What is Cymbalta (duloxetine) and what is it used for? Cymbalta (duloxetine) is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant used for treating depression, anxiety disorder, and pain. Other drugs in this class include milnacipran (Savella), venlafaxine (Effexor), and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq). Cymbalta (duloxetine) is used for the treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, pain...
What is trazodone and what is it used for? Trazodone is an oral antidepressant drug that affects the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) within the brain that nerves use to communicate with (stimulate) each other. The major neurotransmitters are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Many experts believe that an imbalance among the different neurotransmitters is the cause...
What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)? What is the history of ECT? Why is electroconvulsive therapy controversial? Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a non-medication medical treatment that addresses severe psychiatric symptoms, after trials of medications and psychotherapy have been unsuccessful or a mental health disorder is determined to be severe and acute enough to warrant this intervention....
What is electroconvulsive therapy? In electroshock therapy, doctors use this machine to run a precise amount of electrical current through a patient's brain, inducing seizures that inexplicably improve some severe mental health conditions. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment in which medical professionals apply an electric current to a patient’s brain for a short period...
Teen depression facts Depression is common during the teenage years, affecting about 20% of adolescents by the time they reach adulthood. Other statistics about teen depression include that more than 8% of adolescents suffer from depression that lasts a year or more. Depression that extends beyond sadness to the point of illness is that which...
How to recognize symptoms of suicidal behavior Recognizing the signs of suicidal behavior in someone else can help save their life. People who contemplate suicide see it as a solution to run away from the problems that seem never-ending to them. If they get help in the form of counseling and emotional support at an...
What is depression? Depression increases the risk of suicide. Depression is a psychiatric illness that affects one in six people in the United States. Nearly two-thirds of people with depression do not realize that they have a treatable illness and do not seek treatment. Depression is characterized by persistent feelings of despondency. It is different...
What is nortriptyline? What is nortriptyline used for? Nortriptyline is in the class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and is used for treating depression. Other drugs in the same class include: amitriptyline (Endep, Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), trimipramine (Surmontil), amoxapine (Amoxapine), desipramine (Norpramin), and protriptyline (Vivactil). Individuals with depression may have...
MAOIs vs. SSRIs: What’s the difference? Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are types of antidepressants used to treat depression. MAOIs are an older class of antidepressants that are not used as much because of drug and food interactions. MAOIs also are used to treat Parkinson's disease. SSRIs are also used...
What is fluvoxamine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Fluvoxamine is a drug that is used for treating several psychiatric disorders. It is a member of the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class that also includes fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors affect...