| Over 20 million adults in the U.S. are suffering from | | | | antidepressants can work for some patients, they also |
| depression, and many of them have explored the use | | | | produce an alarming amount of side effects in many |
| of antidepressant medication to help alleviate their | | | | cases. Sexual dysfunction, nausea, diarrhea and |
| symptoms. Not all people who suffer from depression | | | | headaches are just a few of the commonly reported |
| choose to use medication; oftentimes, therapy alone is | | | | side effects. Even more disturbingly, these medications |
| enough to successfully treat the condition. But those | | | | can also cause thoughts of suicide, particularly in |
| who do are faced with a variety of options -- including | | | | younger patients.Many who are fed up with the side |
| herbal ones.Antidepressants are more widely used to | | | | effects of antidepressants (or who simply don't want |
| treat serious depression than mild depression. There | | | | to risk them in the first place) turn instead to natural |
| are several kinds of antidepressants, all of which work | | | | remedies for depression. Some remedies have proven |
| slightly differently. One common type is the selective | | | | to be so effective that they outsell prescription |
| serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This type of | | | | medications in some markets. St. John's Wort, for |
| medication specifically targets the neurotransmitter | | | | example, is one of the herbal treatments for |
| serotonin, which is essential in monitoring mood. | | | | depression that works so well that in Germany, it |
| Commonly prescribed SSRIs include Prozac, Paxil, | | | | outsells many major prescription antidepressants. St. |
| Luvox and Zoloft.Another kind of antidepressant is the | | | | John's Wort is believed to boost serotonin levels in the |
| monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). MAOIs are usually | | | | brain, naturally lifting spirits and alleviating feelings of |
| only recommended to patients with atypical symptoms, | | | | depression.There are many other natural ingredients |
| and are not usually the first type of antidepressant | | | | that are effective in treating depression, including |
| prescribed to a person. If a patient is not responding to | | | | passion flower, ginko biloba, and kava kava, among |
| other types of antidepressants, a doctor may | | | | others. You should always consult a doctor before |
| recommend an MAOI. MAOIs work by reducing the | | | | beginning or ending any prescription medication, and if |
| amount of monoamine oxidase in the brain. Monoamine | | | | you decide to pursue the option of treating depression |
| oxidase is the substance that breaks down | | | | naturally, remember to give the medication time to take |
| neurotransmitters such as serotonin and | | | | effect. Whatever choice you make, patience and |
| norepenephrine, which help regulate mood. Reducing | | | | perseverance in exploring the options on your list of |
| the amount of monoamine oxidase in the system can | | | | depression medication will ultimately lead you to a |
| help restore brain chemical balance. Nardil and Parnate | | | | happier, healthier life. |
| are examples of MAOIs.While prescription | | | | |