Amitriptyline (Elavil) is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) that has been used to treat major depression since its approval in 1961. It is regarded as one of the most popular tricyclic antidepressants of all time and has been regarded by the World Health Organization as an “essential medicine” or a drug needed in a basic health system. …
If you have major depression, chances are good that you could name a few common antidepressants off the top of your head. When most people think of antidepressants, they think of the current most popular classes of medications: the SSRIs (Selective-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and the SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors). In particular, the SSRI “Prozac” seems …
Anxiety is defined as an unpleasant feeling of nervousness or fear that is often accompanied by unrealistic thinking, dread, and panic. For some individuals, anxiety is an uncontrollable part of life – no matter what they do, they cannot escape the anxious thoughts, constant worry, and physical symptoms such as a fast heart rate. If …
Most people understand that it is common sense to avoid drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. Various drugs and other substances have been shown to cause birth defects and developmental problems among babies. It is well documented that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, and even smoking marijuana while pregnant could put a child …
Depression is a very common emotion that everyone experiences at some point in life. In some cases depression is triggered by external events and environmental factors. In other cases, no matter how good someone’s environment or healthy their habits, they feel a depression that they cannot shake. This inevitably leads people to search for a …
When a new antidepressant drug is released, everyone wants to be the first to try it. In most cases, people seem to always believe that newer will equal better in terms of depression relief. In most cases, when new drugs get approval to treat depression, they are backed by some heavy marketing, which further brainwashes …
The popularity of antidepressants has changed significantly over time. The first antidepressants called MAOIs were discovered in the 1950s and instantly became the most popular class. As newer tricyclic antidepressants emerged just a few years later, many of them were preferred over MAOIs because they carried less side effects and food interactions. The goal with …