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What Are The Types Of Antidepressants In Philadelphia?

June 14, 2024

Have you considered getting help for depression and wanted to see what medications are available? Antidepressants have long been a popular approach for treating depression symptoms and may be a possibility for you. Learn more about the various types of antidepressants in Philadelphia and discover what you might do if they don’t relieve your symptoms.

How Do Antidepressants Work?

It’s believed that antidepressants support patients by influencing specific brain pathways, including the chemicals called neurotransmitters that transmit messages from one nerve cell to another. Several antidepressants are known as reuptake inhibitors as they block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters back into nerve cells. These chemicals, like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, stay in the brain for extended periods, which is thought to enhance neural pathways that regulate mood.

To find the proper antidepressant, you must speak with a doctor who will take the following under thorough consideration:

  • Current symptoms
  • Medical history, including medications and other health conditions
  • Possible side effects
  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • If some antidepressants have worked for a blood relative like siblings or parents

Different Antidepressants For Philadelphia Patients

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are reuptake inhibitors that affect specific neurotransmitters. These prescriptions can be grouped into these categories:

  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) - features brands like Prozac®, Zoloft®, and Lexapro®
  • Serotonin And Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) - Includes Cymbalta® and Effexor®
  • Norepinephrine And Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs) - Includes Wellbutrin®

Some antidepressants work a bit differently. Tetracyclics prevent neurotransmitters from joining to certain nerve receptors. By doing so, they elevate neurotransmitter amounts. Another category of drugs, serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs), block the reuptake of serotonin but also prevent particles from connecting to particular receptors and redirect them to others.

Older Antidepressants Include MAOIs and Tricyclics

Some previous antidepressants, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclics, usually aren’t recommended unless other choices have failed. They typically come with a greater threat of more intense side effects. Tricyclics, like other antidepressants, block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters. MAOIs are a bit different as they are thought to obstruct the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which takes apart neurotransmitters. As a result, neurotransmitter quantities go up.

SPRAVATO® Approved For Treatment-Resistant Depression

Unfortunately, widely prescribed antidepressants don’t work for everyone. As a matter of fact, a wide-reaching study noted that around one-third of patients with major depressive disorder failed to respond to more than one of these prescriptions. Luckily, there is another alternative for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Esketamine has been shown to be much more successful in addressing Treatment-Resistant Depression than other treatments. Found under the brand name SPRAVATO, this FDA-approved esketamine nasal spray targets a certain brain receptor to alleviate symptoms from depression. SPRAVATO is only for TRD, and candidates must have taken no less than two other depression treatments before eligibility. It also needs to be taken under medical observation at an accredited facility, like The Counseling Center at Cherry Hill. A medical evaluation can establish if you are a potential candidate for SPRAVATO treatment.

Request Depression Treatment In Philadelphia At The Counseling Center at Cherry Hill

You don’t have to fight depression alone. Instead, turn to the mental health professionals at The Counseling Center at Cherry Hill in Philadelphia. We are certified for SPRAVATO and supply many depression therapies to help you. We’ll customize a treatment plan that might include a mix of medication and therapy. Dial 856-600-0951 today to arrange a consultation.