By Athlyn Green
Trazodone antidepressant is used for treatment of depression. It affects chemical messengers or neurotransmitters in the brain that nerves use in communicating or stimulating each other.
This is a prescription medication that is believed to target symptoms of depression by inhibiting reuptake of serotonin—a brain chemical that plays a role in mood. Using Trazodone for depression may also directly increase the action of serotonin.
Although this drug works in a similar fashion to serotonin reuptake inhibitors, it is chemically unrelated to them. It is the generic name for Desyrel. The Food and Drug Administration approved Trazodone antidepressant for use in 1982.
As with any drug that increases concentrations of serotonin in the brain, this medication should not be taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Commonly noted side effects include headache, lightheadedness or confusion, blurred or abnormal vision, agitation, dry mouth, low blood pressure, tiredness or sleepiness. Stomach upset can be reduced by taking this drug with food. A more troubling complication can be priapism, a painful condition in which sexual organs remain in an erect position. More alarmingly, occasional permanent impairment of erectile function or even impotence has been noted. You will want to discuss this with your doctor before consenting to using Trazodone for depression.
Blood pressure may drop if you combine this medication with a blood pressure medication. Dizziness upon standing may be an indicator of reduced blood pressure levels.
Cardiac abnormalities have been associated with Trazodone antidepressant and it should be used cautiously in people with pre-existing cardiac disorders. Do not take Trazodone if you have had a heart attack in recent weeks. If you have any type of heart disease: irregular heartbeats, chest pain (angina), or high blood pressure, you may require monitoring.
You should use alcohol cautiously in conjunction with taking this medication. When taking Trazodone for depression, you may experience dizziness or drowsiness—and alcohol may increase these effects.
Your doctor will have weighed potential benefits against risks before prescribing this medication for you. He will outline why he feels Trazodone antidepressant may be indicated to treat your depression. If you are suffering from major depression, it is crucial to get these symptoms under control.
If you are concerned about potential side effects, other options are available. Many people have turned to natural remedies when seeking to alleviate their symptoms. Can natural supplements effectively treat depression? Can they act on neurotransmitters to repair and correct malfunctioning?
Evaluating ingredients in natural remedies provides insight as to how they work.
5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) significantly improves anxiety and depression and has been clinically shown to increase production of serotonin.
SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) reduces depression and is critical in the manufacturing of important brain compounds, such as neurotransmitters.
Phosphatidyl choline increases central neurologic activity, brain energy, and mood. It is beneficial for treatment of anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
L-Glutamine is an amino acid, which, studies show, significantly decreases depression by altering neurotransmission associated with mood disorders.
Other ingredients include Siberian ginseng, ginkgo biloba, passionflower, vitamins B1 and B6. These work respectively to alleviate anxiety and depression. A good quality natural supplement will incorporate these ingredients using a wide range of vitamins and minerals, amino acids and enzymes, herbal extracts and specialty supplements to restore brain balance and functioning in a manner similar to using Trazodone for depression and its troubling symptoms. Ingredients are scientifically formulated, in combination, to provide crucial nutritional, chemical, and hormonal balance needed for well being.
You should always consult your doctor prior to embarking on any course. You can be comforted, however, knowing that using Trazodone antidepressant or a natural remedy can bring desired relief from symptoms that may have been weighing you down.
Athlyn Green is an avid health enthusiast with an interest in natural remedies for treatment of health disorders. She has contributed to Trazodone Antidepressant, a section of http://www.beat-your-depression.com dedicated to natural treatments and prescription drug alternatives for this disorder.
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