Antidepressants – Tricyclics

Tricyclics are an antidepressant drug which were first synthesized in the fifties. Of the three classes of antidepressants (the others being MAOIs and SSRIs), they are the least commonly prescribed. This is due to the fact that tricyclics are extremely powerful so it puts the patient at risk of a lethal overdose. Therefore, they often only prescribed in cases of serious depression when alternative treatments have failed to yield results.

Tricyclics improve the mood of the patient by preventing receptors in the brain from reuptaking the pleasure neurotransmitters, noradrenaline and serotonin. This allows the levels of 'feel good' neurotransmitter to remain for longer periods and thus be more able to have the desired effect on boosting mood. It takes several weeks for antidepressants to show their full effect on the patient, indicating there must be slower, more long term, changes occuring in the brain.

There are two reasons why tricyclics are often considered a 'last resort' treatment. The first is due to the aforementioned problem of ease of overdose. This would be of concern in any patient, but is of particular worry when being prescribed to someone with serious depression who may be prone to suicidal fantasies. The second reasons why tricyclics are unpopular is the degree of side effects. Like many drugs, they can cause problems such as fatigue and stomach disturbances like constipation. But tricyclics can also be responsible for tachycardia (increased heart rate), bladder difficulties and vision disturbances such as blurriness.

If you want to know more about depression treatments, the best thing to do is to book an appointment with your family doctor. Studies have shown antidepressants are more effective if the patient is also undergoing non-medicinal treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy. Helping the patient develop better coping strategies through therapy will also lessen the risk of a relapse once the patient is ready to be weaned off their antidepressant drugs.

By: Leanne Williams

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Leanne writes on a range of topics, such as vacuum cleaner reviews for lightweight vacuum cleaners.