Once diagnosed, a person with depression can be treated in several ways. One of the most common treatments is medication. This, in combination with psychotherapy, has proven to be most effective treatment.

Antidepressants primarily work on brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, especially serotonin and norepinephrine. Other antidepressants work on the neurotransmitter dopamine. Scientists have found that these particular chemicals are involved in regulating mood, but they are unsure of the exact ways that they work.

Popular Newer Antidepressants
Some of the newest and most popular antidepressants are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Most commonly used SSRIs:

• fluoxetine (Prozac)
• sertraline (Zoloft)
• escitalopram (Lexapro)
• paroxetine (Paxil)
• citalopram (Celexa)

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are similar to SSRIs and include venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta).

SSRIs and SNRIs tend to have fewer side effects than older antidepressants, but they sometimes produce headaches, nausea, jitters or insomnia when people first start to take them. These symptoms tend to fade with time. Some people also experience sexual problems with SSRIs or SNRIs, which may be helped by adjusting the dosage or switching to another medication.

One popular antidepressant that works on dopamine is bupropion (Wellbutrin). Bupropion tends to have similar side effects as SSRIs and SNRIs, but it is less likely to cause sexual side effects. However, it can increase a person’s risk for seizures.

The latest information on medications for treating depression is available on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website at http://www.fda.gov.

Go here for more resources about depression and how to help you or a loved one cope. You can also download National Institutes of Mental Health’s Depression booklet.

Contracted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), atom Alliance is working with physician offices and inpatient psychiatric facilities to increase depression screening and follow up treatment and reduce hospital readmissions as a result.