Book Review: Understanding Antidepressants

One in five Americans will have a major depressive episode in their lives and many will seek help from a mental health provider, which may include treatment with medication. As with all medication, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan when it comes to antidepressants. The terminology alone is confusing. There are SSRIs, tricyclics, and other drugs that have off-label uses. For those who take antidepressants, it is a challenge to find the right one. Some work better than others for individuals, and family members may not understand why it is difficult to find something that “works.” In Understanding Antidepressants, Wallace B. Mendelson, MD, uses a format understandable to the lay reader to provide a basic overview of the currently available antidepressants. He starts with an overview of how these medications work before discussing the different classes of antidepressants. Some of this first chapter on how drugs work may go over the heads of some readers who do not have a knack for science. Mendelson identifies the different receptors in our brains and explains how they respond to the chemicals that are in antidepressants. He also includes some history of the different classes of antidepressants for readers who want to dig a little deeper. Throughout the book, he primarily mentions the generic names for medications, which may be difficult for the lay reader to follow. For example, most people are probably not familiar with fluoxetine, but everyone has heard of Proz...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Antidepressants Book Reviews Depression Disorders General Medications Psychology Treatment book on antidepressants understanding antidepressants Source Type: news