Still a Good Option For Treatment of Depression In Spite of Wellbutrin's Side Effects?

By Brian Sloan


Sadness, fear, loneliness, and even physical pain - all symptoms of depression, and unless you have experienced it, there is no way to describe it. It's like living in a reality where happiness seems unattainable. But there has been much hope with a welcomed number of antidepressants through the years. Wellbutrin, an interesting medication, that has been around for quite a while, has continued to be prescribed for depression as well as other conditions. But, as the other depression medications, there are several Wellbutrin side effects.

We shall take a closer look at those in a bit. There are several classes of antidepressants on the market today. The very popular and effective SSRIs (Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are prescribed frequently. Some of these are Paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa. The SSRIs would have to be considered among the most popular antidepressants today. In these SSRIs the side effects are fairly mild. Are you getting fired up? Well, this may not be such exciting news for the average person, but for depression sufferers, it actually is.


SNRIs work by balancing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. These include medications such as Cymbalta, Effexor and Pristiq. In my battle with depression, I have found the SNRIs to be helpful. SNRIs are approved for General Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Diabetic Neuropathy. Those suffering from depression deserve as many medication choices as possible.

Let's now take a quick look at another class of antidepressants. These are calle MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors). Unfortunately, although these guys have been proven effective, they have also proven to have adverse reactions when combined with certain other medications and some types of foods. Panic disorder, mixed anxiety and depression, agoraphobia, and bulimia are some of the conditions for which the MAOIs have been effective. But unfortunately, because of some of the adverse reactions, these are not usually prescribed until some of the other treatments have been exhausted.

Now lets really take a step back to the Tricyclic Antidepressants.The TCAs were developed in the early 1950s. I remember my first encounter with depression(far later than the 50s by the way...) was treated with Imipramine, which along with Elavil, Norpramin, and others make up the family of TCAs. Although effective for their time, they have largely been replaced by many of the new medications.

Actually, there are quite a few other players in the antidepressant field. Notably the NDRIs have been very popular depending on the condition. Wellbutrin is a medication that has so many applications that I find it a fascinating medication. It is one of the NDRIs (Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors). The generic version of Wellbutrin is Bupropion. It can also be found under the names Budeprion, Voxra, Elontril, others, and of course the name brand that is marketed to those who are trying to stop smoking- Zyban. NDRIs work in the brain to help block the reuptake of Norepinephrine and Dopamine which helps stability. As far as side effects, for instance, Wellbutrin side effects include dry mouth, restlessness, trouble sleeping, abnormal dreams, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Less frequent side effects can include migraine headaches, indigestion, blurred vision, bronchitis, loss of appetite, and frequent urination. It may cause a decrease in our sex drive, but others report that it heightens their sex drive (at 54 years old, I don't know which would be worse....:). But seriously, don't wait long if you get symptoms of depression. Don't wait until it gets worse. Talk to your doctor ASAP and get on a course of treatment. Don't be alone in this. You don't have to live depressed! You can win!




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1 comment:

  1. One might want to try hypnosis. It is very effective in abolishing those negative energy in you.
    Depression Gold Coast and brisbane

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