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Treat Depression Without Side Effects
Treatment Options for Major Depressive Disorder
When considering treatments for depression, particularly treatment-resistant depression, there are many options. A few of the most common kinds of depression treatment for those suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) are talk therapy, depression medication, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). When thinking about how to treat depression, it is important to look at a wide array of possible depression treatment options, as just one may be insufficient for a particularly severe case.
Talk therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), are crucial treatments for depression. It is important for patients to identify stressors and develop positive coping mechanisms or adjustment strategies. In order for talk therapy to be completely effective, however, an accompanying medication for depression is usually necessary.
A common treatment for depression, depression medication, can be quite effective, if the side effects of antidepressants can be tolerated. In cases of treatment-resistant depression, options can be limited, as antidepressants do not tend to be successful in treating those cases.
ECT is one of the more powerful treatments for depression and can be effective for patients who are at imminent risk for suicide or depressive cases marked by psychotic features, but the side effects of ECT can be severe.
TMS works as a depression treatment without debilitating side effects for patients that have not had success with depression medication.
Treatment-Resistant Depression Defined
Treatment-resistant depression is a term used in clinical psychiatry to describe cases of depression that have not responded to at least one failed trial of antidepressants.
Factors that contribute to nonresponsive, or inadequate, treatment include insufficient dosage, concurrent disorders, patient noncompliance or early discontinuation of treatment.
A common cause of early discontinuation of treatment is the side effects from the medication itself: patients are affected too negatively and opt to stop taking the medication altogether. Treatment-resistant depression options do exist. TMS is proven to be successful without the concurrent use of antidepressants; it is very helpful for patients with resistant depression or who are averse to taking depression medication because of side effects.
The side effects of antidepressants are varied and dependent on many different factors. Some of the most popular types of medication for depression and their side effects
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Electroconvulsive Therapy Has Risks and Side Effects
Another oft-taken course of action for severely depressed patients is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT is an effective option for patients whose depression is severe enough to warrant hospitalization. It is, unlike TMS, highly intrusive with has many severe and long-lasting side effects. Some common side effects of ECT:
Confusion or disorientation is common after undergoing ECT treatment. It may last several days or longer.
Memory loss is commonly experienced during the weeks of treatment, generally improving within a couple of months after treatment has ended.
Physical side effects include, but are not limited to, lightheadedness, possibly severe headaches, facial numbness, fatigue and sleepiness, and nausea.
ECT treatments are administered 2-3 times a week and require the use of anesthesia. A single instance of being anesthetized has the potential side effects of nausea and vomiting, sore throat, postoperative delirium, muscle aches, and hypothermic chills and shivers.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Has Very Few Side Effects
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is the ideal option for those whose depression is treatment-resistant or who are concerned about potential negative side effects of antidepressant drugs or ECT.
TMS has a longer durability of benefit, or longevity of positive outcomes after treatment than ECT and fewer, milder side effects than both ECT and depression medication. Commonly-reported potential side effects of TMS are scalp pain/discomfort and headache.
TMS does not require the use of anesthesia when administering the treatment. Therefore, TMS patients are not at-risk for complications from repeated anesthetization and they recuperate quickly after treatment is over, such that they can drive themselves home.
TMS works well without the concurrent use of depression medication; ECT patients will often be prescribed antidepressant drugs after treatment to amplify the effects of the procedure.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation side effects are mild and few, thus making it and appropriate therapy for treatment-resistant depression.
TMS works without side effects and is an appropriate therapy for treatment-resistant depression.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): The very first antidepressant ever developed, MAOIs have been replaced with safer options as of late. Essentially, when someone experiences depression, a protein called monoamine oxidase eliminates serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain. MAOIs can be taken to stop this process and give the brain an opportunity to utilize these chemicals to help alleviate one’s depressed state. The side effects of MAOIs can be dramatic: a patient may possibly experience nausea, diarrhea, headaches, insomnia, dizziness, low blood pressure, dietary restrictions and weight fluctuations, and muscle cramps.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): Another early depression medication, TCAs weaken the effects of depression by altering neurotransmitter communication in brain cells. Through this process, serotonin and norepinephrine are shut out, heightening their presence. Unfortunately, other neurotransmitters can also experience change, leading to complications such as constipation, drowsiness, decreased blood pressure, blurred vision, weight fluctuations, and tremors.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): This is currently the most popular antidepressant type prescribed for those seeking depression treatment. SSRIs like these prevent serotonin levels from getting reabsorbed by the brain, leaving more of it accessible for healthier communicative functions. Possible side effects include drowsiness, insomnia, diarrhea, headaches, restlessness, and reduced sexual activity.
Atypical Antidepressants: Potential users of atypical antidepressants should be advised that these medications are entirely different from those listed above, and even each other (atypical type). Generally, they work by altering neurotransmitters within the brain (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin), which can trigger a variety of adverse responses. Possible side effects may include dizziness, irregular sleep patterns, irregular bowel movements, and irregular eating habits.