Major Depression Page 2

Doctor Prescribed Medication for Major Depression

IV. Medication: The most effective medication used to treat depression is the antidepressant. An antidepressant needs to be taken for at least 2 to 4 weeks in order to start working and between 6 and 12 weeks to have a full effect.

The role of the antidepressant is to correct the neurotransmitter imbalance involved in depression.The antidepressants used to treat major depression include:

A. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is a group of antidepressants that correct the serotonin imbalance by blocking the reuptake of the serotonin from the synapse to the nerve and artificially increasing the serotonin that is available in the synapse.

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors include: fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), and fluvoxamine (Luvox). The common side effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors include: gastrointestinal problems and headaches, and in some cases, can cause insomnia, anxiety, and agitation.

B. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) is the second most commonly prescribed antidepressants after SSRIs that treat depression. These drugs work by blocking the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine from the synapse into the nerve, and increase the amount of both neurotransmitters that participate in signal transmission.

The serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors include: venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta).

C. Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). The most prescribed antidepressant from this group is buspar (Wellbutrin, Buprion), which blocks the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine.

D. Mirtazapine (Remeron) is an agent that targets specific serotonin and norepinephrine receptors in the brain increasing (indirectly) the activity of several circuits in the brain.

E. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) is a group of antidepressants that work similar with the SNRIs, but are not used anymore as a first-line treatment because of their high rate of side effects. These antidepressants are usually prescribed when other antidepressants do not work.

Tricyclic antidepressants include: amitriptyline (Elavil, Limbitrol), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Norpramin, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl), and protriptyline (Vivactil).

Some of the tricyclic side effects include: drowsiness (Elavil), anxiety and restlessness (Vivactil), heart problems, blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, dizziness when changing position, increased sweating, difficulty urinating, changes in sexual desire, decrease in sexual ability, muscle twitches, fatigue, and weakness.

Return to: Main Article: Major Depression.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Are you suffering from depression? Do you want to get help? Contact Tulsa Therapist Alina Morrow, LPC-S, today to make an appointment and get the help and relief you deserve. You can reach me by texting or calling 918-403-8873 or by Email.

Page Last Updated: July 24, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much does it cost per session?
A. My price is $150 for a 50-minute session.

Q. Who can come to counseling?
A. Anyone who wants guidance to improve their quality of life.

Q. What are the office hours?
A. Monday thru Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Q. How soon can you see us/me?
A. I can usually schedule you the week that you call.

Q. What do I need to do to make an appointment?
A. You can call, text or email me with the day and time you prefer, and we can go from there. PLEASE NOTE: A debit or credit card is required to reserve an appointment. The card has to be provided at the time you schedule your first appointment.

Q. What office policies do I need to be aware of prior to making an appointment?
A. All the clients that schedule appointments with me will be informed about the Making/Cancelling or Rescheduling Appointments Policy. This policy is included in the first appointment forms and is discussed with every client at the beginning of our work together. This policy states that each client will receive a text reminder 2 days (48 hours) prior to their scheduled appointment. The client is required to respond back by confirming, cancelling or rescheduling the appointment the lastet by 8pm the day I send the reminder. If the client fails to respond back, it will be assumed they cancelled the appointment without further notice and they become financially responsible for the booked appointment. Please know that at 8pm the appointment becomes available to other clients, and it is no longer yours.

Q. What is the role of the Making/Cancelling and Rescheduling Appointments Policy?
A. This policy helps me provide equal access to services to all clients (existent or new clients). Each time a client makes an appointment the allocated time is dedicated just to them; therefore, no one else has access to that appointment. This allows me to keep my schedule organized and coordinate the care of each client I have, as well as allocating the rest of the scheduling hours to others that are in need of services. When a client does not respond to my reminder, they directly affect several people. My schedule is affected, and other clients are prevented from having access to appointments. Please understand that mental health services also involve emergency or highly critical situations where clients need to receive services as soon as possible. If you (the client) do not respond to let me know the status of your appointment, I am not able to coordinate the care for other clients and attend to their needs. Clients that need services but cannot be scheduled are put on a waiting list. This is the reason I ask a confirmation by 8pm the day I send the reminder. After 8pm, the clients on the waiting list are contacted and the available appointments are offered to them. Usually the time span between the moment I send the appointment reminder and the latest time I accept confirmations or cancellation is usually 10 to 12 hours. I send the reminders in the first part of the morning (between 8 and 10 am). By not responding to my reminder in that time frame, you (the client) keep an appointment blocked and others will not have access to services. Therefore, you (the client) become financially responsible for making an appointment and not taking responsibility for it or disregarding the needs of others. Please understand that I cannot discriminate against clients. Since this is a policy all the clients abide by when they start counseling with me, I cannot differentiate between clients and make exceptions.