| Brain doctors agree: The 15 million U.S. adults who are | | | | Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, the oldest class of |
| battling major depression are suffering from a real | | | | antidepressants, deactivate a protein called MAO-A |
| medical illness. Studies point to a shortage of the | | | | that deplets neurotransmitters. The side effects of |
| brain chemicals serotonin, norepinephrine, and | | | | these drugs are nasty, but research into how MAO-A |
| dopamine, the neurotransmitters that ferry messages | | | | works may help develop new therapies. In a study |
| between nerve cells. Doctors have no test to | | | | published late last year in the Archives of General |
| determine which ones are lacking, but there are drug | | | | Psychiatry, researchers at Toronto's Centre for |
| therapies available to boost them. | | | | Addiction and Mental Health found that depressed |
| Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) | | | | patients lose neurotransmitters at different rates |
| Serotonin is made from amino acid tryptophan; it | | | | based on the number of monoamine transporters |
| regulates mood and appetite. SSRIs such as Paxil and | | | | found on the surface of their brain cells and elevated |
| Zoloft raise serotonin in the gaps between brain cells | | | | MAO-A. |
| to normal levels, and for some patients, this helps lift | | | | These findings help explain why patients with more |
| their mood. | | | | transporters have more severe symptoms, says |
| Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors | | | | study leader Jeffrey Meyer, M.D., Ph.D. "We now |
| (SNRIs) As a key message sender for those nerves | | | | have a more precise disease model for developing |
| that command your body without input from your | | | | more effective and targeted treatments." |
| brain, norepinephrine controls your response to | | | | As Doctors and Psychiatrists continue to study, and |
| ultrastressful situations. Low brain levels of it have | | | | find new drugs and chemicals to combat depression |
| been linked to depression-related symptoms, including | | | | there is a common lesson in all these studies. Our |
| fatigue, insomnia, sleeping too much, agitation, and | | | | brains have immense control over our entire body, |
| trouble concentrating. SNRIs such as Effexor and | | | | psychology, and well-being. Where studies fail in |
| Cymbalta work by blocking brain cells from removing | | | | grasping is the absolute control an individual has over |
| both serotonin and norepinephrine. | | | | their mind and thoughts. Studies are performed on a |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) TCAs, such as | | | | subject with symptoms receiving a dosage of |
| amitriptyline and imipramine, are the modern-day | | | | medication and measuring results. |
| precursors to SSRIs and SNRIs. They're just as | | | | The studies fail in creating a mental shift in order for |
| effective but they act more broadly in preventing | | | | the individual to create new levels of Serotonin in |
| the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine, | | | | their brain. Studies are paperwork; the human mind |
| so they may not be tolerated as well. | | | | and individual are capable of anything they choose. A |
| Studies suggest that for some people, they may | | | | mind can create a vision or dream, and then create a |
| take longer to kick in; can cause weight gain, | | | | life through that mindset. You have the complete |
| drowsiness, or low blood pressure; and may even | | | | power to be great and create a dream-infused life |
| affect heart rhythm. | | | | today. |