Antidepressants are medications that are most commonly used for treating depression. This eMedTV article lists various types of antidepressants, explains how they work, and offers general information on what you should know before using these drugs.
As this eMedTV segment explains, antidepressants can cause side effects such as dry mouth, headache, and dizziness, among others. This article lists possible side effects of these medications and suggests ways to deal with them.
It is possible to gain weight while taking antidepressants. This segment from the eMedTV site further explores this topic and offers tips on what you can do if you notice any unexplained weight gain and what to do if the problem continues.
Many types of antidepressants are available, including tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, and SNRIs. This eMedTV resource lists other antidepressants that are currently on the market and briefly explains how they differ from one another.
SSRIs and SNRIs are some of the new depression medications that are available today. This part of the eMedTV archives talks about different antidepressants, including a comparison of the newer ones to the older ones.
Besides depression treatment, antidepressants are also approved for other uses. This page from the eMedTV library lists other approved antidepressant uses and explains whether this type of medication is used off-label for other conditions as well.
It is generally recommended to avoid combining antidepressants and alcohol. As this eMedTV resource explains, mixing alcohol with an antidepressant can cause problems such as drowsiness, dizziness, slow reaction times, or even passing out.
Antidepressants appear to increase the risk of suicidality in children, adolescents, and young adults. This eMedTV article provides more information on suicide and antidepressants, and explains why these medications have a "black box" warning.
As this selection from the eMedTV Web site explains, there are currently numerous antidepressants to choose from. This article provides an alphabetized list of antidepressants by generic name, as well as a list categorized by type.
Antidepressants pose some risk to the fetus when used during pregnancy. This eMedTV page offers more information on pregnancy and antidepressants, and explains the risks of using these drugs (as well as leaving depression untreated) during pregnancy.
Fatigue, diarrhea, and dizziness are possible symptoms of withdrawal with antidepressants. As this eMedTV page explains, such problems are more likely to occur if you have been taking the drug for a while or if the medication has a short half-life.
