Home // Antidepressants vs Natural Anti Depressants
For those who can’t shake feelings of hopelessness or emptiness, who can’t find pleasure in the activities they once loved, or who find themselves dragging through each day with no prospect of joy on the horizon, depression is a trap they’d do anything to escape. Finding a solution that helps them reclaim the feeling of being themselves and the ability to be fully present in their lives, no matter what it is, can feel like a miracle.
However, in today’s overburdened medical system, the answer that holds depressive symptoms at bay often involves being prescribed some form of antidepressant medication. Those who take them can find themselves being grateful for the benefits while having serious reservations about the consequences: Possible side effects such as weight gain, drowsiness, reduced libido, and more, depending on the specific medication. Having to be dependent on pharmaceuticals long-term for fear of a relapse. Still, they may not see any alternative.
Typical antidepressant prescriptions include:
| Type of antidepressant | Description | How they work | Examples |
| Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) | SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant; they may also be prescribed for anxiety disorders. They are often preferred because they tend to cause fewer side effects than other types of antidepressants. | SSRIs increase levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin by blocking nerve cells from reabsorbing it after it has carried a message between nerve cells. | Fluoxetine (Prozac) Citalopram (Celexa) Escitalopram (Lexapro) Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) Sertraline (Zoloft) |
| Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) | Also commonly prescribed, SNRIs treat symptoms of major depression. They may also be used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, or chronic musculoskeletal pain. | SNRIs increase levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine by blocking their reabsorption by nerve cells. These chemicals help regulate mood, sleep-wake cycles, memory, and more. | Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) Duloxetine (Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle) Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) Levomilnacipran (Fetzima) |
| Monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) | The first type of antidepressant developed, MAOIs are generally only prescribed when other medications have failed to work, due to their serious side effects and interactions with other medications. | Monomine oxidase, an enzyme, is involved in removing serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine from the brain. MAOIs prevent this removal to treat symptoms of depression. | Isocarboxazid (Marplan) Phenelzine (Nardil) Tranylcypromine (Parnate) Selegiline (Emsam) |
| Warning: If you have been taking SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs, do not stop taking these types of medication abruptly. Doing so can cause antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, a condition characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, aches, sweating, insomnia, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, and agitation. Antidepressant medication must be tapered down slowly under medical supervision for your safety. | |||
If you’ve struggled with depressive symptoms, is prescription medication the only answer? No. There are natural alternatives that can help you restore balance to both your physical and mental health.
The mechanism by which most antidepressants work—influencing brain chemistry to help lessen the troublesome symptoms of depression—points to one of the underlying principles that guide our work at the Natural Healing Center. The mind and the body are a unified whole, and mental health symptoms can be an expression of underlying physical issues. Unlike treating certain isolated symptoms with medication, though, our approach is grounded in whole-body wellness, giving each individual client what their body needs to eliminate the underlying cause of symptoms and heal itself.
What does this mean in practice? We start each client off with an individualized consultation to learn about their concerns and to begin crafting their personalized wellness plan, focused on identifying and addressing the root cause of their issues. We often find that modern diets leave out critical nutrients for supporting our well-being. Nutrition Response Testing, a noninvasive means of testing for these deficiencies, helps us quickly determine what adjustments are needed. In addition, we offer many therapies geared toward modulating out-of-balance stress and inflammatory responses, which can contribute to uncomfortable physical and mental symptoms. Our goal is to help you achieve ongoing wellness.
If you’re looking for a better, more sustainable way to feel better, the Natural Healing Center can help. Contact us here to schedule your initial consultation today.
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