Why is it dangerous to take antidepressants without a prescription
Health / / December 19, 2019
What is depression
If you are feeling sad or oppressed, it is not necessarily depressed. Depression - a heavy emotional sphere disorder that occurs mainly due to internal reasons, not external factors.
This serious diagnosis is made by the presence of the following criteriaDepression:
- deterioration of mood;
- reduction in pleasure from those activities that were previously enjoyed;
- fatigue (tiredness rolls after a short walk, or simple cases).
And all of these symptoms should be watched most of the day and last for at least two weeks. They will not disappear if you suddenly happened for some joyful event, such as a person raised in a post or presented to him for a long time desired thing.
There must be several additional features listed:
- inability to concentrate on the job;
- diffidence;
- the feeling that the man himself is to blame for his illness;
- People no longer see in the "clearance" of the future;
- difficulty falling asleep, insomnia, heavy awakening;
- appetite loss;
- the desire to harm your body.
Assess these symptoms and the diagnosis can only be a doctor - a psychotherapist or psychiatrist. This is due to three reasons.
Firstly, there are a variety of disorders, which are very similar to depression, but it is not. This, for example, bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, dementia. they are treated, respectively, in other wordsDepression (major depressive disorder).
Secondly, sometimes depression cause diseases of internal organs such as the heart or endocrine system. In this case, the brain receives less oxygen, and he will have to "turn off" or does not weaken the most important functions. In particular, the mood. This depression is called somatogeneticFederal guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorderAnd it does not take place until the treatment is started the underlying disease.
Finally, there are atypicalSmulevich A. B. Depression in general medicine. Guidelines for doctors forms of depression. They have other symptoms, such as increased appetite, strong sleepiness. It requires a special approach in the treatment.
How do antidepressants
For emotions in our body meet specific chemicals are called neurotransmitters. It:
- norepinephrine - a hormone which creates isolation anxiety, as he is responsible for vigilance and adaptation to the surrounding world;
- Serotonin - a hormone that forms a sense of happiness or pleasure, controlling and anxiety, aggressiveness, falling asleep, sexual behavior;
- dopamine - a hormone that causes a feeling of elation in response to a reward or encouragement;
- Oxytocin - a hormone that creates the feeling of confidence, peace of mind, reduces anxiety and fears;
- melatonin - a hormone that regulates the circadian rhythm of humans;
- gamma-aminobutyric acid - neurotransmitter with sedative effect;
- prolactin - a hormone that is responsible for the production of breast milk and the ability to get an orgasm in both men and women;
- other neurotransmitters.
Many of them are hormones and affect not only mood but also on all the work body: the functioning of the sex glands, changes in blood pressure, activation or slowing of the heart. Others, such as gamma-aminobutyricGamma-aminobutyric acid and other blocking compounds in crustacea acid and phenylethylamineβ-Phenylethylamine: A Specific Substrate For Type B Monoamine Oxidase Of BrainThey have a non-hormonal nature and can only manage emotions.
Most of the drugs that belong to the group of antidepressantsFederal guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorderWork only with the first three of these molecules: norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. Acting drugs, where there are two processes of nerve cells (called nerve synapse). A process allocates a neurotransmitter that flows into the space between the cells and it acts on the arm of another nerve cell.
Processes of nerve cells interact with different substances. But at one time unit can be operated or those mediators that evoke the feeling of joy, or the ones that lead to the oppressed mood. Two at once can not be included.
To have its effect, as a rule, antidepressants are one of three main ways:
- Inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO)Federal guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorderDestroying neurotransmitters. As a result of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine neurons affect more time than it did before. Drugs acting on the MAO, can depress it irreversibly or reversibly.
- Do not allow the neurons that are already allocated noradrenaline, dopamine or serotonin, the capture molecules back (drugs called inhibitors, or reuptake blockers). As a result, the nerve cells that are to receive neurotransmitters longer interact with these hormones of joy and pleasure. Then, if you maintain a constant concentration of anti-depressant in the body (that is, to take it as prescribed by a doctor), to return to a previous state in neurons will not have time. Man ceases to feel so oppressed mood as before.
- Allocation or increase norepinephrine and serotonin or serotonin from only relevant neurons. As a result, neurons receives more hormones of happiness and depression state of retreat.
A separate group of antidepressants form preparations that act on neurons that produce melatoninMelatonin: the role of the body, clinical use - the sleep hormone. Reducing its production is seasonal depression. In addition to increasing production of the hormone melatonin, they enhance dopamine release and noradrenaline, inhibit one of the types of receptors, serotonin sensing. More fun and happiness hormones - and the brain will be no place for depression-causing molecules.
The group of antidepressant drugs are also based on St. John's wort extract. they are able toRegister of Pharmaceutical Substances of Russia. St. John's wort herb extract inhibit the reuptake of all three neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Antidepressants are also tools on the basis of methionineRegister of Pharmaceutical Substances of Russia. Pharmacological group - antidepressants - an amino acid that is involved in the synthesis of adrenaline.
Myths about antidepressants and their exposure
Often people are afraid to take antidepressants because of the frivolous side effects. Let us examine the popular misconceptions.
Antidepressants do not help solve the problem, but only make you forget about them
Drugs do not affectDepression: Fears and Facts about Antidepressants memory. In addition, when a person is depressed, he distorted perception of their problems and not enough energy to deal with them. Prescription of antidepressants often helps to better understand the current problems at the expense of preserving a person needs mental energy.
Because of antidepressants can gain weight
Some drugs can actually contribute to weight gainDepression: fears and facts about antidepressantsBut also there are medications that reduce appetite, promote weight loss. It fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram.
If a person is worried weight problem, You need to tell your doctor prescribed antidepressants.
Preparations have to use a lifetime
On average, antidepressants take 6-9Depression: fears and facts about antidepressants months, sometimes longer. During this time, the symptoms of depression are. However, more than 20%Federal guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorder patients with symptoms of depression over time appear again.
Antidepressants affect the potency
This is not true. Some medicines affect the sex life. But they only reduce libidoDepression: fears and facts about antidepressantsWithout affecting the potency or ability to get an orgasm. In some cases (for example, if a person to depression has been very active in a sexual sense) it can even improve sexual relationships.
The antidepressants can hurt really
according to the orderRussian Health Ministry Order dated July 11, 2017 № 403n "On the Approval of drugs leave the rules for medical use, including immunobiological medicines, pharmacy organizations, individual entrepreneurs licensed pharmaceutical activity " Health Ministry №403n "On approval of the drugs leave the rules," all antidepressant prescription. Many people still find ways to buy these drugs without a prescription, not taking into account that this is not harmless drugs. They interfere with the natural balance of neurotransmitters, most of which, as we have said, - hormones, ie substances that work not only with the brain but with different internal organs.
Major side effectsRegister of Pharmaceutical Substances of Russia. Pharmacological group - antidepressants antidepressants:
- Influence on the cardiovascular system. This increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure when standing up from the bed sudden, fainting, dyspnea.
- Changes in the endocrine system. Some antidepressants can cause an increase, at least - a decrease in blood sugar levels. It may also occur the milk from the mammary glands in non-breastfeeding women.
- The deterioration of the digestive system. Certain antidepressants can cause nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, abdominal pain, taste disturbance, darkening of the tongue.
- Violation of the nervous system: insomnia or drowsiness, dizziness, Tremor (tremor).
- Other side effects: an increase in the size of the pectoral glands (men and women), hair loss, swollen lymph nodes, weight gain (weight increases if taking the drug over a year), bleeding in the skin or mucous membranes shell.
Admission drugs for depression should be clearly justified and more because these medications have a "fine-tuning". They are difficult to combine with other drugs, and they generally should not be taken with alcohol (a treatment course lasts for at least 6 months). Moreover, anti-depressants "are not allowed" to eat certain foods.
For example, when taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors should not be eating food that contains the amino acid tyramineKharkevich D. BUT. Pharmacology or tyrosine. It's cheeses, smoked, dairy products, meat broth, beans, beets and sauerkraut, sausages and wieners, animals or birds liver. If the person taking pirazidol, moclobemide or other MAO inhibitors, will use these products, it may develop a syndrome of tyramine. it sharp increase blood pressure with severe headache, and sometimes other symptoms:
- strong reddening of the head and face;
- intense pain in my heart;
- heart rhythm disorder;
- photophobia;
- dizziness;
- convulsions.
If we take the MAO inhibitor and a drug that blocks the reuptake of one or more neurotransmitters, also developed severe side reactions:
- temperature increase;
- nausea or vomiting;
- dizziness;
- seizures, up to causing respiratory arrest.
What to do if you notice signs of depression at
Depression - what causes the strongest emotional and physical pain, decreases quality of life and It can lead to disability, as people no longer find the moral strength to work and even take care of a. If it is a disease, not a temporary worsening of mood, then later may appear suicidal thoughts. Depression needs to be treated.
Therapy should appoint a specialist - psychiatrist or psychotherapist. It is not necessary physician begin treatment with purposeDepression antidepressants. In light and moderate cases, especially in children and adolescents, may be sufficient therapy, receiving magnesium products, increased physical activity.
Engage in self-definitely not worth it. You will not be able to objectively assess which medications are necessary for you, and will increase the risk of side effects.
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