Most prescription drugs used to treat depression either imitate a neurotransmitter or redistribute existing neurotransmitters.  These medications provide relief by working with the existing neurotransmitters, but do not alter the overall neurotransmitter supply.  Because they fail to bring neurotransmitter levels back into proper balance, their effectiveness is often limited.

When the body’s supply of neurotransmitters drops below a critical level, some drugs simply stop functioning.  This prompts  many doctors to switch patients to another type of drug or add supplemental drugs.  Since the new drugs are not designed to address the chemical imbalance behind the disorder, they can also meet with limited success.

Neurotransmitter therapy works by increasing the overall supply of  neurotransmitters with a combination of targeted amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that adjust your body’s production of specific neurotransmitters.

A simple urine test measures neurotransmitter levels in the body.  The test results are used to design a specific targeted approach to restore the body’s neurotransmitter balance and health.

This is highly successful in helping individuals with depression and other mood disorders.  This targeted approach can be used alone or in tandem with prescription medications as directed by your health care  provider.

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Antidepressants work to normalize naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, notably serotonin and norepinephrine. Other antidepressants work on the neurotransmitter dopamine. Scientists studying depression have found that these particular chemicals are involved in regulating mood, but they are unsure of the exact ways in which they work.

The newest and most popular types of antidepressant medications are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and include:

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

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are similar to SSRIs and include:

• venlafaxine (Effexor)
• duloxetine (Cymbalta)

SSRIs and SNRIs tend to have fewer side effects and are more popular than the older classes of antidepressants, such as tricyclics – named for their chemical structure – and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). However, medications affect everyone differently. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to medication. Therefore, for some people, tricyclics or MAOIs may be the best choice.

People taking MAOIs must adhere to significant food and medicinal restrictions to avoid potentially serious interactions. They must avoid certain foods that contain high levels of the chemical tyramine, which is found in many cheeses, wines and pickles, and some medications including decongestants.

Most MAOIs interact with tyramine in such a way that may cause a sharp increase in blood pressure, which may lead to a stroke. A doctor should give a person taking an MAOI a complete list of prohibited foods, medicines and substances.

For all classes of antidepressants, people must take regular doses for at least three to four weeks, sometimes longer, before they are likely to experience a full effect. They should continue taking the medication for an amount of time specified by their doctor, even if they are feeling better, to prevent a relapse of the depression. The decision to stop taking medication should be made by the person and her doctor together, and should be done only under the doctor’s supervision. Some medications need to be gradually stopped to give the body time to adjust.

Although they are not habit-forming or addictive, abruptly ending an antidepressant can cause withdrawal symptoms or lead to a relapse. Some individuals, such as those with chronic or recurrent depression, may need to stay on the medication indefinitely.

In addition, if one medication does not work, people should be open to trying another. Research funded by NIMH has shown that those who did not get well after taking a first medication often fared better after they switched to a different medication or added another medication to their existing one.

Sometimes other medications, such as stimulants or antianxiety medications, are used in conjunction with an antidepressant, especially if the person has a coexisting illness. However, neither antianxiety medications nor stimulants are effective against depression when taken alone, and both should be taken only under a doctor’s close supervision.

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