There are still options available if your SSRI is not working, as there are methods to deal with SSRI resistant depression treatments.
Read on to see how doctors may treat your depression if the first attempt with an SSRI is unsuccessful.
Treat Depression with Various SSRIs There are several different SSRIs that are available to treat your depression.
Here is the list along with the popular brand name.
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
It generally takes two to four weeks for the SSRI to begin to relieve symptoms of depression.
If you do not feel a relaxing of your depression symptoms after this time, you should consult your doctor.
One of the options available to your doctor is to switch from one SSRI to another.
Though they all deal with the serotonin levels in the body, they do so using a different mechanism that may make a difference in your treatment.
Recent studies and doctor testimonials have shown that switching to a different SSRI can make a difference in treating the symptoms of your depression.
Switching to a Non-SSRI for Depression There is also the option of switching to a different class of drugs.
There are other options outside of the now common use of SSRIs.
You should compare common SSRI's and speak with your medical professional in order to determine which is best for your needs.
Here are a few of the other options available for your doctor to prescribe.
- Buproprion (Zyban)
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Tricyclic Anti-Depressants (TCAs)
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)
They have been around for decades and produce more severe side effects than SSRIs.
Your doctor would probably prescribe buproprion or vanlafaxine before an MAOI.
TCAs are also known to have more severe side effects than SSRIs because they are less selective about which cells they manipulate.
SSRIs have become the most popular way to treat depression because of lesser side effects.
Non-Medication Therapies for Depression One of the more popular alternatives to SSRIs and other medications for the treatment of depression is behavioral therapies.
The most popular of these therapies is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
In Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, you work with a therapist to first analyze your specific thoughts behind your depression and, secondly, work to change your actual thoughts through various techniques with the aid of a trained therapist.