The number of different antidepressants available for prescription seems to be growing at a regular rate. Certain old medicines which fall out of vogue or turn out to be more harmful than initially believed are quickly replaced by up and coming, newer, better medications. Even with the scandals surrounding some drugs, which can explode in the news and on the Internet, there are still several solid choices which are regularly indicated for those suffering symptoms of depression. Following are just a few reputable depression medications. It’s important to remember that new medical research and drugs are always being released though, so updates do occur often.

Zoloft

Zoloft was a highly popular antidepressant during the 90s and around the turn of the century. Its popularity has declined significantly in recent years as it has been the target of much litigation concerning side effects of prolonged use. It is still prescribed and used today but with so many other antidepressants on the market, it isn’t hard to believe this one will soon disappear from the shelves of pharmacies everywhere. Depression drugs such as Prozac work just as well as Zoloft for many people and they don’t necessarily provide the same ill side effects as this drug, which happens to be one of the first of its kind.

Prozac

The medication, Prozac, has become one of the most popular depression medications in recent years because of the lack of prevalent side effects among users. Most of these drugs tend to work in similar ways, though the methods through which they accomplish their actions vary. Antidepressants usually stop dopamine, which is produced naturally by the brain, from attaching to reuptake sites. Because it can’t dissipate, that feel good neurotransmitter hangs around for a longer time and the person literally just feels better. There is some research into using antidepressants to help combat the effects of Parkinson’s disease for just this reason.

Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin has been widely available for quite a while now but it just doesn’t get as much press time as other antidepressants. For starters, it’s not as easy to abuse and so fewer people tend to abuse it, which does tend to paint a drug in a positive light. Besides that, Wellbutrin works differently from Prozac and other depression drugs so it doesn’t lead to the euphoric feelings those other drugs provide. This depression drug has been prescribed many times for eating disorders in the past and it’s one of the safer antidepressants available.

Abilify

While not an antidepressant itself, Abilify can increase the efficacy of an antidepressant by optimizing the environment for the drug. Think of it like any other catalyst which causes something to work better or over a longer duration and you’ll have a good idea what Abilify really is. For those not getting enough relief from their antidepressant alone, Abilify might also be indicated to help reduce symptoms and improve the quality of a patient’s life. This drug shouldn’t be taken alone and if you aren’t already on an antidepressant, there’s no reason you should be prescribed this depression medication.

Side Effects of Antidepressants

Depression medications have many good qualities about them but like any other drug, sometimes these drugs also have negative interactions with the user. Suicidal thoughts and even actions have been recorded in those using antidepressants and that really does a good job of showing just how little the medical community really knows about brain function. Depression drugs which are intended to stop people from doing things like committing suicide can actually cause that exact behavior in some users. Before beginning any antidepressant regimen, you should carefully consider the pros and cons of the medication you could be taking. Is it really worth it?

Antidepressants Do Help

For hundreds of thousands of people suffering the effects of depression, the drugs and their potential ill side effects are indeed worth it. It’s easy to figure out why anything which makes you feel better about your life when nothing makes you feel good at all anymore is so popular. They’re highly effective and useful medications so it’s difficult to really degrade them as a whole. Antidepressants are not for everyone though, especially those with a history of other mental illnesses. Sometimes, it’s better to go for the source of bad feelings rather than treating the bad feelings themselves.

If you can find whatever is ultimately making you miserable in your life and get away from it, you might be able to live a happier life without the use of antidepressants. It’s a viable approach to the problem, but it’s not always so clear when something, or someone, is having an adverse effect on your life and health. For those times when it is clear, making moves to separate yourself from the negative influence in your life is just as important as picking the right drug, if not more so. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.