Medications for Stress

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Medications for Stress

Prolonged stress can lead to mental disorders like depression. Depression, if not treated on time, can lead to serious nervous disorders. Though, there are several ways to combat depression, which are the use of antidepressants that are mostly used for the purpose.

In simple words, antidepressants can be described as medications that are used to fight depression. They provide symptomatic relief and enable an individual deal with depression better. Antidepressants were first developed in the 1950s and have been used since then to treat stress and depression.

Antidepressants encompass a wide range of medicines and can be divided into thirty different types. However, there are four main types of antidepressants that are mostly used. These are:

� Tricyclics

� SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

� MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)

� NASSAs (Noradrenaline and Specific Serotoninergic Antidepressants)

� SNRIs (Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors)

How Antidepressants Work

Different types of antidepressants work in different ways to help you get rid of stress and depression. However, most antidepressants work by increasing the level of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are present in the brain, and are responsible for the transmission of signals from one brain cell to the other. Different antidepressants increase the level of neurotransmitters in different parts of the brain. Certain antidepressants also help provide stress relief by boosting Serotonin and Noradrenaline, which are two important chemicals involved in depression.

Who Needs Antidepressants

Though antidepressants are primarily used to treat stress and depression, anyone suffering from the following conditions may make use of these medicines:

� Depressive illness, also refereed to as chronic depression

� Severe anxiety

� Panic attacks

� Post traumatic stress disorder

Are Antidepressants Safe

Even though antidepressants are one of the best medicines to fight stress related disorders, they do come with their share of side effects. The kind of side effects that you deal with depends upon the type of antidepressant that you are using. For instance, tricyclic antidepressants may cause side effects like dryness of the mouth, fast heartbeat, constipation, and weight gain. On the other hand, antidepressants like MAOIs may escalate your blood pressure to dangerous levels.

How to Use Antidepressants

The use of this category of medication varies from one individual to the other. Also, the usage depends on the kind of antidepressant being used. Since antidepressants may result in severe side effects, it is best to use them under strict medical supervision. Also, make sure that you never ever overdose on these medications. In case, you happen to miss a dose, make sure that you talk to your doctor about the same. Do not take two doses at the same time.

All Natural Antidepressants

There have been herbal treatments for almost every condition known to man, with some of them actually being found to have a decent scientific basis for the lore. While recognizing depression as a problem and not merely sadness is a relatively modern phenomenon, that does not mean that the herbal lore of the ancients should be disregarded. As amazing as it might sound, it is possible to find a natural antidepressant in today's market.

The most commonly suggested natural antidepressant would be St. John's Wort, which has also been suggested as an herbal remedy for everything from constipation to muscle pain. According to medical science, the leaves contain a number of natural antidepressants or chemicals that often appear as base ingredients in a wide range of common depression medication.

Typically, using this can have noticeable positive effects on mild depression in about two weeks. However, for more severe cases, the usual time frame is closer to around six months of regular use. St. John's Wort should be taken with food, but taking it with alcohol should be avoided to minimize the chances of developing side effects. Note that this has been known to interact with other medications, so a pharmacist might also be consulted for more information.

Gingko-biloba has also been cited as a potential natural antidepressant, though there hasn't been too much testing on this possibility. This particular substance has a number of components that boost the blood circulation to the brain. Since depression can be caused by a lack of proper blood flow to the brain, the use of gingko-biloba can be helpful in this regard.

However, it should be noted that not all cases of depression are caused by a lack of proper blood circulation to the brain. In other words, this may not be the best treatment for every depressed individual, depending solely on what caused the depression in the first place. Gingko-biloba, according to some recent findings, can be successful in treating depression in cases where standard medication fails.

Valerian, which has long been known as an herb that can combat anxiety attacks, has also been linked to depression. Since anxiety and depression tend to be encountered in the same patients, Valerian has sometimes been used as a means of treating both conditions with just one herb. Valerian has also been used to treat insomnia, which is similar to anxiety in that both are medical conditions that are often closely linked to depression. Valerian works by releasing a number of compounds into the body that boost production of gamma-aminobutyric acid, which is an inhibitory chemical used by the central nervous system.

Gotu kola, an ayurvedic herb, has also been used as a natural antidepressant. Among practitioners of ayurvedic medicine, in is known as brahmi. The dried stems, flowers, and leaves of this particular plant contain a host of components that can be useful for treating depression and anxiety, including asiatic acid and madecassic acid. It has also been known to help people improve their moods, as well as having benefits for memory and concentration.