgesic effect.

Side effects: drowsiness, disorientation, excitability, hallucinations, fatigue, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, weight gain.

Contraindications: epilepsy, intestinal obstruction, angle-closure glaucoma, pregnancy, breast-feeding.

12. Mirtazapine

Name of the drug: Mirtazapine (Mirtazapine).

Indications: depressive states, early awakening from sleep, loss of interest, anxious depressions.

Action: restoration of the ability to have fun, sleep adjustment, elimination of suicidal thoughts.

Side effects: drowsiness, dizziness, unusual dreams, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea, decreased libido, dry mouth, increased appetite.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, epilepsy, organic brain damage.

13. Novo-passit

Name of the drug: Novo-passit.

Indications: neurasthenia, "manager" syndrome, migraine, eczema of psychological etiology.

Action: sedative, removal of nervous excitability of the premenstrual and menopausal period, elimination of anxiety.

Side effects: allergic reactions, dizziness, drowsiness, slight decrease in muscle tone.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, children's age (up to 12 years), alcoholism, epilepsy, diseases, brain injuries.

14. Tincture of hawthorn

Name of the drug: Hawthorn tincture.

Indications: nervousness, cardiovascular disease, menopause, high cholesterol.

Action: calming effect on the nervous system, normalization of the activity of the heart, reduction of excitability during menopause.

Side effects: allergic reactions, itching, urticaria.

Contraindications: pregnancy, lactation, individual intolerance, children under 12 years of age.

15. Valerian tincture

Name of the drug: Valerian tincture.

Indications: insomnia, migraine, hysteria, irritability, spasms of smooth muscles.

Action: soothing, antispasmodic, choleretic, normalizing effect for the digestive tract.

Side effects: decreased performance, drowsiness, depression.

Contraindications: individual intolerance.

Contraindications for over-the-counter antidepressants

Antidepressants sold without a prescription have a beneficial effect on the elimination of neurotic conditions of various etiologies. But this does not mean at all that you can take these drugs for a very long time and without negative consequences.

Many antidepressant drugs that are freely available in pharmacies may have a number of contraindications.

These "prohibitions" apply to almost all antidepressants:

• individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
• pregnancy;
• the period of breastfeeding;
• children's age up to 18 years.

It must be said that each antidepressant drug, along with the contraindications listed above, may have its own, unique to this drug.

If you are in doubt whether or not to take antidepressants, watch a video that will enlighten you and destroy a number of invented myths about drugs of this kind:

Constant stressful situations, a very fast pace of modern life lead to the fact that many people become overly irritable, nervous, prone to various types of phobias. Depressive states, unfortunately, have ceased to be something unique and single.

Nowadays, even young children are familiar with the term "depression".

The chemical composition and clinical use of these drugs may vary. The search for new pharmacological compounds to combat depression in medical science does not stop.

The first drugs to fight depression began to be prescribed to patients in the 1950s. The drug "iproniazid" stands at the origins of antidepressants. Currently, there are about 125 antidepressant drugs in pharmacology. Be careful when choosing antidepressants!

When you're suffering from deep, disabling depression, the idea that a pill will give you life - and hope - is extremely attractive. But are antidepressants always the best option? Is there solid evidence that they work in the long run? What are the possible side effects and safety concerns? And are there any truly effective non-drug treatments? These are important questions to think about when you are considering antidepressant treatment. Finding out the facts about what antidepressants will (and won't do) will help you weigh the benefits and risks and make a more informed decision.

Effectiveness of antidepressants?

So now we know that depression is not just a matter of too little serotonin. But that doesn't mean antidepressants don't work. Returning to our aspirin analogy, although headaches are not caused by aspirin deficiency, they still go away when you take a couple of aspirins. Is the same true for antidepressants and depression? Again, the data will surprise you.

When depression becomes severe, medications are often very helpful—even life-saving. However, studies show that only a small number of people get better with antidepressants, and some even get worse. Moreover, many who initially responded to medication then slip back into depression despite adhering to medication.

Other research suggests that the benefits of antidepressants are exaggerated, and a growing body of research is concluding that when it comes to mild to moderate depression, antidepressants are no more effective than the placebo effect.

I'm depressed and I need relief. Where will it take me?

Medication may be right for you if depression interferes with your ability to function in areas that are important to you—work, school, or relationships, for example. However, many people take antidepressants when psychotherapy, exercise, or self-help strategies would work just as well or even better—minus the side effects. Even if you decide to take medication, it's a good idea to go to therapy and lifestyle changes that will go to the very root of the underlying problems and develop the tools that will best defeat depression.

Side effects of antidepressants

There are many types of pills that are used to treat depression, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants (TRAs), and monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs). Side effects are present with all antidepressants. For many people, the side effects are severe enough to make the decision to stop taking the medication.

Side effects of SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants come from a class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs include drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil.

SSRIs act on brain chemicals called serotonin. Serotonin helps regulate mood, but it also plays a role in digestion, pain, sleep, mental clarity, and other bodily functions. As a result, SSRI antidepressants cause a range of side effects.

Common side effects of SSRIs

• Nausea
• Tremor
• Insomnia
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Drowsiness or fatigue
• Restlessness
• Dry mouth
• Decreased sex drive
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Constipation
• Weight gain
• Headaches

SSRIs also cause severe withdrawal symptoms, especially if you stop taking them abruptly.

Side effects of atypical antidepressants

There are many newer types of antidepressants called atypical antidepressants. They target other neurotransmitters either alone or in association with serotonin. Some of the brain chemicals they affect are norepinephrine and dopamine. Examples of atypical antidepressants are as follows:

• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Mirtazapine (Remeron)
• Trazodone (Desyrel)
• Nefazodon (Serzon)

Side effects vary depending on the specific pills. However, many atypical antidepressants cause nausea, fatigue, weight gain, drowsiness, nervousness, dry mouth, and blurred vision.

Side effects of older depression pills

Tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) are older classes of antidepressants. Their side effects are more severe than those found with newer antidepressants, so they are rarely prescribed and only as a last resort when other medications have failed.

Antidepressants and the risk of suicide

There is a danger that - in some people - antidepressant treatment causes an increase - not a decrease - in depression. In fact, in the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires all medications for depression to be labeled with an increased risk of suicide in children and young adults. The risk of suicide is especially high during the first month and the second month of treatment.

Anyone taking antidepressants should be closely monitored for suicidal thoughts and behavior. Signs that medications are making things worse include anxiety, insomnia, hostility, and excessive anxiety—especially if the symptoms come on suddenly and subside quickly. If you notice warning signs in yourself or in someone you love and appreciate, tell your doctor or therapist right away.

Risk factors for taking antidepressants

Anyone taking antidepressants is likely to experience side effects, but some people are at higher risk:

• People over 65. Studies show that SSRI-type antidepressants increase the risk of falls, fractures, and bone loss in older people.
• Pregnant women. The use of SSRIs in late pregnancy sometimes results in short-term withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Typical symptoms include tremors, restlessness, mild breathing problems, and weak crying.
• Adolescents and young adults. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires all medications for depression to include a warning label about an increased risk of suicide in children and young adults.
• People with bipolar disorder. Antidepressants actually worsen bipolar disorder or trigger an episode of mania. There are other treatments available for people with bipolar disorder.

Do I need medication for depression?

If you are considering antidepressants as a treatment option, the following questions will help you make your decision:

Questions to ask yourself and your mental health professional

1. Is my depression negatively impacting my life enough to require medication?
2. Is medication the best treatment for my depression?
3. Am I willing to put up with unwanted side effects?
4. What types of non-drug treatments can help me with depression?
5. Do I have the time and motivation to pursue other types of treatment such as psychotherapy and exercise?
6. What self-help strategies could reduce my depression?
7. If I decide to take medication, should I also have psychotherapy?

Questions to ask your doctor

1. How many years of professional training do you have behind you?
2. Are there any medical conditions that can cause depression?
3. What are the side effects and risks of taking the antidepressants you recommend?
4. Are there any foods or substances that I will need to avoid?
5. How will these pills interact with other medicines I take?
6. How long will I have to take these medicines?
7. Will it be difficult to stop taking the pills?
8. Will my depression return when I stop taking the medication?

Medication isn't the only way to relieve stress

Remember that antidepressants do not cure. Medications treat some of the symptoms of depression, but they do not change the underlying problems or the situation in your life that caused the depression. This is where exercise, psychotherapy, mindfulness meditation, social support, and other lifestyle changes come into play. These non-drug treatments will lead to lasting change and long-term relief.

Guidelines for taking antidepressants

The more you know about your antidepressants, the better equipped you are to manage side effects, avoid dangerous drug interactions, and minimize other safety issues. Some recommendations:

• See a psychiatrist, not a doctor. Your doctor will help you or the person you love and appreciate recognize that you need treatment for depression. But while any doctor has the right to prescribe antidepressants, psychiatrists are doctors who specialize in the treatment of psychological illness. They are more likely to be familiar with the latest antidepressant research and safety issues. Your health depends on the professionalism of the doctor, so it is important to choose the most qualified one.
• Follow instructions. Be sure you take your antidepressants as instructed by your doctor. Do not skip or change the dosage, and do not stop taking the tablets when you feel better. Stopping treatment prematurely is associated with a high chance of relapse and will result in severe withdrawal symptoms.
• Know about interactions with other drugs. You will need to avoid alcohol while taking SSRIs, as it reduces the effect of the pills. A dangerous pill interaction occurs when SSRIs are taken with antihistamines found in many cold and allergy medications, as well as sleeping pills; do not mix with painkillers. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before combining medicines.
• Track side effects. Pay close attention to any physical and emotional changes in your perception and talk to your doctor about them. Tell your doctor or therapist right away if your depression worsens or you experience an increase in suicidal thoughts. See your doctor regularly.
• be patient. Finding the right pills and dosage is a trial and error process. It takes approximately 4-6 weeks for antidepressants to begin to exert their maximum therapeutic effect. Many people try several drugs before finding one that works.

Withdrawal syndrome while taking antidepressants

Once you start taking antidepressants, it will be difficult to stop them. Many people experience severe withdrawal symptoms that make it difficult to stop taking medication. If you decide to stop taking antidepressants, it is important to consult with your doctor and wean them off gradually.

Withdrawal symptoms when stopping antidepressants

When you stop taking antidepressants, you may experience several unpleasant—and even disabling—withdrawal symptoms, including:

• Anxiety and anxiety
• Depression and mood swings
• Flu and cold-like symptoms
• Irritability and aggression
• Insomnia and nightmares
• excessive restlessness
• fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness and loss of coordination
• Stomach cramps and abdominal pain
• Feelings of electric shock
• Tremor, muscle spasms

• Reduce dosage gradually. To minimize the symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome, never stop taking medication abruptly. Instead, reduce the dose gradually step by step (many experiments recommend reduction in steps of 10%), leaving two to six weeks or even more between steps.
• Don't rush the process. The process of quitting antidepressants can take anywhere from a few months to a year and must be done under close medical supervision. Be patient. If at any point you experience difficulty, consider continuing with your current dosage before trying further reductions.
• Choose a less stressful time to stop taking. Stopping antidepressants is a difficult process, so it's best to start when you're not under a lot of stress. If you are currently going through some big life changes or significant stressful circumstances, then it is probably best to wait for a more stable period of time.

Antidepressants are medicines that are aimed at treating and eliminating various types of depression. A distinction should be made between simply bad mood and drug-induced depression. You do not need to swallow pills if you are able to survive stress on your own. Antidepressants have a number of side effects that can make the situation worse.

Depression can lead to a variety of illnesses.

There are visible and invisible causes of depression. The visible ones can be recognized immediately.

It could be:

1. Loss of loved ones;
2. Job loss;
3. Some bright unpleasant event in life.

And there are invisible reasons when neither you nor the doctor can immediately determine a sharp deterioration in the emotional state. Perhaps something was accumulating inside, or you realized some unpleasant things.

Most often, emotional disorders in people are observed in the spring and autumn periods. This is due to the fact that there is a sharp change in the weather. In one case - for the better, in the other - for the worse. Such changes are reflected in our condition, and in some people too much.

How to get rid of depression?

So that the body does not experience a deficiency of serotonin, try to always make your life brighter than it is now. Say yes to your life!

1. Participate in all the activities that someone offers you. If there are none, then most likely you have a bunch of themed evenings and parties in the city.
2. Get involved in sports, if not professionally, then at least as an amateur. At any time of the year, you can lead an interesting sports life: rollerblading or skating, cycling or skiing, swimming in the river or in the pool, exercising in the gym.
3. Find new friends. You can get acquainted both on the Internet and in everyday life. You will see how diverse life can be.
4. Eat right, sometimes allow yourself chocolate, eat fruits more often, especially bananas and citrus fruits. They will help lift your mood, and antidepressants may not even come in handy;
5. Travel when possible. If it is not there, then explore the nearby territories, there will also be a lot of interesting things there.
6. Find a circle of interests - participation in some kind of get-together, in various business communities, musical events can very well change your life. Try to find them, if it didn’t work out, organize it yourself!

Names of antidepressants

Now we will analyze what antidepressants are. It should be remembered, as a rule, they are prohibited for sale without a prescription. Therefore, either you go to the doctor and he writes you a prescription, or you use antidepressant drugs that you can buy at the pharmacy, more on that below. Of course, private pharmacies, for their own benefit, can sell antidepressants without a prescription, taking risks and transgressing the law. But you need to understand that such laws were invented for a reason. Taking strong antidepressants puts your health at risk.

Medications for depression:

• tryptophan;
• rexetine;
• noofen;
• fluoxetine;
• sonopax;
• amitriptyline;
• paxil;
• grandaxin.

a) Paxil b) "Noofen"

Side effects of antidepressants

Self-administration of such drugs can cause unpleasant side effects.

It could be:

• headache;
• vomit;
• diarrhea;
• insomnia;
• anxiety;
• lack of appetite;
• temperature.

And other disorders. They depend on the type of medicine.

Taking antidepressants - reviews

In their reviews, women often complain about side effects, but there are those for whom the drugs really helped.

A lot of people have already tried antidepressants, some of them were prescribed by a doctor, others managed to buy them on their own. See for yourself how to proceed, but we recommend that you first consult with a knowledgeable person. Because you can immerse yourself in the state of an even larger vegetable than you were before.

Antidepressants without a prescription

There are antidepressants that you can buy at the pharmacy without a prescription:

1. afobazole;
2. new pass;
3. hawthorn tincture;
4. Valerian tincture;
5. negrustin.

Most of them are made on the basis of herbs and do not cause addiction, do not harm the body. If the situation has not gone far, then it is better to do with simple drugs.

Treatment with antidepressants - consequences

Antidepressants can cause addiction, hallucinations, sleep disturbance. Possible decreased libido. Therefore, strong drugs should be taken only as directed by a doctor. In mild cases, you can get by with a tincture of hawthorn or valerian.

The word “antidepressants” is alarming. We don't know much about mental disorders, especially if we're not specifically interested in it. Around mental disorders-if not an aura of romanticism and mystery, then frightening stories. There are those who consider antidepressants to be dangerous drugs that change personality and cause addiction and dire consequences. Because of this, sometimes those who need treatment refuse it. After all, are all these stories true?

the site understands how things really are: what are antidepressants and why they are needed, how they are used, whether they cause side effects and addiction, whether they can be canceled at any time and why take them if necessary,- fine.

What are antidepressants

Antidepressants are substances that affect the functioning of the central nervous system and, as the name implies, are mainly used in the treatment of depression.

These drugs relieve feelings of melancholy, apathy, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, tension, increase mental activity, normalize appetite and sleep. To understand how antidepressants work, you need to understand how the nervous system works.

How is the central nervous system

The central nervous system (CNS) "leads the parade". It includes the spinal cord and brain, and it is responsible for simple and complex reflexes.-standard reactions to any impact. It all works with nerve signals.-impulses .

The nervous system is made up of many nerve cells-neurons . In order for neurons to conduct nerve impulses, they must be connected in a network that will transmit an impulse from one cell to another. Imagine children passing a ball to each other in gym class. Children-nerve cells connected to the system, and the ball-nerve impulse. But the hands with which the children pass the ball is a synapse , such a place of contact.

At synapses, nerve impulses are transmitted from one cell to another. This happens with the helpneurotransmitters-These are intermediary substances. Accordingly, if there are not enough neurotransmitters, then the impulses will pass poorly. This means that the work of the whole organism will be disrupted: after all, the nervous system controls everything.

In addition, there is one more nuance. Neurotransmitters are substances of different nature, in particular, among them there are norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. These substances are hormones. Therefore, in addition to transmitting nerve impulses, they perform many more functions as hormones. They affect the work of individual organs and systems, the processes of contractility of muscles, blood vessels, and partly - on mood and internal sensations. And with depression, the level of these neurotransmitter hormones often decreases in a person. Therefore, it is so difficult for patients: feelings of anxiety, apathy and their own worthlessness are caused by a lack of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. And since hormones also affect many body functions, this explains the physical manifestations of depression - weakness, fatigue, unstable appetite.

Antidepressants just affect the level of these neurotransmitter hormones: they block their breakdown or capture by neurons. This raises their level.

When are antidepressants prescribed and why they may not work?

Antidepressants, despite their name, are not only used to treat depression. they are also used in many other diseases: this is precisely due to the fact that they affect a variety of processes in the body.

With depression and other mental disorders, antidepressants are also not always used. Scientists still do not know exactly all the features and causes of depression. If it were only a lack of neurotransmitters, then antidepressants would help everyone, but this is not so. In addition, drugs such as amphetamine or cocaine would then help with depression: they affect neurotransmitters and therefore cause a feeling of euphoria. But depression-a much more complex disorder in which different mechanisms are involved.

Therefore, the reaction to antidepressants is individual, but you should not refuse them. They help to stop severe conditions so that patients can cope with the disease. Antidepressants are usually not used on their own, but are combined with psychotherapy and other treatments. Sometimes you can do without them-it depends on the condition of the patient. The doctor makes an appointment for each individually.

Is there an addiction to antidepressants?

No. But it cannot be denied that after the withdrawal of antidepressants, the risk of suicide increases, and the patient feels ill. This is the withdrawal syndrome that many people mistake for addiction. The fact is that if the artificial support of the level of neurotransmitters is abruptly cut off, then their level will drop - then the patient seems to have returned to depression, and now he cannot do without pills. This problem is solved by enhanced psychotherapy and a slow decrease in the dosage of the drug. Yes, and the withdrawal syndrome does not occur in everyone, but most often in patients who took high doses.

How do antidepressants help with depression?

the site asked a girl who went through depression and an eating disorder to tell her story. She shared how she encountered a problem, received treatment, and then-She stopped taking antidepressants and went back to her normal life. We publish her story on condition of anonymity.

“My mother left me when I was a year old. I rarely saw her, my grandmother raised me. Since childhood, I felt my uselessness and was afraid that they would leave me. And that’s what happened when I met a guy: one day he just didn’t come on a date, stopped answering on calls - I could not contact him anymore. I didn’t know the reason, I didn’t understand what was happening. Then I came up with the reason myself: I’m fat. By the way, then I weighed 48 kg with a height of 164 cm. I became a vegetarian, ate twice a day, intermittently fasted and trained in the gym to a seventh sweat.I was annoyed by the feeling of satiety, and I forbade myself everything.After that, compulsive overeating began: I ate so much that it hurt to breathe, and hated myself even more. Menstruation became irregular, and then stopped at all. I was frightened and ran to the gynecologist. She asked me about the diet, and I said that I was eating normally. I really was convinced that I was eating normally, but I overeat because I was weak-willed.

The gynecologist has appointed or nominated hormonal. Menstruation went on, but when I refused the pills, they stopped again. Just then I graduated from university and stopped getting a scholarship. Stress, uncertainty and lack of work threw me into a panic: because now I had no money for the gym, and I could get fat. That's when the depression started. I once sealed all the mirrors in the house so that only the face was visible. I could not see myself and my body. I hated them.

Worked. Then my grandmother died. It was hard, and I continued to starve and train. Menstruation was out of the question, but I didn't care.

So 4 years passed - and all this time I did not suspect that I had an eating disorder. One day a friend developed the same symptoms and her mother bought her antidepressants. I googled these pills and came across the term "bulimia nervosa" - it exactly matched my condition. At first I wanted to take antidepressants myself, but I could not find any that would be sold without a prescription. Then I decided to turn to a psychotherapist so that he would write them out for me. By that time, I no longer wanted to live, it became hard to get up in the morning. I was so disgusted with myself that I wanted to scratch my face and cut my body.

The therapist was not in favor of prescribing drugs to me, but I insisted. I was prescribed a small dose: I drank a fourth of the pill. In parallel, she underwent psychotherapy with him and with a psychologist. The effect of the pills was almost immediately: anxiety and self-hatred disappeared, a desire to live appeared. Menstruation has gone. After 7 sessions, I quit both therapy and pills - I suddenly realized that there is my inner work that no one will do for me. There were no side effects and no withdrawal syndrome: at some point, I simply began to forget to take the pills.

I quit my job and started working remotely. I remembered what I always loved - to draw. She entered the second higher education in design. When I found myself and began to do what I like, then the problems with food stopped, skipping workouts stopped scaring me. I didn't train all winter because I was studying and working. Now I go to the gym, but only because I like it. I do not limit myself in food, and breakdowns have stopped. Yes, I have an imperfect body, and now I weigh 57 kg. But it doesn't matter: I finally began to live. I still have to work on myself: jokes about weight and posts about losing weight work as a trigger and cause anxiety attacks. I cannot say that I am completely healthy. But I learned to love myself and listen to my body."