Home Remedy for Hives

Hives also known as urticaria. Allergic reaction to a drug or food is a cause of hives. They range in size from a few millimeters to several inches in diameter. Hives can be round, or they can form rings or large patches. Hives can occur on any skin surface, but usually spare the palms and soles of the feet. Hives are classified as acute or chronic depending on the length of the episode. Hives are raised, often itchy, red welts on the surface of the skin. Hives may be associated with dramatic swelling reactions; swelling of the lips, eyes, and ears can suddenly and grotesquely alter the appearance of an allergy victim. Swelling of the lips and tongue may occur immediately after eating a food and may be life-threatening because of airway obstruction. Some patients get hives occasionally only when they ingest a specific food or food additives. Other get hives as a chronic problem which can go-on for years. Most studies of chronic hives suggest a low % of food allergy causes usually because diet revision attempts were inadequate to reveal the hidden food causes. Swelling from angioedema can also occur around your hands, feet, and throat.

Hives and angioedema form when, in response to histamine, blood plasma leaks out of small blood vessels in the skin. Hives and angioedema can happen at any age. Angioedema typically causes swelling of the lips, larynx (producing hoarseness or shortness of breath), or the lining of the stomach and intestines (causing abdominal pain). Symptoms include muscle soreness, shortness of breath, vomiting, and diarrhea. Urticarial disease is thought to be caused by the release of histamine and other mediators of inflammation (cytokines) from cells in the skin. Histamine causes fluid to leak from the local blood vessels leading to swelling in the skin. In rare cases urticaria and angioedema are accompanied by shock and difficulty breathing. This is called anaphylaxis. Ordinary hives may be widespread and disturbing to look at, but the vast majority of cases do not lead to life-threatening complications. Sometimes hives are caused by a physical stimulus like contact with heat, water, or pressure. Hives can also be caused by contact with substances that are irritating. Just about any substance has the potential to be irritating.

The treatment of hives depends on the severity of the symptoms. Psychological treatments such as stress management can sometimes lessen severity and occurrence. The most commonly used oral treatments are Non-sedating antihistamines, including Allegra, Claritin, Clarinex, and Zyrtec, are also used to treat hives, expecially hives that last longer than 6 weeks. Chronic hives may be treated with antihistamines or a combination of medications. When antihistamines don't provide relief, oral corticosteroids may be prescribed. Oral steroids (prednisone, Medrol) can help severe cases of hives in the short-term, but their usefulness is limited by the fact that many cases of hives last too long for steroid use to be continued safely. Other treatments can sometimes include doxepin (Sinequan), an antidepressant that can work as a potent antihistamine, montelukast (Singulair), and medications such as ranitidine (Zantac) or cimetidine (Tagamet), which are more commonly used to treat reflux. To mangage hives and swelling avoid hot water (use luke warm), gentle or mild soap, apply a cool compress or wet cloths to the affected areas, enter a cool room, wear light weight clothes. Avoid irritating the area with tight-fitting clothing. Apply calamine lotion.

Home remedy for Hives Tips

1.Calamine lotion-applying this lotion it can grant you relief from the itchy feeling.

2.Milk of magnesia on the lesions, provides some relief. As milk of magnesia is an alkaline solution it helps in removing the irritating itchy sensation

3.Stop the itching get 1/2 a tub filled with warm water, add 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup baking soda. Soaking yourself at least once a day can make a lot of difference.

4.Applying aloe vera gel or vitamin E oil to the affected area at least twice a day can benefit you a lot.

5.Have nettle tea which is made by 2 tsp. powdered stinging nettles. You can add honey or lemon to add flavor your tea.

6.Consume cayenne pepper capsules to help the healing procedure. You can also have vitamin C, vitamin E or zinc for quick relief.

7.Herbal tea is very good for health. To soothe your nerves, go in for peppermint or passionflower tea. Other good options include chamomile, valerian and catnip

8.To relieve pain, apply cool compression on the affected area.

9.Make a paste with 2 cups of oatmeal and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Add a little water to make it into a paste. Apply to affected area for 15-30 minutes. It dries the hives up within a couple of hours.

10.Take cayenne pepper in capsule form to aid the healing process.

11.Take an Ice cold shower or bath and sit in front of a fan on high for about five minutes.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for health care clinic and home remedies. She also writes articles on beauty tips.

Depression Medication

Depression can affect any one of us at any time of our lives and is more than just feeling a bit fed up or down in the dumps. When you cannot just snap out of it and the symptoms of depression persist for more than a couple of weeks, and interfere with your ability to carry out your normal routines on a daily basis, then your health care provider or GP may prescribe some form of medication to help you combat the depression.

There are many different types of anti-depressants available and the earlier ones include Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs). Newer types include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and others, which may not fall into one specific category but which all work by impacting on the chemicals in the brain that are responsible for our mood and how we feel.

The following list represents the most commonly prescribed drugs for depression, their brand names and the name of the pharmaceutical company producing them (in brackets), as well as a brief description of how the different types are believed to work.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Tricyclic antidepressants are so called because of their molecular structure in that they contain three rings of atoms. Although no one understands exactly how they work, it is thought that the beneficial effects are due to their ability to balance the natural neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain. The most common side effects are dry mouth and drowsiness and possibly blurred vision, sweating, and a slight hesitancy when passing urine. The following list represents some of the most commonly prescribed Tricyclic antidepressants:

- Doxepin - Brand names: Adapin (Lotus Biochemical Corporation) and Sinequan (Pfizer Inc)


- Clomipramine - Brand names: Anafranil (Geneva Pharmaceuticals)


- Nortriptylene - Brand Names: Aventyl (Eli & Lilly) and Pamelor (Novartis Pharmaceuticals)


- Imipramine - Brand Names: Tofranil (Novartis Pharmaceuticals)


- Protriptyline - Brand Names: Vivactil (Merck & Co)


- Trimipramine - Brand Names: Surmontil (Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

This type of medication works by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which in turn increases the levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. They are not prescribed as often as they used to be as the newer type of medication known as SSRIs have become more popular. MAOIs would usually be prescribed when other medications have proved ineffective. MAOIs can interact with foods containing tyramine and raise blood pressure; they can also interact unfavourably with many other drugs and over the counter preparations. Some MAOIs include:

- Isocarboxazid - Brand Name: Marplan (Oxford Pharmaceutical Services)


- Phenelzine - Brand Name: Nardil (Pfizer Inc)


- Tranylcypromine - Brand Name: Parnate (Glaxo Smith Kline)

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs work by selectively inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain so that levels of serotonin are increased. They are generally considered safer than other types. Side effects include nausea, anxiety, sleep disturbances and sexual dysfunction. They can also interact with other drugs. Some of the more commonly prescribed SSRIs include:

- Citalopram - Brand Name: Celexa (Forest Pharmaceuticals)


- Escitalopram - Brand Name: Lexapro (Forest Pharmaceuticals)


- Fluoextine - Brand Name: Prozac (Eli & Lilly)


- FLuvoxamine - Brand Name: Luvox (Solvay Pharmaceuticals)


- Paroxetine - Brand Name: Paxil (Glaxo Smith Kline)


- Setraline - Brand Name: Zoloft (Pfizer Inc)

Some other types of medication

There are other types of medication available for depression which are not included in the previous categories but which all work in various ways to alter the balance of chemicals in the brain to alleviate depression. For example:

- Bupropion - works by inhibiting the reuptake of both norepinephrine and dopamine. Often used to treat the type of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), as well as ADHD and as part of a stopping smoking programme. Brand Name: Wellbutrin (Glaxo Smith Kline)

- Duloxetine - works by inhibiting the reuptake of both serotonin and noradrenaline (SNRI). Brand Name: Cymbalta (Eli & Lilly)

- Venlafaxine - Also an SNRI. Brand Name: Effexor (Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals)

- Maprotiline - Known as a tetracyclic antidepressant because its molecular structure consists of 4 rings in a T shape. Brand Names: Ludiomil (Novartis Pharmaceuticals)

Which type medication is most suitable?

The type of medication prescribed by your GP will depend on many factors including the kind of depression diagnosed, the severity of the symptoms, other medication that you may be taking and of course the potential risk of any side effects.

It is not possible to predict with any degree of accuracy which one will be most effective and it can take a number of weeks for any effects to be noticed. If after six weeks or so there is no improvement, then another medication may be prescribed until you find the most appropriate one for you.

Regardless of the type of depression diagnosed, the right medication can alleviate the symptoms of depression and help you get back to your old self again.

Depression is a serious condition that can strike anyone at anytime. For more information about depression and self help come and visit =>Fighting Depression.

All You Need To Know About Antidepressants

Many people often have misunderstandings about what antidepressants are capable of.

First of all, they are not pick me up pills; they don't artificially bring on a feeling of happiness, euphoria, or unrealistic well-being. Nor do antidepressants insulate you from life, make you not care about vital things, or make you oblivious to sorrow or loss.

What antidepressants do is avert depressed persons from sliding into the blackest depths of depression when something awful happens. They can still feel wounded, pain, and apprehension, but they feel these the way people normally do when they don't have depression. They also can help depressives sleep soundly, increase their energy, and improve their ability to concentrate.

The way antidepressants work is interesting. There are two chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine, that have to do with the transmission of impulses between nerve cells in the brain and seem to be allied with depression. It would appear as if depressed people use up these chemicals at an accelerated rate than other people. Antidepressants help to retain these chemicals, apparently leading to feelings of reduced anxiety, more security, increased self-worth, assertiveness, and resilience.

There are a mixture of types of antidepressants, but they fall into a number of straightfoward categories. These are tricyclics, MAOIs, and lithium, and the newer medications: hetereocyclics and Prozac and Prozac-related drugs.

Until rather recently, tricyclics were the normal treatment for depression. These medications include imipramine (Tofranil), amitriptiline (Elacil), Vivactil, Norpramin, Pamelor, and Sinequan. Still in conventional use today, 40 to 70 percent of depressed patients improve substantially with tricyclics.

Although they are quite efficient medications, there are some negatives to their use. They generally take several weeks of constant administration to be successful, which is difficult to handle when people are sincerely distressed. Also, it is relatively easy to take a disastrous overdose. In general, tricyclics should only be used on a short-term basis. They are not addictive, but they must be used with care, especially with people who have cardiovascular disease.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (ie. MAOIs) include Marplan, Parnate, and Nardil. They are a different class of drugs and cause a different reaction in the brain. These drugs are helpful from some people who do not respond to tricyclics. These drugs can have disagreeable side effects, but the main disadvantage of MAOIs is that they can also cause a stroke if certain foods containing the compound tyramine (cheese, red wine, pickles) are consumed while they are being used.

Lithium is generally the treatment of choice for bipolar disorder (the cycle of manic highs with depressed lows). In the correct dose, lithium reduces by about 50 percent the chances of another manic episode within a year. Mood swings become fewer, shorter, and less harsh. The success rate for lithium treatment is 70 percent, and 20 percent of people become symptom-free. It is generally seen as a maintenance drug. Once the patient is on Lithium, they are on it for life.

One of the most well-known drugs on the market today is Prozac. It has been followed into the marketplace by many other new antidepressant medications like Zoloft and Paxil, two near cousins, Effexor and Serzone, and some more distant cousins, notably Wellbutrin, Desyrel, and Buspar.

Unlike tricyclics, which affect the levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil affect only serotonin. Hence they are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, meaning that they prevent or slow down the reabsorption of serotonin. Effexor and Serzone affect both serotonin and norepinephrine, and the others have more complex effects. All, however, have been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression. The choice of which of these medications to use for a particular person has to do with their dosage and side-effect profile. Paxil, for example, seems to have a soothing effect on anxiety that Prozac lacks. Effexor has the reputation of being more energizing than Prozac.

Compared with tricyclics, the side effects of Prozac and its cousins are usually small. Tricyclics can give you dry mouth, make you constipated, and actually slow you down, whereas Prozac has none of these problems and gives you a little more energy. However, there are some side effects with the newer antidepressants which should be mentioned. Most notable among these is a reduction of interest in sex and complications maintaining an erection. Although the male performance problems usually go away after a few weeks, many people on SSRIs report a continued diminished interest in sex, which can certainly add to marital problems.

For more info on antidepressants visit All you need to know about Antidepressants

The Usefulness Of Light Therapy In The Treatment Of Fibromyalgia

FM has no known cause as there is little evidence supporting any of the theories suggested by researchers. It is however thought to be triggered by,

1. Sleep disorders


2. Injury and Muscle Trauma


3. Genetic predisposition


4. Immune System Abnormalities, and


5. Infectious agents, including viruses and bacteria

FM has two main components, pain and fatigue. Pain is felt throughout the body (ligaments, tendons and muscles) and can range from mildly uncomfortable to excruciating. It can also continue for months and even years. Fatigue can be experienced as anything from feeling a little tired to feeling absolutely exhausted, and can make the pain of the illness harder to bear.

Symptoms include:


1. Morning stiffness


2. Wide spread pain


3. Sleep disorders


4. Chronic headaches


5. Dizziness


6. Nausea


7. Depression


8. Facial and jaw pain


9. Irritable bowel, frequent bouts of diarrhoea or constipation and irritable bladder


10. Cognitive dysfunction including lack of concentration and mixing up words

(To mention a few)

Patients often feel they are aching all over, with muscles feeling sore, stiff and overworked. Muscle twitching is also not rare in FM and can sometimes feel like they are burning.

Treatment for FM tends to be very comprehensive and can involve a number of health care providers including physicians, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, chiropractors and occupational therapists. Common treatments include pharmaceutical treatments such as the use of Lentizol, Sinequan or Seroxat. Other treatments include relaxation techniques, therapeutic massage, gentle exercise program, acupuncture, change in diet and cognitive behaviour therapy, to mention a few.

Light therapy is an alternative therapy, which can be used for treating symptoms of fibromyalgia. It can help reduce muscle pain, depression, fatigue and sleep disorders. Three different types of light therapy can be used for treating symptoms of fibromyalgia: Bright Light Therapy, Colour Therapy and Low Laser Light Therapy (LLLT).

Based on the idea that our body is specifically attuned to light, bright light therapy uses high powered fluorescent lights to help trigger the release of specific hormones, which help to restore the body's natural rhythm and overall health. Bright light therapy for fibromyalgia is typically carried out using a light box, which is typically placed in front of you at eye level. Depending on the intensity of the light box, treatment time could be between 15 minutes to 3 hours. You remain seated in front of the box without staring at the light box, but absorbing the light while carrying out other activities such as reading, eating, etc.

Colour therapy is a form of phototherapy, which delivers coloured beams of light to various parts of the body and its usage is becoming more popular among chronic pain sufferers. As the eyes see the coloured beams of light, the light energy is converted into electric impulses, which travel through the brain, triggering the release of hormones such as serotonin and endorphins, which help to improve your mood and ease pain. The four colours typically used are red, blue, violet, and white. Colour therapy is very relaxing and typically lasts between 15 minutes and 1 hour.

Also known as Cold Light Therapy or Soft Laser Light Therapy, Low Laser Light Therapy (LLLT) helps to reduce pain and promote healing by increasing the energy levels of certain cells in the body. Low-frequency laser light beams are applied to various painful areas of the body, once the photons emitted by these beams are absorbed by the body; they are converted into cellular energy by the energy power houses within the cells (the mitochondria). Consequently, this helps to increase the rate at which your body heals thereby eliminating pain.

Various studies have suggested that light therapy is highly effective at reducing symptoms of chronic pain, fatigue and depression, and as such is worth a try for fibromyalgia patients who yearn to be relieved of their symptoms. Read more about light therapy in our brand new Light Therapy Learning Centre. As effective as light therapy is for various disorders, certain individuals are advised against using it especially those suffering from epilepsy, skin sensitivities, glaucoma, bipolar disorders, cataracts and other eye diseases.

Start shopping from our range of Light Therapy products.

Disclaimer

This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.

http://www.allergymatters.com

Four Types of Depression Medication - What You Need to Know

Depression medication is not always a recommended means of treatment. There are many types of effective treatments available and they do not include depression medicines.

Depression medicines are fast acting. They provide instant result to some people but the relief is not permanent and they have side effects. Some types of depression medication are also contraindicated with some types of food. This is the reason why people who are taking depression medication need to have a diet plan that they will have to follow. Between 20 to 40 percent of people do not respond positively to depression medications.

If the person really needs the help of these pills, it is good to know the types of depression medication and have an idea of how they work and what are the associated side effects that each type can bring.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs are among the most popular types of these medications. SSRIs work on a neurotransmitter of the brain called serotonin. They are the most prescribed type of depression medication because they have fewer side effects than the older types.

The medicines classified as SSRI are the following: Paxil (paroxetine), Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate), Zoloft (sertraline), Luvox (fLuvoxamine) and Prozac (fluoxetine). Yet another one is Celexa (citalopram). The side effects recorded for this type of depression medication include erectile dysfunction, anxiety and restlessness, hostility, agitation, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, tremors, sweating, drowsiness, fatigue, either diarrhea or constipation, headaches, dry mouth and either weight gain or loss.

SSRI can increase the suicidal tendency of a person. If a person has taken SSRI and wants to switch to MAOI, he should allow three weeks difference before taking MAOI; if not, it could lead to reactions that have grave consequences for the person's life.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Tricyclics antidepressants are older than SSRIs. Taking this medication requires two weeks before relief could be felt and they have more side effects than SSRIs. Tricyclic antidepressants works on two of the three neurotransmitters of the brain called the serotonin and norepinephrine. But it was also observed that they are interacting unnecessarily with the other nerve impulses of the brain. It has a sedative effect on the user, making it suitable for patients that are severely depressed.

The list of TCA medicine include Adapin (doxepin),Sinequan (doxepin), Anafranil (clomipramine), Pamelor (nortryptyline), Surmontil (trimipramine), Tofranil (imipramine), Vivactil (protriptyline), Elavil (amitriptyline), Norpramin (desipramine). Also included are Pertofrane (desipramine), Endep (amitriptyline) and Ludiomil (maprotiline).

The side effects of SSRI can also be observed with TCAs. In addition, people taking it are very sensitive to the sun, and may have blurred vision and difficulty urinating.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MOAIs)

MAOIs are the oldest type of antidepressant. They are taken by people with mild cases of depression and those that are overly sensitive with the environment. MAOIs work on all three neurotransmitters: the serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. MOAIs are recommended only when the patient has not responded to the other types of medications.

A person taking MAOIs must be watchful of his diet. Many types of food are known to counter-react with MAOIs. The list includes chocolates, wines, and cheeses, among others. Effects of these food with MAOIs include hypertension, headaches, fluctuation in blood sugar among diabetics and at worst, brain hemorrhage could happen.

The medicines classified under MAOI are the following: Nardil (phenelzine), Parnate (tranylcypromine), Marplan (Isocarboxazid) and Emsam (Selegiline ). The side effects include lightheadedness upon standing, sleepiness, headache, insomnia, impotence, dizziness and weight gain.

Atypical or Other Types of Antidepressant

These are the latest modes of anti depression medication and they do not fall under any of the first three types, thus they are classified as atypical. Since these medications have different mechanism of actions, the side effects also vary according to the specific medicine.

The list of atypical types of depression medication includes the following: Trazodone (Desyrel), Venlafaxine (Effexor), Nefazodone (Serzone), Duloxetine (Cymbalta), Mirtazapine (Remeron) and Bupropion (Wellbutrin).

Never forget to ask for medical assistance before starting on any of the types of depression medication. It is also useful to know that many of them can increase the tendency of suicide attempts in a person. Abrupt withdrawal must also be avoided. All types of depression medication need tapering down in order to lessen the side effects that could be very serious.

Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Facts-About-Depression.com. She provides more information on topics such as types of depression medication, new treatments for depression and depression chat rooms that you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.

What Ways Can Fibromyalgia Pain Be Relieved

For those suffering from Fibromyalgia the thing they find most frustrating is having to find ways of relieving the chronic widespread pain that they feel. In many cases people suffering from this disease have difficulty coping with it because they are unable to explain to others what it is they are actually going through. You will often find that they will avoid any stressful situations and because of the depression that is often associated with Fibromyalgia they often feel helpless as well.

Often people suffering from Fibromyalgia will complain that they "hurt all over" and as yet there is no known cure for it, as well as there being no way of removing the pain that they feel. The only option really open to sufferers is for them to manage the pain. Although there are plenty of support groups out there offering advice and encouragement to the sufferers it is only the sufferer themselves who can decide what treatments and management techniques work best for them in relieving and managing the pain they feel.

The use of relaxation exercises, heat therapy, self-hypnosis, stretching exercises, medication and self evaluation is the best way to develop a persons plan for the sufferers themselves in order to control and be in control of the pain. Sufferers have to learn how to describe the pain they are feeling to both physical therapists and their family doctor and they should at all times keep a diary of all activities they participate in and the medications that they take, noting any differences that have occurred either before or after the activity or the medication that has been taken. This will hopefully help to try and pin point what is working and what isn't.

Although if not suffering from chronic pain is bad enough, another disabling side effect of Fibromyalgia is the constant fatigue a sufferer will feel. In most cases the sufferers accept the fact that they will wake up every morning feeling tired and certainly dealing with every day activities is a constant battle for those with Fibromyalgia. Even simple tasks such as preparing a meal, taking a letter to the post box or just putting on your make up can seem overwhelming to Fibromyalgia suffers and seems to drain what energy they do have.

However, the management of widespread pain can be very complicated and in order for people with Fibromyalgia to deal with it effectively they must plan everything ahead of time. But pain management is a skill that they must give themselves a chance to learn. It is best that any ordinary everyday tasks should be given priority and where possible other tasks should be handed over to someone else who is willing to assist them. In many companies now they often use the phrase "work smarter, not harder" and this should be used by those dealing with Fibromyalgia as they will soon find that this can help improve their quality of life.

By developing a pain management plan the person suffering with the pain should look at and discuss the medications that are available and that they need in order to make their life that little bit more comfortable. It may be an idea for them to look further at such medications as Zoloft, Sinequan, Flexeril, Prozac, Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien or one of the many others forms of medication that are available and which seem to provide sufferers with temporary relief from the pain. In some cases sufferers have found that certain medications have done more than provide a temporary fix to the pain that they are feeling and will need to discuss these issues further with their doctor.

Everybody deserves to live a good and fruitful life and flexibility and creativity are two of the most important elements in a Fibromyalgia sufferer's life in order to make them more productive, energy and thus lead a happier life. Certainly those people who have the ability to manage their Fibromyalgia will find that they can lead a more fulfilling life and manage their daily routines more easily and at their own pace.

Kerris Samson a work from home mum now residing in Spain and who has spent a vast amount of researching the causes, the signs and symptoms of Fibromyalgia and how it can be treated. If you would like to know more about this disease and the effects it has on people, please visit http://www.fibromyalgia.oneohtwo.info.

Chronic Headache Migraine - Preventative Ways to Keep Them From Happening

Chronic headache migraine is just no fun at all. If you suffer from migraines, there is bad news and good news.

The bad news is that there is no cure for migraines. Despite what you may have seen on TV or heard on some radio infomercial, migraines just cannot be cured.

The good news is that in some cases you can head them off (preventative treatments) or at least modify their severity (abortive treatments).

Foods that can trigger migraines

The first form of preventative treatment is to cut out foods that can trigger headaches such as those that contain tyramines, nitrites or monosodium glutamate.

In fact, one fourth of headache sufferers say that certain foods trigger their head pain. This is because many foods contain substances that can provoke the release of the neurotransmitters implicated in causing headaches.

Food with tyramines

Headaches can be triggered by foods containing the substance tyramine, which is a member of the amines group of organic chemical compounds. As such, it may influence the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin - which, in turn, can trigger a headache. Common foods that contain tyramine include:

Chocolate


Aged cheese


Vinegar (relish, salad dressings, sauces, catsup)


Organ meats (kidney liver)


Alcohol (especially red wine)


Sour Cream


Soy sauce


Yogurt


Yeast extracts

Food with nitrites

Headaches can also be triggered by foods containing nitrates as preservatives. It is estimated that in the United States there are 12,000,000,000 pounds of nitrite currently used to give meats a pink color and enhance their taste. Foods containing nitrite include:

Smoked fish


Corned beef


Bologna


Pastrami


Pepperoni


Canned ham

That old devil, monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate (commonly called MSG) may also cause headache pain. It is a flavor enhancer that is often sold under the trade name Accent. An estimated 20,000 tons of monosodium glutamate are used yearly to add flavoring to foods.

Preventative medications

NSAIDs. NSAIDS are most often used in preventative treatment of those who suffer from chronic migraine. Typical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) or aspirin can help relieve mild migraines. There are also drugs in this family marketed specifically for migraine headaches. These are typically a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine. One example of a combination drug sold over-the-counter is Excedrin Migraine.

Prescription medications

The Food and Drug Administration have approved a number of prescription drugs for use in preventing migraines. This includes cardiovascular drugs, antidepressants and alpha blockers.

The most popular of the cardiovascular drugs used to prevent migraine headaches are Inderal, Depakote and Sansert. Some migraine sufferers have also found they can prevent the onset of headaches with calcium channel blockers such a Verapamil, Wellbutrin and Nimotop.

Tricyclic antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) do have an anti-migraine effect, but are not usually considered to be the first choice in preventing migraines. However, they may be of help to some migraine sufferers, especially those who have both migraine and tension-type headaches. The antidepressants used most often in the treatment of migraines are Elavil, Sinequan, Vivactil. Norpramin and such SSRIs (Serotonin Update Inhibitors) as Prozak, Xoloft and Paxil.

Clonidine is an alpha blocker whose efficiency in migraine prevention is not as good as that of the beta blockers. A second alpha blocker that has been used successfully in treatment of childhood migraines is Cyproheptadine.

If you think your suffer from chronic headache migraine, have you wondered why? Click here to learn the newest theory as to what causes you to have migraines.

How Antidepressant Drugs Work

While not necessarily addictive, antidepressant drugs can cause serious side effects that lead to erratic behavior. Such side effects create a dangerous situation in the workplace, the home, while driving and in many other instances. Those antidepressant drugs of particular concern are tricyclic antidepressants.

Amitriptyline is an antidepressant drug that goes by the brand name Limbitrol. Nortriptyline is also a part of the tricyclic antidepressant family and is prescribed as Aventyl and Pamelor. Doxepin is used to treat both depression and anxiety and can be found under the names Adapin and Sinequan. Desipramine is sometimes also prescribed to treat eating disorders and withdrawal symptoms from cocaine addiction. It is sold under the name brands Norpramin and Pertofrane.

How Do Tricyclic Antidepressants Work?

Antidepressants work by helping to maintain certain levels of neurotransmitters, chemicals called serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. These chemicals help to regulate mood and modes of thinking. By elevating a person suffering from depression's mood, antidepressants alleviate the feelings of hopelessness, sadness and the general lack of interest in living associated with their condition. The medication is typically taken as an antidepressant pill, but is also available in syrup form.

Effects of Antidepressant Drugs

Antidepressant drugs, especially tricyclic antidepressant drugs can cause a whole array of side effects. Side effects include, upset stomach, dry mouth, increase in skin sensitivity, insomnia, drowsiness, changes in sex drive, changes in appetite and confusion. Serious antidepressant side effects that require medical attention include constipation, difficulty in speaking, irregular heartbeat, trembling, stiffness of limbs and hallucinations. Tricyclic antidepressants also create an increased likelihood of thoughts of suicide and attempts in children and adolescents. Any sudden behavior changes, mood swings or extreme agitation should be relayed to your child's doctor.

Signs of Tricyclic Antidepressant Overdoses

Someone overdosing on tricyclic antidepressants exhibits many signs and should be taken to a medical facility immediately. Warning signs of a potential overdose include seizures, dilated pupils, pounding or irregular heartbeat, hallucinations, difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness, and vomiting.

How To Test For Antidepressant Drugs

While antidepressant drugs are a prescription medication with legitimate uses, they can be potentially dangerous to those who work in fields that require the operation of heavy machinery and other hazardous activities. There are many different kinds of drug testing kits that test for tricyclic antidepressants in one's system, such as urine drug tests, saliva drug tests and hair follicle drug tests.

Having an employee that is under the influence of antidepressant drugs such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline or doxepin can be potentially dangerous, not only to themselves, but to other employees and the health of your company. That is why performing drug tests at your workplace to detect antidepressant use can keep your workers safe, your reputation sound and your company producing to the best of its ability.

As a parent, the prescription drugs your child or teenager is taking is obviously of concern to you. But the potential side effects of some drugs like tricyclic antidepressants are astounding and should be carefully monitored. To test your teen for amitriptyline use, nortriptyline use, doxepin use, desirpramine use and other antidepressant drugs that have been shown to increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts in adolescents, a drug test kit can help to calm your mind and decide what is best for your child.

A longer version of this article is located at Anti-Depressant.org. The article is prepared by Serhat Pala who runs the website TestCountry.com.

Some of the information used in this article are taken from:Common misspellings for Tricyclic Anti-Depressants

How to Relief Widespread Pain in Fibromyalgia

You need pain relief if you are suffering from fibromyalgia. Chronic, widespread pain can often be the hardest and most frustrating challenge of living with Fibromyalgia. Coping mechanisms often fail because people with Fibromyalgia often have difficulty explaining to others what they are going through. They are quick to avoid stressful situations, and because of deep-seeded depression, begin to sink into a feeling of helplessness.

It is typical that people with Fibromyalgia complain of "hurting all over" and because there is no known cure for Fibromyalgia, there is no way to remove the pain. Managing the pain is the only option given to sufferers with this medical condition.

Support groups offer plenty of encouragement, but if someone suffers from widespread pain, he or she is the only person that can decide what treatments and management techniques work best for them.

Relaxation exercises, heat therapy, self-hypnosis, stretching exercises, medications, and self evaluation with the ability to develop a personal pain analysis of a person's own pain are often recommended in controlling and being in control of the pain. People with Fibromyalgia must learn to describe their pain to physical therapists and their family physician. They should also keep a journal of all activities and medications along with any noted difference before or after the activity or change in medication is very helpful when trying to pin point what works and what doesn't.

As if pain by itself isn't bad enough, one of the most disabling effects of widespread pain is the ongoing daily existence of fatigue. Most people who deal with Fibromyalgia must accept the fact they will wake up every morning feeling tired. For people battling FMS, (Fibromyalgia Syndrome) everyday activities are often difficult. Preparing meals, walking to the mailbox, putting on make-up all seem overwhelming and drain what energy the person has available.

Managing Widespread Pain is very complicated because in order to do it effectively, people with FMS must plan everything ahead of time. However, pain management is a skill that you should give yourself the chance to learn. Ordinary tasks must be prioritized, often even handed over to someone else who is willing to help. In corporations, often the phrase, "work smarter, not harder," is used as a motto. In the lives of people dealing with FMS, this is something they must realize can vastly improve their quality of life, so they must plan ahead.

In developing a pain management plan, the person living with the pain should speak out about the medications they need to make their lives more comfortable. Read up on the medications available, and ask for specific medications by name. Zoloft, Sinequan, Flexeril, Prozac, Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, and many others are medications that may provide FMS sufferers with the relief they need temporarily. Often some of these medications can help significantly more than a temporary fix so people with the pain need to talk to their doctors about what is working for them.

You deserve to live a good life. Flexibility and Creativity are two important elements in managing widespread pain and living a more productive, energetic, and happy life. The person, who believes in their ability to manage FMS, will be able to live a more fulfilling life while managing their daily activities at their own pace.

Terje Brooks Ellingsen is an internet publisher. His website ie-Internet-Pharmacy.com offers valuable free information for all who are interested in pharmacy and drug issues, for example how to find pain killing pharmacy products on the internet. Check out Internet Pharmacy now.

Antidepressants and Weight Gain

If you are overweight and have been prescribed an antidepressant to provide you with the lift that you need to get your body and life back in order then you may be doing yourself more harm than good. The irony is that almost all antidepressants and anti-psychotic medications have weight gain as a side effect. The few antidepressants that do boast extreme weight loss as a side effect also usually have "or extreme weight gain" on the same label.

There are several ways that antidepressants can cause weight gain.

Antidepressants can slow down your metabolism and reducing your caloric intake or exercising will not jump-start it again.

Antidepressants can cause hormonal changes that increase the appetite.

Some antidepressants can sedate and individual and make them more sedentary; they are cheery but less motivated to do anything.

Antidepressants can cause mood swings that make it difficult for an individual to stick to a disciplined schedule.

Some antidepressants (especially Celexa and Amytripyline) seem to cause unexplained food cravings.

Side effects such as dizziness and low blood pressure can have a person living "minute too minute" and make it difficult to plan a disciplined exercise schedule.

Unexpected weight gain can increase the difficulties associated with psychiatric and seizure disorders by further aggravating mood instability and low self-esteem.

Perhaps the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the world are the SSRIS - the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) This includes Celaxa, Prozac, Luvox, Paxil and Zoloft. Initially these drugs were marketed as weight loss aids until it was realized that after a week or so of initial weight loss that the body would start steadily gaining weight. The average weight gain that is expected after taking these drugs is fifteen to twenty pounds. Of them all, Paxil is thought to cause the most unexplained weight gain.

However the weight gain caused by SSRIs is peanuts considered to the pounds you can acquire by taking a tricyclic antidepressant. These include drugs such as Elavil, Asendin, Anofril, Petrofrane, Aventyl, Vivactil and Sinequan. If you take any of these drugs, which are prescribed for pain and sleep disorders as well as depression your physician will usually warn you that you can expect to gain at least twenty pounds during a course of treatment.

Another antidepressant that can cause weight gain but is not classified in either group is Mitrazapine. This drug has also been associated with significant weight gain. Wellbutrin, Nova Trazadone and Effexor which are not classified as SSRIs are among the antidepressants that can cause either extreme weight loss or weight gain. So if you take any of these you take your chances as to which direction your metabolism is going to swing - faster or slower.

To avoid the weight gain, lack of motivation to exercise and food cravings that both these types of antidepressants can cause your best course of action is to avoid taking them altogether. If this is not possible then you might find the entire weight loss process to be a very frustrating and uphill climb. However, never stop taking any medication that your health care practitioner has prescribed for you. If you feel that you are gaining too much weight, discuss this with your doctor and he/she may find an alternative for you.

Natural Health Information

Antidepressants

In 2002, 8.5 percent of the US civilian noninstitutionalized population had purchased at least one prescription Antidepressant. The currently available classes of Antidepressants include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), novel Antidepressants, and tetracyclic Antidepressants.

MAOIs act by inhibiting monoamine oxidase, a complex enzyme system that metabolizes excess serotonin and epinephrine. It holds the potential of inducing potential life-threatening problems, and therefore cannot be used in patients with congestive cardiac failure or in those with a history of liver disease. It is dangerous to those who are hypersensitive to its ingredients. The important drugs of this class include isocarboxazid (Marplan), moclobemide (Aurorix, Manerix, Moclodura), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), levo-deprenyl (Selegiline, Eldepryl), and harmala.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) act mainly by inhibiting the reuptake of both norepinephrine and serotonin. Though the type of side effects experienced by the patient due to TCAs or MAOIs are many times similar, the frequency of these side effects is much less in the case of TCAs. Thus, TCAs enjoy a better rate of acceptance by the patients. The TCAs of interest in the treatment of depression include amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep, Tryptanol), amoxapine (Asendin, Asendis, Defanyl, Demolox, Moxadil), clomipramine (Anafranil) desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane), dothiepin hydrochloride (Thaden, Prothiaden), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipamine (Tofranil), Iofepramine (Lomont, Gamanil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and triimipramine (Surmontil).

The SSRIs act by inhibiting the serotonin reuptake, and are considered the most popular, effective and safe prescription medications. The SSRIs used to treat depression include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem), fLuvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR), and sertraline (Zoloft). Prozac, a drug of this class, has shown significant success in the treatment of depression and prevention of suicide. It exhibits less potential side effects as compared to TCAs and MAOIs, and is well tolerated.

The currently available SNRIs (desipramine, duloxetine, nefazodone, and venlafaxine) keep both serotonin and norepinephrine at the right level to alleviate depressive symptoms. Nefazodone alleviates anxiety, causes some sedation and positively affects sleep. Venlafaxine (Effexor) has significant anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary hesitancy, and constipation), induces sedation and has potential withdrawal effects.

The drug bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR) is the most commonly used member of the novel Antidepressant class. It is unique in its efficiency to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Maprotiline (Ludiomil) and mirtazapine (Remeron) are the two main drugs from the group of tetracyclic Antidepressant. Mirtazapine acts by increasing the amount of noradrenaline and serotonin, and is of benefit in particular for the treatment of depression accompanied with anxiety, agitation and /or sleep disturbances.

The natural Antidepressants that impress their effectiveness on experts include St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine), and 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan). Other natural Antidepressants that are in need of research-based studies to prove their efficacy, safety and usability in the treatment of depression include herbs (Ginseng and Ginko), amino acids (l-tyrosine and phenylalanine), and certain nutrients, including B vitamins.

Antidepressants provides detailed information about antidepressants, antidepressant comparisons, antidepressant medications, antidepressant side effects and more. Antidepressants is the sister site of Canadian Mail Order Pharmacy.

Depression Treatments

Depression is a mental disorder that affects a person's moods. It affects millions of people around the world. People with depression may feel sad, angry, irritable, tired, confused, guilty, hopeless or worthless. When a person is diagnosed with depression, it's bad news for himself and his family. It's painful for the person and can also be difficult for the person's family. Depression if left untreated could get worse. It will affect a person's ability to function in daily life and work. Worst still, depression even may lead a person to suicide.

A serious disease depression may be, it is treatable. Proper treatment can help people with depression get back to normal daily activities.

Main treatments for depression are antidepressants and psychotherapy. Antidepressants are medicines that help to relieve depression so that a person suffering from depression can function more normally. There are mainly four types of antidepressants:

1. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) - Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate), Luvox (fLuvoxamine), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline). These antidepressants help the brain absorb the chemical serotonin.

2. Tricyclics antidepressants (TCAs) - Adapin (doxepin), Anafranil,(clomipramine), Elavil (amitriptyline), Endep (amitriptyline), Ludiomil (maprotiline), Norpramin (desipramine), Pamelor (nortryptyline), Pertofrane (desipramine), Sinequan (doxepin), Surmontil (trimipramine), Tofranil (imipramine), Vivactil (protriptyline)

3. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) - Nardil (phenelzine), Parnate (tranylcypromine)

4. Serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) - venlafaxine (tradenames Effexor XR(R), Efexor(R)), nefazodone (tradename Serzone(R)), milnacipran (tradename Dalcipran(R)/ Portugal; Ixel(R)/ France), desipramine (tradenames Norpramine(R), Pertofraneis(R)), duloxetine (tradename Cymbalta(R))

In the market, there are also antidepressants that don't fall in the above categories available such as buproprion (Wellbutrin), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), venlafaxine (Effexor), and mirtazapine (Remeron).

Certain antidepressants cause side effects. In most cases, side effect disappears once a person's body has adjusted to the medicines. Sometimes people on antidepressants may feel worse before feeling better. It takes time for depression medication to work correctly.

Besides taking medications, psychotherapy or talk therapy can be also of help to depressed individuals. It includes short-term therapy sessions, usually from ten to twenty weeks. Positive results for the depression patients will generally be showing up after one or more sessions of psychotherapy. This type of depression treatment actually helps the individuals by slowly making them open up about their feelings, the root of their problems, most important of all, the root of their depression. Healthy verbal exchanges between the cognitive behavior therapist and the depression patient is great depression treatment that'll positively affect the depression patients by helping them discuss and talk about whatever they've been keeping inside.

Even though either medication or psychotherapy works independently all by itself, many experts feel combination of both medication and psychotherapy can work more effectively to help depressed individuals overcome depression and become mentally healthy.

Forest Sun is a healthy lifestyle enthusiast and advocate. His website at http://managedepressionnow.com/ offers information on depression and how you can manage depression successfully.

Depression Medication And Drugs

Finding the best antidepressant for you can be a challenge. Don't be surprised if you have to try more than one drug before you find one that works well for you. Many doctors continue to rely on well established drugs known as tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs are often very effective in relieving depression, but they usually take some time two to six weeks to become fully effective. They may also have unpleasant side effects such as constipation, dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention and drowsiness, and they may be less safe for people with heart disease than some of the newer drugs. Even though these side effects diminish or disappear after a few weeks, many older people find them especially difficult to tolerate and they may stop taking the medication altogether.

Your doctor may recommend an older tricyclic antidepressant such as imipramine (Tofranil) and doxepin (Sinequan). Although these can work well, a newer group of tricyclics for example, nortriptyline (Aventyl) and desipramine (Norpramin) seem to be better tolerated, especially by older people. In recent years a new generation of antidepressant drugs known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) has been developed. These drugs include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) and fluoxamine (Luvox). They also take between two and six weeks to show some benefits, and while they are usually (but not always} as effective as the older drugs, they tend to have fewer or at least more tolerable side effects. This makes them ideal for many older people. If you take one of these drugs, you may experience some nausea, headaches or agitation, but such side effects may disappear. Even so, they should always be reported to your doctor.

Finding the right dosage is extremely important. If the dose is too low, the drug won't be effective; if it's too high, you may experience unpleasant side effects. Recent studies have shown that older people can )obtain relief with lower doses of antidepressant medication, so your doctor may adopt a "start low, go slow" approach. Because antidepressants start to work only when they reach what doctors call a "therapeutic level" in your body, it's vital that you give these drugs enough time to work. This can be difficult if you're experiencing side effects, but most doctors recommend that you try each medication for at least four weeks before giving up and switching to a different drug.

Most people have to remain on antidepressant medication for many months, even after they begin to feel better. How long you continue to take the drug depends on your general health, the severity of the depression and whether your depressions tend to recur. You should never stop taking antidepressants suddenly, since this can cause problems. Instead, your doctor will advise you to taper the dosage down gradually. If your symptoms recur, you may have to take antidepressant drugs indefinitely.

Learn more about depression medication and tips for its treatment. Finding the best antidepressant for you can be a challenge, you can easily learn more about them on authors site.

What Are The Most Effective Medications Against Insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder, which can happen to any kind of people. Be it old age or young, insomnia is a nightmare for all people. However, insomnia is not an incurable disease. It can be cured by proper treatments and medications. First of all, before starting a medication for insomnia, it is advisable that people should confirm whether he or she actually has insomnia. We should always try to avoid wrong medication as it can lead to different types of complications. Moreover, if you feel you have symptoms for insomnia, you also have chances of having sleep apnea. It can also happen that you are treated for insomnia when you are actually suffering from sleep apnea. It's always hard to find out so one need to be very careful while observing his or her behavior. Proper diagnosis is necessary before starting the medications, as symptoms are sometimes similar.

There are many medications, therapies, and remedies to treat insomnia. Natural treatment by means of exercise and meditation is the best however when it comes to chronic insomnia, people should get a closer examination done by doctors and start medication under their prescriptions. The prescriptions are different as insomnia is classified into two types, acute and chronic. Acute insomnia is a short-term disorder that can happen to anyone of any age groups. It lasts only for a very short period of time and it is not as serious as chronic insomnia. The best thing to cure acute insomnia would be finding the cause. The cause can be loss of job, changing work place or anything, once you find out, you can start your own treatment by making yourself comfortable. Whereas, in case of chronic insomnia, people should have a thorough examination and proper treatment as it is a long-term disorder. The best way to treat insomnia is proper diagnosis and medications collectively known as hypnotics. Some of the best medications are as follows:

* Benzodiazepines: some of the best-known benzodiazepines drugs are diazepam and nitrazepam. These drugs are used to cure chronic insomnia, hypnotically. It acts by increasing the action of gamma amino butyric acids, which involves in slowing down the transmission of nerve signals in the brain.

* Non-benzodiazepine hypnotics: The nonbenzodiazepines drugs are used to treat insomnia patients. It is a newly developed drug and the actions of this drug are found to be similar with those of benzadiazepines though they are structurally dissimilar. They can be bought from the market with a doctor's prescription. A doctor's prescription is necessary as these drugs can be misused as tranquilizers and sedatives. One of the most used non-benzodiazepine drug is zolpidem or the Z-drug. This drug is taken at the bedtime and sometimes taken by patients, when having difficulty falling asleep.

* Antidepressant: Antidepressants such as trazodone (Desyrel), amitriptyline (Elavil), and doxepin (Sinequan) are use as treatments against insomnia. Insomnia patient are prone to feel sad and distressed as they lack proper sleep and energy. To overcome it, antidepressants are given to them.

Do you want to discover more about sleep disorder? Drop us a visit and find out more articles about topics such as insomnia effects and insomnia remedies.

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What Is The Best Insomnia Cure?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder, which is found among all ages as well as is very common in old people. It can be caused due to many reasons. Sometimes you want to sleep but you can't get sleep so you toss around the bed, the whole night and later when you wake up, you happen to be tired due to lack of sleep.

Insomnia can be also be described in other ways like waking up very early and not able to fall back to sleep again. This affects people in such a way that makes hard for them to concentrate in anything. Some of the symptoms of insomnia are sleepiness, fatigue, decrease alertness, and decrease concentration etc. Before treating insomnia patient, one should always try to know the behavior of the patient.

Insomnia is classified into two types, acute insomnia and chronic insomnia.

1. Acute insomnia: acute insomnia is a short-term disorder as it last only for a weeks or certain short period of time. Acute insomnia may be caused due to certain tensions or depression may be because of changing locations or job or ones sleep place. It is not a serious problem but the symptoms are same with chronic insomnia.

1. Chronic insomnia: chronic insomnia is a long-term disorder. It last for a month or more.

Insomnia is not an incurable disease. It can be cure with proper treatment. The best way to overcome insomnia is proper diagnosis, medication (collectively known as hypnotics) and treatment. Some of the medications to treat insomnia patients are as follows:

1. Benzodiazepines: Benzodiazepines are use for treating chronic insomnia patient. It is also known as tranquilizers and sedatives. Some of the best-known drugs of benzodiazepines are diazepam and nitrazepam. Out of the two groups of benzadiazepine namely the anxiolytics and hypnotics, hypnotics are used to treat insomnia. It acts by increasing the action of gamma amino butyric acids, which involves in slowing down the transmission of nerve signals in the brain. These drugs are available in the market and could be bought with doctors or physicians prescription.

2. Non-benzodiazepine hypnotics: The nonbenzodiazepines drugs are use to treat insomnia patients. Doctors around the world describe them successfully. It is a newly developed drugs and the action of the drugs are quite similar to benzodiazepines. But chemically and structurally, these two drugs are different. There are certain nonbezodiazepines drugs that enter the market such as "Z-drugs, Zoplicone, Zolpidem etc. Zolpidem is always taken at bedtime and sometimes it can be taken when the patients have difficulty in sleeping. During the course of medication, patients are likely to have hallucinations and some other related problems.

3. Anti-depressants: Anti depressant drugs are given to insomnia patients to over come it. Most of the antidepressant medications for insomnia include trazodone (Desyrel), amitriptyline (Elavil), and doxepin (Sinequan). Some of the anti depression drugs that are prescribed by doctors today are mirtazapine and nefazodone. Mirtazapine is developed newly and it is used widely to cure chronic insomnia.

Do you want to discover more about sleep disorder? Drop us a visit and find out more articles about topics such as insomnia hypnosis and insomnia help.

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Antidepressant Medications

The currently available classes of Antidepressants include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), novel Antidepressants, and tetracyclic Antidepressants.

MAOIs act by inhibiting monoamine oxidase, a complex enzyme system that metabolizes excess serotonin and epinephrine. It holds the negativity of inducing potential life-threatening problems and therefore cannot be used in patients of congestive cardiac failure or in those with a history of liver disease. It is strongly against recommendation to those who are hypersensitive to its ingredients. The important drugs of this class include isocarboxazid (Marplan), moclobemide (Aurorix, Manerix, Moclodura), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), levo-deprenyl (Selegiline, Eldepryl), and harmala.

Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCAs) act mainly by inhibiting the reuptake of both norepinephrine and serotonin. Though the type of side effects experienced by the patient due to TCAs or MAOIs are many times similar, the frequency of these side effects is much less in the case of TCAs. Thus TCAs enjoy a better rate of acceptance by the patients. The TCAs of interest in the treatment of depression include amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep, Tryptanol), amoxapine (Asendin, Asendis, Defanyl, Demolox, Moxadil), clomipramine (Anafranil) desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane), dothiepin hydrochloride (Thaden, Prothiaden), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipamine (Tofranil), Iofepramine (Lomont, Gamanil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and triimipramine (Surmontil).

The SSRIs act by inhibiting the serotonin reuptake, and are considered the most popular, effective and safe prescription medications. The SSRIs used to treat depression include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem), fLuvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR), and sertraline (Zoloft). Prozac, a drug of this class, has shown significant success in the treatment of depression and prevention of suicide. It exhibits less potential side effects as compared to TCAs and MAOIs, and is well tolerated.

The currently available SNRIs (desipramine, duloxetine, nefazodone, and venlafaxine) keep both serotonin and norepinephrine at the right level to alleviate depressive symptoms. Nefazodone alleviates anxiety, causes some sedation and positively affects sleep. Venlafaxine (Effexor) has significant anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary hesitancy, and constipation), induces sedation and has potential withdrawal effects.

The drug bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR) is the most commonly used member of the novel Antidepressant class. It is unique in its efficiency to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.

Maprotiline (Ludiomil) and mirtazapine (Remeron) are the two main drugs from the group of tetracyclic Antidepressants. Mirtazapine acts by increasing the amount of noradrenaline and serotonin, and is of benefit in particular for the treatment of depression accompanied with anxiety, agitation and /or sleep disturbances.

Antidepressants provides detailed information about antidepressants, antidepressant comparisons, antidepressant medications, antidepressant side effects and more. Antidepressants is the sister site of Canadian Mail Order Pharmacy.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) are so-called because of their molecular structure, which contains three rings of atoms. They act mainly by inhibiting the reuptake of both norepinephrine and serotonin. Other receptors that might also experience a TCA induced inhibition are muscuranic, alpha1 adrenergic, and histaminic receptors.

The TCAs of interest in the treatment of depression include amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep, Tryptanol), amoxapine (Asendin, Asendis, Defanyl, Demolox, Moxadil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane), dothiepin hydrochloride (Thaden, Prothiaden), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), Iofepramine (Lomont, Gamanil), triimipramine (Surmontil), nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl), and protriptyline (Vivactil).

Amitriptyline inhibits serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake almost equally. It is approved for the treatment of endogenous depression, involutional melancholia, and reactive depression. Amoxapine mainly inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine.

Clomipramine is the most serotonergic TCA but exhibits higher risk for seizures. Doxepin is very effective in causing histamine block. Imipramine is converted by the body to desipramine. Desipramine strongly inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and induces very little anti-cholinergic side effects. It prevents fluctuations in the mood of depressive patients. Trimipramine induces antidepressant effect by raising the level of norepinephrine to normal. Anti-cholinergic and sedative effect are observed with its use. Nortriptyline is the least hypotensive TCA.

The potential side effects of Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) are allergic reactions, blood cell problems, blurred vision, dry mouth, weakness, fatigue, weight gain, constipation, difficulty with urination, sexual dysfunction, sweating, muscle twitches, rash, dizziness, tremors, ECG abnormalities, seizures, stroke, and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (with amoxapine). The secondary amine TCAs (desipramine and nortriptyline) are generally better tolerated than tertiary amine TCAs.

It should also be noted that an abrupt discontinuation of TCA therapy could cause cholinergic side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Thus, a gradual reduction in dose before the complete discontinuation of TCA is a preventive step.

Antidepressants provides detailed information about antidepressants, antidepressant comparisons, antidepressant medications, antidepressant side effects and more. Antidepressants is the sister site of Canadian Mail Order Pharmacy.

Depression Medication

Clinical depression is a condition of grief, dreariness, or anguish that disturbs an individual's societal performance and actions of daily life. Clinical depression is a medical diagnosis and hence needs to be treated with medication.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are the traditionally used medications that are used to take care of depression. They function by affecting the level of neurotransmitters, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain. However, they are known to have many side effects and hence are not typically the best choice. Anafranil, Sinequan, Vivactil, and Norpramin are some of the drugs of this genre that are available. Dry mouth, increased heart rate, sexual problems, and blurred vision are some of the side effects that are manifested on its ingestion.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are antidepressants that have also been used for a long time. They show most effect in case of people who do not respond to other medications. Several products in the diet, such as cheese, wine, and some medicines, have an inhibiting effect on MAOIs. Hence, it is necessary for people on these medications to be strict about their diet. This is the reason for it not being used as the first choice of medication. Parnate, Nardil, and Marplan are some of the brand names of these antidepressants. Headache, nausea, a racing heart, and chest pain are some of the side effects of these antidepressants; these side effects require immediate medical aid.

The latest medications on the antidepressant front are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They show their effect through altering the level of Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain. Luvox, Paxil, and Prozac are some of their popular brand names, which exhibit side effects such as low sex drive, insomnia, and/or fatigue.

Antidepressant medications are utilized in treating a state of depression. They typically function by elevating levels of specific brain chemicals termed as neurotransmitters. They are known to control the feelings of elevation and depression that are experienced by individuals.

Depression provides detailed information on Depression, Depression Treatment, Manic Depression, Postpartum Depression and more. Depression is affiliated with Signs Of Clinical Depression.

What To Expect From Your Anti-Depressant Medication

Sinequan is part of a group of anti-depressants called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), it's role is to increase the effects of neurotransmitters by blocking their reuptake. The exact mechanism of action of Sinequan is not known, but the hypothesis is that the clinical effects may be due to preventing norepinephrine reuptake into the nerve terminals at the synapse level. Doxepin has a strong local anesthetic action and like all other antidepressants it has a sodium channel blocking activity.

Sinequan is prescribed in the treatment of:

1. Psychoneurotic patients with depression and/or anxiety

2. Depression and/or anxiety associated with alcoholism

3. Depression and/or anxiety associated with organic disease (interaction with other drugs should be considered)

4. Depressive disorders with associated anxiety including manic-depressive disorders.

5. Chronic pain from a variety of conditions, eg. fibromyalgia, chronic headache or migraine

Symptoms that respond particularly well to Sinequan include anxiety, tension, depression, sleep disturbances, insomnia, guilt, lack of energy, fear, apprehension and worry.

Clinical experience has shown that Sinequan is safe to use and and well tolerated. Although some of the newer anti-depressants can have fewer side effects than the tricyclics, individuals will respond differently to particular treatments and the response may also vary over time. The type of treatment will depend on many factors, including the type of depression, other medications a patient is taking, the presence of other medical conditions, and a patient's response to previous therapy.

Side effects are usually most common when first starting the treatment, and should be reported to your health care professional if they do not clear up or worsen.

Common Sinequan side effects include: constipation or difficulty urinating (more likely in the elderly), dizziness (try standing slowly), drowsiness (problems with fatigue may be reduced by taking Sinequan in the evening or at bedtime), dry mouth, sensitivity to sunlight , temperature sensitivity, or weight gain.

Occasional Sinequan Side Effects: blood sugar changes, dental cavities, fainting, headache, hives, increased appetite, indigestion, nausea, rash, shaking, swollen face or tongue, unsteadiness, weakness. Getting up slowly may prevent dizziness rising from a sitting or lying position. If this condition worsens you should contact your doctor. Sinequan is best taken with food in most cases, to prevent indigestion and nausea.

Rare side effects: brown or red spots on skin, change in sense of taste or hearing, irritated tongue or mouth, nightmare, sexual side effects (impotence, difficulty with orgasm), sweating, restless feeling, vomiting.

Advise your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding, as Sinequan's effects on unborn babies and nursing infants has not been established.

Some medications should not be mixed with Sinequan at all, and with others your doctor may want to adjust your dose to decrease the risk of adverse side effects. Make sure your doctor is aware of all the medications and supplements you are taking, as well as any other medical condition you may suffer from.

Mariette Smith is a clinical epidemiologist with an avid interest in conditions affecting the mind and brain, and various treatment options. See more at her website, Restored Minds.