Chronic Depression Symptoms and Treatment Options

What is the Difference Between Normal Sadness and Chronic Depression?  

How do you know if you are experiencing normal sadness or suffering with chronic depression? It is important for you to understand the differences between chronic depression and normal sadness.  All of us experience sadness at some point in our lives. Normal sadness is completely natural and usually temporary. Normal sadness generally does not last for a long period of time. However, if sadness drags on for a prolonged period, it can develop into chronic depression. It is especially important to seek out treatment for chronic depression as living with depression can cause many mental and physical problems. Our body will also respond to traumatic events with chronic depression symptoms. If something has happened to you recently that was extremely stressful, you may soon feel the effects of depression.

How is Chronic Depression Diagnosed?

Chronic depression is diagnosed by the length of time that you’ve suffered depression symptoms. Chronic depression is a type of long-term depression that lasts for at least two years. Some people will suffer from chronic depression symptoms for decades before they seek help from their doctor. Many people who suffer from chronic depression assume that they just suffer from more sadness than other people. They continue living with depression when there are depression treatment options that could help them. They don’t realize that chronic depression is a serious medical condition. Chronic depression, if not treated properly, carries a high risk of suicide. If you don’t treat chronic depression promptly, it can turn into a more severe depression like major or clinical depression.

Before diagnosing you with chronic depression, your doctor will probably run blood tests and perform a thorough examination to rule out any other medical reasons that could be responsible for your depression symptoms. There are many clinical depression causes and some can be caused by physical ailments. Sometimes, someone who believes that they are depressed may in fact be suffering from another disorder such as thyroid disease. Many diseases can have psychological symptoms that mimic the signs of chronic depression.

There May Be Many Reasons that You Have Chronic Depression

Why do people become depressed? There can be many reasons for depression. Chronic depression is genetic; it often runs in families and bloodlines. Besides genetics, there can be many other causes of depression.  If you have an extremely chaotic or stressful life, you could fall victim to chronic depression.  Many people who have severe and chronic medical illnesses become depressed. Some people become depressed because they are addicted to alcohol or prescription drugs.

Depression in women can be very severe. Gender can play a big role in depression. Hormones can even cause chronic depression symptoms to begin. PMS and depression have been linked. Some women suffer from postpartum depression after giving birth to their baby. Depression after miscarriage is also very common. Depression and pregnancy occur together often. Many women suffer depression when pregnant.

There are many risk factors for depression that can help predict your chances of suffering from this illness during your lifetime.

Depression after surgery is a common occurrence.

Chronic Depression is Caused by Unbalanced Brain Chemicals

Sometimes our brains can malfunction or even fail us completely. In a normal brain, the chemicals are all in perfect balance. Unfortunately, in the brain of someone suffering from chronic depression, these chemicals get out of whack. The chemicals in your brain are responsible for regulating your mood. If these chemicals become too imbalanced, your moods will deteriorate and you will be unable to function normally. Often, the brain chemicals that are responsible for chronic depression are dopamine and serotonin.

How Does Chronic Depression Differ From Other Forms of Depression?

Chronic depression, also known as dysthymia, often requires a more intensive treatment approach than other forms of depression such as clinical or major depression.  There are many different types of depression. Chronic depression can be more challenging to treat than major depressive disorder.  This is due to the fact that chronic depression can last for years and sometimes, even decades. Some people suffer from the effects of chronic depression their entire lifetime.

People with chronic depression usually have to take depression pills for a long period of time before they completely respond to the treatment.

A chronic depression diagnosis requires two or more years of unrelenting sadness and low moods. Major depression can be diagnosed after just two weeks of symptoms.

Chronic depression is considered to be a milder form of depression than major depression. However, the disease as a whole is more severe because it lasts for so many years. For this reason, chronic depression is usually treated more aggressively than major depression. People that are living with the effects of chronic depression commit suicide more often than people with major or clinical depression.

Chronic depression often appears in tandem with other psychiatric illnesses such as obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety and panic disorder. Many people who suffer from chronic depression have multiple phobias and fears; many chronic depression patients experienced some sort of trauma during their childhood. Usually people with chronic depression also have a strong family history of depression and other mood disorders.

Are There Different Types of Chronic Depression?

There are many sub-varieties of chronic depression. These sub-types can be similar in nature and all of them can greatly lessen your quality of life. They can also have serious consequences on your long-term health prognosis. Some varieties of chronic depression are more serious than others. Here are the main sub-categories of chronic depression.

Dysthymic Disorder

Dysthymic Disorder, or Dysthymia, is a milder form of chronic depression. Usually, the symptoms of dysthymic disorder are not serious enough for a diagnosis of clinical or major depression. According to a study, about 5% of the population is affected by Dysthymic Disorder. Dysthymic disorder is generally treated on an outpatient basis. Dysthymic Disorder is usually diagnosed based on a depressed mood. The patient must also exhibit at least two other symptoms of major depression.  The symptoms of Dysthymic Disorder include difficulty concentrating, constant feelings of low self-esteem, hopelessness and a generally poor mood.  Most people with Dysthymia Disorder are able to continue to work and function in society until their disease progresses. Dysthymic Disorder often turns into major depression so prompt treatment is recommended. Research scientists have been unable to come to a conclusion whether Dysthymic Disorder is a precursor to major depression or if they are separate mental illness whose symptoms often overlap.

Chronic Major Depression

Chronic Major Depression – Patients who suffer from the effects of major depression for more than two years are diagnosed with chronic major depression. Major depression is a much more severe and debilitating disorder than Dysthymic Disorder.  Chronic Major Depression affects about 1 in 5 depression patients.  Chronic Major Depression can be a devastating illness that is exceptionally hard to treat. About 10% of people with major depression will not recover within the next 5 years.

Double Depression

Double Depression – Double depression is a very serious form of depression. Someone is diagnosed with double depression if they have an episode of major depression that emerges at least two years after they have been suffering from dysthymic disorder. Sadly, double depression is very common and will affect 3 out 4 patients who suffer from dysthymia. There are many stages of depression.

Can You Just Snap out of Chronic Depression?

Often, well-meaning (and clueless) family members will try to give a pep talk to someone who is suffering from chronic depression. They’ll say, “Cheer Up! If you stop being so gloomy all the time, you’ll snap out of it!”  They may tell the depressed person to think positively. It’s ridiculous to think that someone can just “snap themselves out of chronic depression.”  If it was this easy to release yourself from chronic depression, no one would ever be depressed. Imagine how much money could be saved on doctor’s visits, therapy and antidepressants. If someone you love is suffering from the effects of depression, please do not give them a pep talk. This is an oversimplified solution (that doesn’t work) for a serious problem. Also, do not tell them things like, “It could be worse.”  Never tell them a story about how rough your life was and you made it through just by thinking positively. Not only will your loved one still feel depressed, but they’ll also lose all of their remaining self-esteem.

People who haven’t suffered from the debilitating effects of depression need to be more understanding of those that do. Depression is a real medical condition that is caused by an imbalance in the brain’s chemicals. If your loved one is fighting depression, they are in a very dark place. Just because you tell them to get over it doesn’t mean they can. They’ll just feel worse about themselves. It is important that they receive support and help for depression symptoms.

How to Help Someone with Chronic Depression

If one of your friends or loved ones is suffering from chronic depression, you need to be very understanding. If you say something that is unkind or become impatient with them, this could make their depression worse. It is impossible to just get over the effects of depression. It can help to purchase a few depression books so that you can better understand this complicated and devastating mental illness. One of the best things that you can do is listen to them if they want to talk about it. Ask them to describe how it feels to live with depression. Be sympathetic and understanding. Don’t tell them that they are lucky that their lives aren’t worse. People with chronic depression don’t feel “lucky” in any way. They’re in severe emotional pain and they just want this depression pain to stop so they can live like a normal person again. Depression symptoms can be severe. Most people have great difficulty in dealing with depression. Getting over depression is never easy. With the proper treatment, you can help your loved one beat depression.

What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Depression?

Chronic depression is a very complex medical condition. However, there are some criteria and depression warning signs that will show up in a person who may be suffering from the effects of depression. It is important to be able to recognize the signs of depression. There are many characteristics of depression. There are many online depression screening tools. You can also take an online depression test. These tools can help you make an accurate depression assessment using depression questionnaires. Filling out a depression questionnaire online can help you cope with your feelings of depression. Some websites will allow you to print out depression worksheets which can help you assess your levels of depression.

A person can have all of the symptoms of chronic depression or just a few. Some symptoms may disappear and new ones may appear out of nowhere.  Everyone experiences chronic depression in different ways. One person may have ten depression symptoms; another person may have four of the signs of depression. Some depressed people have all of the symptoms. If someone you care about is exhibiting any of these depression symptoms and they are currently not receiving treatment from a doctor, you should suggest that they consult a professional health care worker for help. If chronic depression isn’t treated promptly, there can be devastating and debilitating consequences. in some cases, family members may have to stage a depression intervention to force someone to seek treatment.

Of course, the most telling symptom of chronic depression is a long-lasting and profound sorrow that never seems to go away or improve.  If you are suffering from chronic depression, you probably have lost all interest in life. You may find it difficult to enjoy doing anything. You may find it hard to function in the working world. Depression and work aren’t a good match. Some people with chronic depression will lose their jobs because they are unable to focus and concentrate on their work. Many depressed people suffer from depression memory loss.

Signs of Chronic Depression 

• Withdrawal from Family and Friends
• Unwillingness to Participate in Social Activities, Parties or Events
• Sleeping Problems.  A person suffering from chronic depression may be unable to sleep or they may sleep all of the time.
• A marked inability to feel any happiness or pleasure
• Chronic pain or physical ailments that may not have any obvious cause or medical reason
• Disinterest in sexual activities
• Bizarre or irrational behavior
• Slow reaction times and poor mental focus
• Prolonged state of sadness, especially if there appears to be no reason for this melancholy
• Constant crying
• A sudden weight gain or weight loss
• Sudden displays of anger and irritability
• Feelings of hopelessness, self-hatred and poor self-esteem
• Difficulty in remembering things and disorganization
• Negativity
• Constant anxiety and worry
• Fatigue and lack of motivation or energy
• Persistent thoughts of death or dying
• Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
• Messing up at work or school. Depression can interfere with a person’s ability to work or go to school

Besides Antidepressants and Talk Therapy, What Else Helps Chronic Depression Symptoms?

Yes, there are many depression treatment options available. Other depressed people try to treat depression naturally. Many people turn to holistic or natural treatments to lessen the symptoms of chronic depression. Many people try homeopathic depression remedies. Other people take herbs for depression. Some people attempt to cure depression with depression home remedies.

It has been proven that certain lifestyle changes can have a positive effect on chronic depression. You should discuss any alternative depression treatments with your doctor before discontinuing your medication and therapy. Some patients report improvement with holistic treatments and natural depression cures like yoga, meditation, journaling, exercise and acupuncture. Some people try hypnotherapy for depression. There are many different cures for depression.

Eating a Healthy Diet Can Help Chronic Depression Symptoms

It is important to eat a healthy and balanced diet if you suffer from chronic depression. You should try to eat several servings of vegetables and fruit every day. Make sure that you are consuming enough lean protein. You should also take a vitamin supplement. Many websites sell special depression vitamins that are full of nutrients that have been proven to provide depression relief. If you are currently taking any medicine for your chronic depression symptoms, you should consult with your doctor before adding vitamin supplements or radically changing your diet. You should try to avoid eating white sugar or flour. Processed foods may contain chemicals and preservatives that could worsen your chronic depression. There have been some studies linking diet and depression. A healthy diet will ensure that your body will receive all of the important nutrients, minerals, enzymes and vitamins that it requires. A healthy diet can help your body heal faster. There have been much research that links food and depression. If you are depressed, you should think of food as another one of your depression medications.

Staying Inside Can Make Your Chronic Depression Symptoms Worse

Many doctors and studies have proven that depressed people need to spend time outdoors every day. Americans are very sedentary nowadays; they spend a lot of time watching television or surfing the internet. Your body needs sunlight to maintain a healthy balance of brain chemicals. If you never get any sunlight on your skin, your chronic depression symptoms can become more severe.

There is even a special form of winter depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder affects many people who live in snowy or rainy areas. If there are long periods of gloomy weather in the area where you live, you may have to look into light therapy to improve your moods.

Sunlight is important for your health because it helps your body produce Vitamin D and melatonin. If your melatonin levels drop off, you could develop sleep difficulties or irregularities in sleep patterns.  Your body’s internal clock will be disrupted and this certainly won’t help your chronic depression.

The media is constantly discussing how bad the sun is for your skin. However, while excessive sunbathing may cause skin cancer, your skin does need some exposure to the sun. People that don’t get enough sunlight often suffer from skin rashes and severe acne, which can further crush the self-esteem of someone with chronic depression.

If you are feeling the effects of depression, you should make an attempt to get at least ten minutes of sunlight or bright light every day. The fresh air will also help. Sometimes just taking a short walk in the bright sun can help to lift your mood a little and provide some much needed depression relief.

Sleep is Especially Important for People with Chronic Depression

Depression and sleep are often linked together. Everybody has different needs when it comes to sleep. Some people require 8 or even 10 hours of sleep every day. Other people can function perfectly on 5 or 6 hours of sleep.  If you were a person that required little sleep before chronic depression struck and now you are sleeping 10 hours a day, you may feel lethargic from the effects of too much sleep. If you always required a long rest each night and you have developed insomnia due to chronic depression, you will most likely feel fatigued most of the time. You will probably develop depression memory problems and experience difficulty in concentration.

Getting the proper amount of sleep is very important. Your body undergoes a lot of healing while you sleep. If you don’t get the proper amount of sleep, your muscles and organs will suffer because of it.

If you are having problems falling asleep and staying asleep, you can try to exercise a few hours before going to bed. You can try a dietary supplement called melatonin. Melatonin works for many people who suffer from insomnia as a result of the effects of depression. If exercise and melatonin don’t help your depression symptoms, some people have success with an over-the-counter antihistamine called Benadryl.  Benadryl is available at most retail stores. It is cheap, easily available and very effective for some people. If Benadryl doesn’t help and your insomnia persists, you should probably discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor may have to prescribe a heavy duty sleeping pill like Ambien.  While you should try to avoid taking prescription sleeping pills if possible, sometimes it is medically necessary to take them. Especially if you’ve tried many other methods and they were unsuccessful.

You should also try to get on a regular schedule for sleep. You should try to go to bed at the same time every day and wake up at the same time. If you aren’t using an alarm clock, you should buy one and start using it. You will feel better if you regulate the hours that you are asleep. Getting two hours of sleep one night and 12 hours of sleep the next won’t help your chronic depression symptoms. Insomnia and depression are a bad combination.

Can Keeping a Depression Journal or Depression Diary Help My Chronic Depression Symptoms?

Keeping a daily depression journal can help you come to terms with the effects of depression on your life. Writing in a daily depression journal can be extremely therapeutic. Many doctors and therapists recommend that you purchase a depression journal and make an effort to write in it every night. Writing about your feelings and emotions can help provide you with a better understanding of your chronic depression. Journaling about depression can provide you with valuable self-knowledge about yourself. Many people think that they know themselves well, but when they really dig deep down, they learn all sorts of things that they never knew. These golden nuggets of knowledge can help you recover from your chronic depression faster. You may even want to start your own depression blog and share your experiences with other people who are living with depression. Keeping a depression journal is a good way to develop your depression coping skills.

Trying to Remain Positive When You are Suffering from Chronic Depression Symptoms

When you are living with depression, you may be tempted just to lie in bed all day. Some days you may be unable to find the energy or motivation to even get out of bed. You cannot cure depression with positive thinking. However, you can do positive things for yourself that may provide a lift in your mood and spirit. Surrounding yourself with positive people has been proven to be beneficial for those who are living with the serious side effects of depression. If you know a “Negative Nellie” or a “Debbie Downer,” it may time for you to avoid them until you feel better. Negative people will only drag down your mood further and increase your stress and anxiety levels.

Turn off the news and put on happy, funny programs. Watching the news can be horribly depressing and makes many people feel worse. Watch some comedy shows. If you have Netflix, find some movies that you used to love. Don’t watch any sad movies or documentaries that will make you feel glum.

It can also help chronic depression symptoms to relax with a great book. Reading and watching movies can provide you with a little short-term depression relief from the daily darkness of your chronic depression. This can be very helpful for people who are living with depression.

You should try to plan some escape and relaxation time for yourself every day. This won’t cure your chronic depression, but it can provide some temporary depression relief for you.

Talk Therapy and Chronic Depression

Many people are too proud to admit they suffer from chronic depression.  If they are embarrassed of their depression, they may be unwilling to talk about their depression with anyone.  Refusing to talk about their chronic depression can be counterproductive to their recovery. Next to antidepressants, the most common and effective treatment option for depression is talk therapy. Talk therapy is sometimes called psychotherapy.

If you are ashamed of your depression, you should realize that a huge portion of the population is also suffering from the same condition. Depression is often called the common cold of the mental illness world. Depression is as legitimate of a medical condition as diabetes. You shouldn’t have to suffer in silence, especially when talk therapy can provide so much depression relief.

Talk therapy doesn’t have to be between just you and a depression therapist. You can share your feelings with an understanding spouse or compassionate friend. If you feel depressed and anxious, it can really help you to let out your feelings.

You should confide in your general practitioner about your feelings. Asking for depression help can be the first step on the path of your recovery from chronic depression. Every day, thousands of people overcome depression. You don’t have to suffer with chronic depression for the rest of your life.

If you lack health insurance, there are many mental health clinics that will provide free depression help. You can find mental health clinics in your area by calling a depression hotline or contacting your county health department.

Read Everything You Can About Chronic Depression

Understanding your chronic depression symptoms can help speed up your recovery by providing you with information on your illness. You can read stories about other people, many just like you, who are also living with depression. It can help you to understand the effects of depression by learning everything you can about this very complex and common disease. Depression books contain a wealth of depression information. There are also tens of thousands of articles about depression online. There are many great depression videos on YouTube. Many people records videos of themselves reviewing their latest depression medication or discussing their depression treatments. These videos are often very well done and helpful to watch. Videos can often provide valuable depression advice. There are also many active depression message boards and depression forums.

Many depression books cover the latest treatment options and new medications. You can find out about new studies and clinical trials that involve the treatment of depression. You may find something in some of the depression literature that ultimately will help cure you of chronic depression. Some books on depression are written in the style of a depression journal. Many people have written full length books that chronicle their battle with chronic depression or other types of depression. Reading someone else’s success story about how they conquered their depression can inspire you and make you feel a little better. Reading inspiring stories about others who have been successful in their fight with depression can provide you with hope. Some of these depression journals provide very intimate details on what living with depression is really like. It’s very hard for someone to understand what it feels like to have chronic depression if they have never been depressed themselves.

Most Popular Antidepressants and Depression Pills for Treating Chronic Depression

Finding the right antidepressant can be a difficult process for most depressed people. Treating depression is often very difficult.  While citalopram (Brand Name: Celexa) certainly seems to be the most popular antidepressant on the market today, many patients are finding success with Zoloft, Wellbutrin or Effexor.

Many patients with chronic depression report that it took an average of about six months of trying various depression pills before they found the right drug for them.

There are many considerations that go into selecting the right antidepressant for you. The medication must correct your mood disorder with as few side effects as possible. Some people who are living with depression have to go off certain depression pills because the side effects become too much for them to handle. Another problem with some antidepressants is that they lose effectiveness after a while. A medication that has worked perfectly for you for over a year may suddenly stop working. Your depression may return with a vengeance and you will be back to square one. Then your doctor will have to start you on a new antidepressant until you find one that was as effective as the first one.

Around 50% of people with depression will respond to antidepressants. In rare cases, antidepressants can have a paradoxical effect and can actually worsen your depression and anxiety symptoms.

Many doctors will continue antidepressant therapy for a long time after the patient appears to feel better. Long term treatment with antidepressants can prevent the patient from relapsing after the depression drug is discontinued.  After the patient is in remission, many doctors will continue to prescribe depression pills for an additional six to 12 months to increase the patient’s chances of a successful recovery. Half of the patients who respond to treatment will relapse within a year if treatment is discontinued.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Usually, your doctor will select a medication from the SSRI class of antidepressants when you first start treatment for chronic depression.  SSRIs are known for their safety (in comparison to other classes of depression pills) and they work for about half of the people who take them.

SSRIs include:

Citalopram (Celexa)

Citalopram (Brand Name: Celexa) – Celexa, or citalopram, is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to treat major depression. It is frequently prescribed for other medical conditions such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), panic disorder, chronic depression and anxiety.

Many doctors love to start their patients on a low dose of citalopram and then go from there. Celexa is available in a generic form and it is very inexpensive. This makes citalopram an affordable antidepressant for people that are unemployed or uninsured. Citalopram is considered to be safer than many other depression pills and it is effective for most people with depression.

About half of the people who take Celexa show a substantial improvement in mood after the first month of treatment.  Citalopram does have some side effects, but most of them are mild. Celexa users often experience sexual side effects. The sexual side effects associated with citalopram use will usually disappear after the drug is discontinued, but some patients have reported permanent sexual side effects. Celexa should not be given in dosages that exceed 40mg per day as researcher have recently found out that high amounts of citalopram can cause fatal changes in the heart. Citalopram should also not be given to patients who may have undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

Fluoxetine (Prozac)

Fluoxetine (Brand Name: Prozac) – Prozac, discovered in 1974, first went on the market in 1988. Prozac, or fluoxetine, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat many conditions such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), panic disorder, major depression and bulimia nervosa. It has also been used to treat alcohol addiction.

Prozac is generally well-tolerated by most patients, but it also has been known to cause relatively severe sexual side effects. Prozac also commonly causes Akathisia, which is a feeling of tension, restlessness and inner anxiety. Akathisia, which can be very unpleasant, causes your feet and legs to be constantly moving. Akathisia also can cause more anxiety. Prozac should not be taken with ibuprofen as it can cause serious intestinal bleeding. Another common side effect that is associated with fluoxetine is a skin rash. This rash was observed in 8% of patients.  In many cases, the rash was serious enough to cause patients to discontinue Prozac antidepressant therapy.

There have been many violent acts and murders that have been blamed on the usage of Prozac. Joseph Wesbecker killed 8 people in 1989 while taking Prozac. In the resulting court case, the use of Prozac was linked to violent behavior.

However, the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) allows pilots to fly planes while taking Prozac. There are only 4 approved antidepressants for pilots under the FAA guidelines. Pilots are also allowed to fly while taking Celexa, Lexapro and Zoloft.

Sertraline (Zoloft)

Sertraline (Brand Name: Zoloft)- Zoloft is a very popular antidepressant. It works as well as some of the tricyclic antidepressants, but with much less side effects. Recent studies have provided documentation that Zoloft is more effective than Prozac for most types of depression. Around 30 million prescriptions for Zoloft are written every year in the United States.

Zoloft is used to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD), major depression, chronic depression, OCD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), social anxiety disorder (social anxiety) and panic disorder. Zoloft is usually safe to take if a patient has heart disease. A generic version of Zoloft is available.

Paroxetine (Paxil)

Paroxetine (Brand Name: Paxil)- Paxil went on the market in 1992 and is currently one of the top 5 prescribed antidepressants in the United States.  Physicians in America write around 20 million prescriptions for Paxil every year. Paxil, or paroxetine, is used to treat major depression, chronic depression, panic disorder, social anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Paxil has similar side effects to other SSRI antidepressants. Paxil usage can cause a significant weight loss in some patients.

Paxil has a particularly bad withdrawal period. Patients should not suddenly stop taking Paxil. Paxil withdrawal symptoms can be severe. Paxil needs to be tapered off slowly.

Paxil should be used cautiously in patients that also have bipolar disorder (manic depression) as it can induce severe episodes of mania. You should read about manic depression symptoms to make sure that you don’t have any of them before you start taking Paxil.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the manufacturer of Paxil, was successfully sued in court because they misled the public about the severity of Paxil withdrawal symptoms associated with the discontinuation of paroxetine. GlaxoSmithKline marketed Paxil as a non-addictive or non-habit forming medication. Doctors found that these claims were not true; Paxil is indeed very addictive.

Paxil withdrawal symptoms can be brutal: electric shocks throughout the body, constant crying, vivid nightmares, severe anxiety, insomnia, nausea, light headedness, dizziness and vertigo. Out of all of the SSRI depression pills, paroxetine has the most severe withdrawal symptoms. Patients need to consider the withdrawal symptoms when deciding whether or not to take the medication in the first place. You will eventually want to get off Paxil and you don’t want to experience a nightmarish withdrawal from the drug. If you are currently on Paxil, your doctor will be able to recommend a good taper schedule to lessen the paroxetine withdrawal symptoms.

Escitalopram (Lexapro)

Escitalopram (Brand Name: Lexapro)- Lexapro is marketed as a slightly improved and updated version of Celaxa, or citalopram. Lexapro is approved to treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Lexapro entered the market soon after Lundbeck’s patent on Celexa expired. Lundback has been accused of releasing a nearly identical version of Celexa to continue making big profits after other pharmaceutical companies started producing generic versions of citalopram. Lexapro is prescribed to treat many of the same mental disorders that Celexa is prescribed for.

As of February 2012, there has been only one study that indicated that Lexapro may be superior to Celexa. This study was later determined to be biased as the study was conducted by a firm that had links to Lexapro’s manufacturer, Lundbeck. Many people ask, “Which is a better antidepressant?  Lexapro or Celexa?”  The answer to this question is that Lexapro and Celexa are almost identical in chemical composition. For this reason, many doctors prescribe citalopram to their patients based on its lower cost.

Fluvoxamine (Luvox)

Fluvoxamine (Brand Name: Luvox) – Luvox, or fluvoxamine, is often confused with fluoxetine (Prozac) due to their similar sounding names.  Luvox was originally approved in 1993, for the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It is often prescribed to treat major depressive disorder, panic disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD). Luvox works especially well for children who have obsessive compulsive disorder. It works better than other antidepressants for patients that require long-term therapy with depression pills. Luvox, or fluvoxamine, stays effective after taking it for a year or more.

Luvox has quite a few side effects; however, most of them are relatively mild. Luvox side effects include: nausea, anxiety, dry mouth, heartburn, headaches, sweating and rapid heartbeat.  An advantage of Luvox is that the sexual side effects associated with most SSRIs are less pronounced.  As sexual side effects can often be a deal breaker for many patients, Luvox is preferred by many depressed people for this reason.

Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

The most popularly prescribed SNRIs include:

Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

Duloxetine (Brand Name: Cymbalta) – Cymbalta is an antidepressant that is known to be very effective for the treatment of major depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). If you are suffering from severe depression, you should definitely talk to your doctor about a Cymbalta prescription. Cymbalta is also prescribed for certain types of painful conditions including fibromyalgia. Cymbalta is said to be very effective for lower back pain and osteoarthritis. Cymbalta is also currently being investigated to see if it will be helpful for any other medical conditions.  Cymbalta has been very effective in treating severe depression in elderly patients. Elderly patients who were depressed improved their cognition and had lower pain levels while taking Cymbalta.

It is especially promising that Cymbalta has been proven to be an effective treatment for fibromyalgia. In clinical trials, women with fibromyalgia reported significantly lower pain levels when taking Cymbalta. Fibromyalgia is a hard disease to treat effectively. The FDA has approved Cymbalta, or duloxetine, for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Cymbalta may also be an effective treatment option for another disabling medical condition, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Cymbalta is proving to be a very versatile and well-tolerated medication that has the ability to treat many difficult-to-treat diseases in addition to its effectiveness in treating depression. Severe depression is often a consequence of disabling and chronic illnesses like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Pain and depression often occur simultaneously so an antidepressant that can also relieve pain may be a miracle drug for some people.

Cymbalta side effects are generally mild. Cymbalta side effects can include nausea, dizziness and insomnia.

Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Venlafaxine (Brand Name: Effexor) – Effexor, or venlafaxine, is prescribed for the treatment of panic disorder, depression, general anxiety disorder and social phobia. Effexor is also used to treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). There are current studies that are investigating the possibility of Effexor being a good treatment for chronic pain.

Effexor is proven via multiple studies to be very effective in treating various forms of depression. Patients who have been prescribed Efflexor notice a similar result to some of the older tricyclic antidepressants. This is good news because tricyclic antidepressants are known for dangerous side effects. Patients that were prescribed larger doses of Effexor had better results and higher rates of remission from their depression.

Many doctors have begun prescribing Effexor for other conditions. Doctors have prescribed Effexor for the treatment of migraine headaches. Studies have also shown that Effexor can dramatically reduce the discomfort of hot flashes in women suffering from menopause. Effexor has also been used to treat the sleep disorder, narcolepsy.

Many people who are prescribed Effexor will lose weight. This can be helpful for depressed people who are suffering from a loss of self-esteem due to weight gain.

Effexor should not be used in patients that have bipolar depression. Effexor can increase the severity of mixed states and mania.

Effexor should be used with caution in patients with high blood pressure. Studies have shown that Effexor can cause a substantial increase in blood pressure. Effexor should not be taken with the herbal supplement St. John’s Wort. Patients should not consume alcohol while taking Effexor. Drinking and depression can be a dangerous combination. Alcohol doesn’t mix well with many depression medications.

Effexor side effects include sexual side effects. Some of the side effects of Effexor can be severe. These Effexor side effects include yawning, blurry vision, vomiting, constipation, amnesia, dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, sweating, anxiety, insomnia and weight loss. Some of the more severe Effexor side effects include infections, headaches, chest pain, hypertension, hypotension, diarrhea, skin rash, rapid heartbeat, confusion, depersonalization, tinnitus, agitation and twitching.

Effexor withdrawal symptoms can be severe. Patients commonly experience SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome when coming off Effexor. Effexor has a very short half-life compared to other depression pills. Therefore, if you miss even one Effexor dose, the withdrawal symptoms can start. Effexor withdrawal symptoms include severe headaches, extreme tiredness, disorientation and stomach pains. Effexor withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that your doctor may prescribe a different type of SSRI medication to help alleviate the discomfort of discontinuation. Some people may be unable to discontinue Effexor due to a condition called Serotonin toxicity or Serotonin Syndrome.

Effexor’s patent has expired and a generic version is now available at a much lower cost.

Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)

Desvenlafaxine (Brand Name: Pristiq) – Pristiq, or desvenlafaxine, is currently being heavily marketed. If you have been watching any television lately, you’ve probably noticed many advertisements for the new SNRI andipressant, Pristiq. Pristiq is a synthetic form of venlafaxine (Effexor).

Pristiq is approved by the FDA as an antidepressant. Pristiq is also being targeted as a possible treatment for the unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Since Pristiq is a non-hormonal alternative to traditional menopause medications, it may turn out to be very promising. Many women have refused to take hormone pills for their menopause symptoms because of the cancer risks associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Common Pristiq side effects can include nausea, dizziness, constipation, insomnia, night terrors, appetite loss and anxiety. Pristiq has many of the same side effects of Effexor, including a risk of high blood pressure. There are also some serious Pristiq side effects including abnormal bleeding, hypertension, glaucoma, seizures and high cholesterol.

If you have been prescribed Pristiq, you should not consume alcohol.

Like Effexor, Pristiq withdrawal symptoms can be very severe. Pristiq also has a very short half-life. Because of Pristiq’s short half-life, Pristiq withdrawal symptoms can start after missing just one dose. Some patients have stated that the severity of Pristiq withdrawal can be so bad that it is nearly impossible to get off this medication. Pristiq withdrawal symptoms include nausea, irritability, anxiety, dizziness, abnormal dreams and nightmares, insomnia and electric shock sensations throughout your entire body.

Atypical Antidepressants

One of the major benefits of taking an atypical antidepressant is that they don’t usually cause the sexual side effects that other depression pills do.

Atypical Antidepressants include:

Trazodone (Oleptro)

Trazodone (Brand Name: Oleptro) – Trazodone, or Oleptro, can be extremely sedating; some doctors like to prescribe it in smaller doses as a sleeping aid for this reason.  Trazodone is an SARI antidepressant. SARI stands for Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitor. Trazodone is known for its hypnotic and anxiolytic effect. One of the benefits of taking trazodone is that it has less sexual side effects than tricyclic antidepressants.

Trazodone was originally developed in Italy in the 1960’s as an antidepressant medication. Trazodone is used to treat Bipolar depression, sleep disturbances, insomnia, nightmares and unipolar depression.  Trazodone also is prescribed for many off label uses. Trazodone off label uses include panic disorder, fibromyalgia, bulimia nervosa, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), alcohol withdrawal, pain management, psychosis and schizophrenia.

Trazodone withdrawal symptoms can be significant. Even patients on very low dosages can experience serious Trazodone withdrawal symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, depression and emotional instability.

Trazodone can have many side effects, some serious and some not so serious. Minor trazodone side effects include headache, dry mouth, diarrhea, appetite changes, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, fatigue, difficulty in concentration, nightmares, sweating, muscle pain, blurry vision, ringing in your ears and increased sexual drive. Serious Trazodone side effects include pounding heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, chest pains, shortness of breath, chills, infections, fever, hives, itchy skin rash, breathing difficulties, fainting, uncontrollable shaking, swollen face, swollen throat, swollen lips, swollen tongue and cardiac arrhythmia.

Trazodone is prescribed in dosages of 25mg to 150mg. If a doctor is prescribing trazodone as a sleeping aid, they will usually prescribe it in a 25mg dose.

Trazodone may cause mental or physical impairments. You should be careful if you are taking Trazodone and driving a vehicle.

You should not take trazodone if you are already taking barbiturates or other central nervous system depressants. Consuming alcohol with trazodone can cause extreme dizziness and tiredness. ECT or shock therapy should not be administered while a patient is taking trazodone.

Bupropion (Wellbutrin or Zyban)

Bupropion (Brand Name: Wellbutrin or Zyban) – Wellbutrin, currently the 4^th most prescribed antidepressant in the United States, is a very versatile medication. Doctors write over 20 million prescriptions for Wellbutrin every year in America.

Wellbutrin is an atypical antidepressant that is also prescribed as a stop smoking aid. Wellbutrin treats both clinical and chronic depression. Wellbutrin is currently being studied to see if it will treat obesity. Wellbutrin has a stimulating effect on most people. Wellbutrin has been found to be effective for adult ADHD, social anxiety disorder and severe anxiety. There are studies that are currently being conducted to see if Wellbutrin would be an effective treatment for cocaine and methamphetamine abuse. Many doctors prescribe Wellbutrin for patients that suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  Wellbutrin may also be helpful for patients who suffer from psoriasis or Crohn’s Disease.

Wellbutrin is often prescribed in conjunction with another antidepressant. The combination of citalopram (Celexa) and Wellbutrin is a popularly prescribed and potent combination. The strategy of combining two different antidepressants is called augmentation.

Wellbutrin does not cause the sexual dysfunction that is often seen in other types of depression pills. In fact, Wellbutrin often causes an increase in sex drive. Wellbutrin does not cause patients to gain weight. People who are prescribed Wellbutrin have increased mood and motivation. Wellbutrin is especially helpful in providing a boost to patients who are suffering with depression fatigue. Taking stimulants for depression is often very helpful for patients who lack focus and energy.

Wellbutrin might sound like it is the perfect antidepressant and for many people, it is. However, there are some risks associated with taking Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin has been associated with a higher risk of seizures.  Common Wellbutrin side effects include hypertension, dry mouth, insomnia, tinnitus, nausea, sweating and tremors. Rare Wellbutrin side effects include mania and psychotic symptoms.

Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, irritability, mania, headaches, pains and aches. Your doctor will use dose tapering when you decide to stop taking Wellbutrin.

Do Anti-Depressants Cause People with Chronic Depression to Commit Suicide?

Anti-depressants carry a black box warning that they may cause certain people to commit suicide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all antidepressants and depression pills carry a warning about the risk of suicide.  The suicide risk mainly affects the younger patients such as children, adolescents and young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 years of age.  In younger patients, antidepressants have caused an increased risk of suicide due to frequent thoughts of death and dying. Due to this risk, younger patients should be monitored more carefully when taking antidepressants by their loved ones and health care professionals. Suicide is always a huge concern for teenagers with depression.

 Depression and Anxiety Often Exist Together

Depression and Anxiety go together like peanut butter and jelly.  Sometimes anxiety can be caused by depression stress or it can be a separate mental disorder. In many cases, untreated and uncontrollable anxiety can bring on or worsen the symptoms of depression. Constant anxiety can make you feel like you have no control over your life. Anxiety makes you feel helpless and depressed.  Anxiety can be a killer. If you don’t find a way to deal with your stress and anxiety, your physical health will suffer as much as your mental health. There are many serious diseases that are linked to chronic depression and anxiety.

There are many effective medications to treat anxiety. Your doctor can prescribe powerful nerve pills and sedatives like Ativan, Xanax or Valium to calm you down. These types of drugs are called benzos which is short for benzodiazepines.  The problem with this type of medication is that these pills are addicting and after a while, a patient can develop a tolerance to them. This means that the medication becomes less effective with long-term usage.

Can Chronic Depression Be Cured?

Chronic depression is a very complex and sometimes difficult to treat disorder. However, you don’t have to suffer with depression.  There are many options and treatments that are available to you.  Some people spend their entire lives battling chronic depression.  As of this moment, there is no one true and guaranteed cure for chronic depression.  You may have to try many things before you find something that makes you feel better. Still, there are many depression medications and treatment options that can make your symptoms more bearable and you will be better able to deal with your mental illness. And every day, in research labs across the world, new medications and depression treatments are being invented and tested.  There are thousands of current depression studies and clinical trials being conducted. There is definitely a hopeful future for those who suffer from chronic depression.

How to Improve Your Chances of Being Cured of Chronic Depression

Be flexible in your treatment options. Many people have to try three or more different types of depression medications and treatments before they find one that fits their body chemistry. If a medicine isn’t working for you, there are dozens of other depression pills for you to try. The next depression pill you try may be the right one to treat your chronic depression. Sometimes, if one antidepressant isn’t effective enough on its own, the doctor will prescribe an additional antidepressant like Abilify. This strategy is referred to as augmentation.

Never discontinue an antidepressant without first discussing it with your doctor. Many depression pills have severe withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking them suddenly.

Consider seeing a depression therapist. Even if you are taking antidepressants, you may still want to try talking to a psychologist or counselor. Many patients find that the therapy-medication combo is especially effective for treating the symptoms of depression.

Don’t be too concerned about depression medication side effects. Most depression pills have undesirable side effects; some people can tolerate these side effects better than others. Most of the time, if you can wait it out, these side effects will dissipate within a month. Sometimes it just takes time for your body to adjust to a new medication.

Realize that your chronic depression will not be cured quickly. Healing depression takes time. It can take a while to notice any improvement when you start treatment with depression pills. Most antidepressants can take 4-6 weeks to start working. During this period, your doctor may raise or lower your dosage depending on your progress. Patience is very important when it comes to depression treatment. Just take one day at a time and soon your chronic depression symptoms will begin to get better.

This article was originally posted on http://chronic-depression.net on 2/16/2012 . Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws