Tricyclic Antidepressants.
Tricyclic antidepressants, commonly called TCAs, have been
prescribed since the 1950s for depression. While accepted foremost
for the treatment of depressive conditions and referred to most
often as antidepressants, the tricyclics are also used to treat a
wide range of disorders.
Some physicians prescribe tricyclic antidepressants for severe
depression or anxiety and depression. Tricyclic antidepressants
are also useful for people experiencing panic attacks and
obsessive behavior.
Tricyclic antidepressants used to be the first choice of
physicians for the vast majority of people with major depressive
disorder. But tricyclic antidepressants might take several weeks
before they take effect and before they take effect, many people
experience unpleasant side effects.
Although the newer SSRI antidepressants have widely replaced
tricyclic antidepressants, some physicians still believe tricyclic
antidepressants are indicated for individuals experiencing major
depressive episodes or atypical depression.
Tricyclic antidepressants are also prescribed in cases of bulimia,
narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder, social phobia, panic
disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Tricyclic
antidepressants may be prescribed to individuals suffering from
post-traumatic stress disorder, night terrors or a prolonged,
pathological mourning.
Today, tricyclic antidepressants go by the names;
Anafranil
(clomipramine)
Desyrel (trazodone)
Elavil (amitriptyline)
Pamelor (nortriptyline)
Sinequan (doxepin)
Tofranil (imipramine)
Experts suggest tricyclic antidepressants, over time, enhance the
concentrations of two neurotransmitter chemicals, norepinephrine
and serotonin. People experiencing depression show less activity
of those two chemicals. When these neurotransmitters have been
secreted, they must then be inactivated by the reuptake into the
secreting cells. Tricyclics impede this reuptake process so that
the monoamines remain active longer after secretion.
While individuals are affected differently by tricyclic
antidepressants, you may experience a wide range of side effects.
Tricyclic antidepressants have several uncomfortable side effects
making them less desirable than newer drugs. People taking
tricyclic antidepressants may experience drowsiness, weakness,
nausea, anxiety, restlessness, increased sweating, dizziness,
decrease in sexual ability and desire, muscle twitches, dry mouth,
constipation, urinary retention, difficulty urinating, cognitive
and memory difficulties, weight gain, fatigue, increased heart
beats and occasionally irregular heart rhythms.
Weight gain is a common complaint of people who are taking
tricyclic antidepressants, which may worsen the depression in many
people.
Sexual side effects are not uncommon with people taking tricyclic
antidepressants. Men complain of erectile dysfunction and
difficulty achieving an ejaculation.
Tricyclic antidepressants are typically taken before going to
sleep although many side effects persist the following day. When
you first start taking tricyclic antidepressants you may feel
anxious or restless, even feverish. You may experience night
sweats and have trouble falling asleep after taking tricyclic
antidepressants. Clouded thinking may interfere with your
concentration during the day when you are first exposed to
tricyclic antidepressants.
You may have an allergic reaction to tricyclic antidepressants.
Avoid taking tricyclic antidepressants if you are allergic to
them.
People with cardiac problems or a history of heart disease will
want to use extreme caution when taking tricyclic antidepressants.
Tricyclics antidepressants are extremely dangerous when taken to
the point of overdose.
Taken all in one sitting, a two-week supply of tricyclic
antidepressants can cause serious, lethal, cardiac complications.
In fact, tricyclic antidepressants are now the leading cause of
death by drug overdose in the United States. A physician may not
subscribe tricyclic antidepressant medications to suicidal
patients since an overdose of tricyclic antidepressants would be
fatal.
Senior citizens are at risk for the side effects of tricyclic
antidepressants.
Physicians will often prescribe lower dosages of tricyclic
antidepressants for senior citizens, which may be therapeutic for
them.
Finally, tricyclic antidepressants may also cause seizures in
people with a history of head injury or seizures. Make sure you
your psychiatrist communicate frequently with your neurologist to
avoid complications associated with tricyclic antidepressants.
