All information in this report was copied directly from public web sites owned by the drug companies listed above. The Bonkers Institute for Nearly Genuine Research is not responsible for any inaccuracies, misleading claims, or blatant lies contained herein.

Celexa is an antidepressant from the family of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs.   Celexa helps to restore the brain's chemical balance by increasing the supply of a chemical messenger in the brain called serotonin.

Although the brain chemistry of depression is not fully understood, there does exist a growing body of evidence to support the view that people with depression have an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters.   These are chemicals in the brain that allow nerve cells to communicate. One of these neurotransmitters is serotonin.   An imbalance in serotonin may be an important factor in the development of depression.

The most frequent side effects reported with Celexa are nausea, dry mouth, drowsiness, insomnia, increased sweating, tremor, diarrhea, and problems with ejaculation.   Adverse events occurring in 2% or more among Celexa patients: dry mouth, sweating increased; tremor; nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia, vomiting, abdominal pain; fatigue, fever; arthralgia, myalgia; somnolence, insomnia, anxiety, anorexia, agitation, dysmenorrhea1, libido decreased, yawning; upper respiratory tract infection; rhinitis, sinusitis, ejaculation disorder, impotence.

Understanding Depression

Many researchers believe depression is caused by an imbalance of two naturally-occurring chemicals – serotonin and norepinephrine – in the brain and the body.   In the brain, these two chemicals are thought to be associated with mood.   These same chemicals are thought to be associated with regulating and reducing feelings of pain that come from the body.   If these chemicals are out of balance, the effect can be felt in both the brain and body.

There are many theories about the cause of depression.   One of the most commonly accepted theories suggests that depression is caused by an imbalance in naturally occurring chemicals, such as serotonin and norepinephrine.

How Cymbalta Works

Cymbalta is believed to help restore the balance of two of the body's naturally occurring chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine.   Restoring this balance may help relieve both the emotional and painful physical symptoms of depression.

In clinical studies for Cymbalta used for depression, the most common side effects were nausea, dry mouth, constipation, decreased appetite, fatigue, sleepiness, and increased sweating.   Adverse events that occurred in 2% or more of patients treated with Cymbalta: nausea, dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting; appetite decreased; weight decreased; fatigue; dizziness, somnolence, tremor; sweating increased; hot flushes, eye disorders, vision blurred; insomnia, anxiety, libido decreased, orgasm abnormal; erectile dysfunction, ejaculation delayed, ejaculatory dysfunction.

What causes depression?

Although the exact causes of depression are unknown, it may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain.   Serotonin and norepinephrine are 2 chemicals used by some nerve cells to communicate.   These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, are thought to be linked to depression.   Therefore, medications that affect these neurotransmitters may play a role in treating depression..

A person may experience symptoms of depression suddenly, for no apparent reason, or after a life-changing event or medical illness.   Some types of depression run in families, suggesting that a biological vulnerability can be inherited.

How Effexor XR works

Effexor XR is known as an SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor).   It is believed to help treat depression by affecting the levels of 2 chemicals in the brain - serotonin and norepinephrine.   Correcting the imbalance of these 2 chemicals may help relieve symptoms of depression..

Although the exact causes of these conditions are unknown, they may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain.   Therefore, medications that affect this chemical imbalance may play a role in treating these disorders.

Symptoms are known to occur when people stop using Effexor XR.   These symptoms include agitation, anxiety confusion, nervousness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, muscle twitching, tremors, sweating, headaches, unpleasant mood, hypomania, insomnia, nightmares, somnolence, seizures and sensory disturbances including electric shock sensations.

Adverse events occurring in 5% or more among Effexor XR patients and at a rate at least twice that of the placebo group: abnormal ejaculation, orgasmic dysfunction, impotence, libido decreased, yawn, nausea, dry mouth, anorexia, anxiety, nervousness, dizziness, somnolence, abnormal dreams, tremor, sweating, constipation, and abnormal vision.   Adverse events occurring in 2% or more of patients treated with Effexor XR where the incidence was greater than placebo: asthenia (loss of strength and energy), vasodilatation, hypertension, vomiting, flatulence, depression, paresthesia (sensation of numbness, burning, tingling or creeping on the skin), agitation, pharyngitis, hypertonia (muscle tension or spasticity), headache, flu, accidental injury, abdominal pain, palpitation, diarrhea, eructation (belching), weight loss, twitching, and sinusitis.   Other adverse events occurring on one or more occasions in at least 1% of patients treated with Effexor XR include: chest pain, chills, fever, neck pain, migraine, postural hypotension, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), increased appetite, ecchymosis (skin discoloration), edema, weight gain, arthralgia, amnesia, confusion, depersonalization (feeling like one is in a dream or detached from reality), hypesthesia (partial loss of sensitivity to sensory stimuli), abnormal thinking, trismus (lock jaw), vertigo, cough, dyspnea (shortness of breath), pruritus (itching), abnormality of accommodation (blurred vision), mydriasis (dilation of the pupil), taste perversion, prostatitis, enlarged prostate, prostate irritability, and impaired urination.

Tell your health care professional right away if you have signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome, which may include a combination of the following: restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, fast heartbeat, increased body temperature, fast changes in blood pressure, overactive reflexes, diarrhea, coma, nausea, and vomiting.   Tell your health care professional right away if you have sudden, unexpected eye pain, eye redness, or changes in vision.   Some people should not take Effexor XR.

What causes depression?

While many things may contribute to depression, the exact cause is not fully understood.   It is thought to involve an imbalance of naturally occurring chemicals in the brain.   These chemicals are called neurotransmitters and they help nerve cells communicate with each other by sending messages.

Neurotransmitters are released into gaps between nerve cells – called synapses – to help nerve messages travel from cell to cell.   If not enough of the neurotransmitters are available, certain nerve messages will not be properly communicated.   When someone is depressed, the nerve cells cannot communicate effectively.   This is thought to result in feelings of sadness, disinterest, and other symptoms of depression.

How Is Emsam Thought to Work?

In order to understand how Emsam may provide relief for your depression, it is helpful to have some familiarity with brain chemistry.   The brain chemicals (also called neurotransmitters) norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin have long been thought to play a role in the development and treatment of depression.   Emsam is considered to work in treating depression by reducing the activity of 2 enzymes, MAO-A and MAO-B, in the brain.

When these enzymes are inhibited, there may be enhanced activity of 3 brain chemicals (norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin).   This may improve your depressive symptoms.   You should know that it is not fully understood how MAOIs or any antidepressants really work to treat depression.

Common side effects you may experience with Emsam: headache, difficulty sleeping, diarrhea, dry mouth, indigestion, rash, sore throat, and sinus infection.   Adverse events that occurred at an incidence of 1% or more among patients who received Emsam: headache, chest pain, neck pain; hypertension; diarrhea, dyspepsia, constipation, flatulence, anorexia, gastroenteritis, vomiting; ecchymosis; peripheral edema; myalgia, pathological fracture; insomnia, dry mouth, agitation, paresthesia, abnormal thinking, amnesia; pharyngitis, sinusitis, cough increased, bronchitis; rash, pruritus, sweating, acne; taste perversion, tinnitus; urinary tract infection, urinary frequency, dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia.   There are no studies specifically looking at sexual dysfunction with Emsam.   The actual incidence of sexual side effects may be higher than what is stated in product labeling.

Understanding Depression

Depression: a disease that affects millions of Americans each year, believed to be caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters.

Whatever the circumstances, depression is caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain.   Normally, these "chemical messengers" help nerve cells communicate with one another by sending and receiving messages.   They may also influence a person's mood.   In the case of depression, the available supply of the chemical messengers is low, so nerve cells can't communicate effectively.

How Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate) Works

Lexapro is from the family of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs.   Lexapro helps to restore the brain's chemical balance by increasing the supply of a chemical messenger in the brain called serotonin.   Lexapro appears to relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety by increasing serotonin with minimal effect on many of the other chemicals in the brain.

The brain chemistry of depression and anxiety is not fully understood.   However, a growing body of evidence supports the view that people with these disorders have an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters.   These are chemicals in the brain that allow nerve cells to communicate.   One of these neurotransmitters is serotonin.   An imbalance in serotonin may be an important factor in the development of depression and anxiety.

The most frequent side effects reported with Lexapro are nausea, insomnia, problems with ejaculation, somnolence, increased sweating, fatigue, decreased libido, and anorgasmia (the inability of a person to ever achieve an orgasm while having sexual intercourse).   Adverse events occurring in 1% or more of patients treated with Lexapro: palpitation, hypertension; dry mouth, sweating increased, dizziness, light-headed feeling, migraine; nausea, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, abdominal pain, heartburn, abdominal cramp, gastroenteritis; influenza-like symptoms, fatigue, allergy, pain in limb, fever, hot flushes, chest pain; increased weight; arthralgia, myalgia; insomnia, somnolence, appetite decreased, libido decreased, appetite increased, lethargy, irritability, impaired concentration; menstrual cramps, menstrual disorder; rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, sinus congestion, coughing, nasal congestion, sinus headache; rash; blurred vision, tinnitus; ejaculation disorder, impotence, anorgasmia, urinary frequency, urinary tract infection.

Disorders like depression may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.   One such chemical is serotonin, which helps send electrical signals from one nerve cell to another.   In the process, serotonin is released from one nerve cell (the sender) and travels to the next (the receiver), where it is either absorbed or returns back to the original sender cell.   When a person suffers from depression, there could be a problem with the balance of serotonin and this may affect cell-to-cell communication.
Depression can be treated and you can feel better.   Some people find comfort just by learning depression is a medical condition.

Paxil CR helps regulate the balance of a chemical called serotonin (a natural substance that acts as a "messenger" between nerve cells in the brain).

Paxil CR is FDA-approved as safe and effective for the treatment of depression and panic disorder.   The exact cause of these conditions is not completely understood.   Research has shown that depression and panic disorders could be linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain.

A common side effect of Paxil CR is nausea.   Other side effects may include injury, infection, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, sleepiness, weakness, dry mouth, insomnia, dizziness, tremor, yawning, sweating, abnormal vision and sexual side effects.   Adverse events that occurred in 1% or more among patients treated with Paxil CR: headache, asthenia, infection, abdominal pain, back pain. trauma, pain, allergic reaction; tachycardia, vasodilatation; nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, constipation, flatulence, decreased appetite, vomiting; somnolence, insomnia, dizziness, libido decreased, tremor, hypertonia , paresthesia, agitation, confusion; yawn, rhinitis, increased cough, bronchitis; sweating, photosensitivity; abnormal vision, taste perversion; abnormal ejaculation, female genital disorder, impotence, urinary tract infection, menstrual disorder, vaginitis.

Sometimes depression appears to have no trigger.   While depression is not fully understood, a growing amount of evidence supports the view that people with depression may have an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters, the chemicals that allow nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other.   Many scientists believe that an imbalance in serotonin, one of these neurotransmitters, may be an important factor in the development and severity of depression.   When a person suffers from depression, there may be a problem with the balance of the serotonin system.

How Prozac Works

Depression is not fully understood, but a growing amount of evidence supports the view that people with depression have an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters, the chemicals that allow nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other.   Many scientists believe that an imbalance in serotonin, one of these neurotransmitters, may be an important factor in the development and severity of depression.   Prozac may help to correct this imbalance by increasing the brain's own supply of serotonin.

No one can stay upbeat and positive all the time; it's natural to have bad days.
However, if you are having more bad days than good ones, talk with your doctor.

Side effects that people taking Prozac experience most include nausea, difficulty sleeping, drowsiness, anxiety, nervousness, weakness, loss of appetite, tremors, dry mouth, sweating, decreased sex drive, impotence, and yawning.   Adverse events reported by at least 1% of patients taking Prozac: headache, asthenia, flu syndrome, fever, chest pain, chills; vasodilatation, hemorrhage, hypertension, palpitation; nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, dry mouth, dyspepsia, constipation, flatulence, vomiting, increased appetite; weight loss, weight gain; insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, somnolence, dizziness, tremor, decreased libido, abnormal thinking, agitation, amnesia, confusion, emotional lability, sleep disorder; yawn; sweating, rash, pruritus; abnormal vision, ear pain, taste perversion, tinnitus; urinary frequency.

What Causes Depression

Depression is thought to be caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals.   It can happen on its own, but can also be triggered by a stressful or traumatic event.   The good news is that depression can be successfully treated.

Whatever its cause, depression is not just a state of mind. It is related to physical changes in the brain, and connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries signals in your brain and nerves. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters.

Kareema and Phyllis were surprised to find out how many other people suffer from depression.

The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells called neurons.   These neurons send and receive messages from the rest of your body, using brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. These brain chemicals -- in varying amounts -- are responsible for our emotional state.   Depression happens when these chemical messages aren't delivered correctly between brain cells, disrupting communication.

Think of a telephone: if your phone has a weak signal, you may not hear the person on the other end. Their communication is muted or unclear.   The good news is that there are many forms of treatment that can help you cope with depression, including medications that can strengthen weak signals by raising the levels of certain neurotransmitters, or by improving the neurons' ability to process signals. This ensures that the brain's vital messages are delivered -- loud and clear.

How Wellbutrin XL Works

Research suggests that depression may be caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.   Scientists believe that Wellbutrin XL helps balance the levels of two of these neurotransmitters called dopamine and norepinephrine.

The most common side effects with Wellbutrin XL are weight loss, loss of appetite, dry mouth, skin rash, sweating, ringing in the ears, shakiness, stomach pain, agitation, anxiety, dizziness, trouble sleeping, muscle pain, nausea, fast heartbeat, sore throat, and urinating more often.   Adverse events that occurred in at least 1% of patients treated with Wellbutrin: headache, infection, abdominal pain, asthenia, chest pain, pain, fever; palpitation, flushing, migraine, hot flashes; dry mouth, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, anorexia, vomiting, dysphagia; myalgia, arthralgia, arthritis, twitch; insomnia, dizziness, agitation anxiety, tremor, nervousness, somnolence, irritability, decreased memory, paresthesia; pharyngitis, sinusitis, increased cough; sweating, rash, pruritus, urticaria; tinnitus, taste perversion, blurred vision; urinary frequency, urinary urgency, vaginal hemorrhage, urinary tract infection.

Causes of Depression

The exact cause of depression isn't clear.   No one is sure why some people get depressed and others don't.   Sometimes depression seems to happen because of a stressful event.   Sometimes it seems to happen for no reason at all.   Genes could play a role.   People whose blood relatives have had depression are more likely to have it, too.   However, not everyone who has a relative with depression is going to develop it.

Today, it's widely understood that depression is a serious medical condition.   Scientists believe that it could be linked with an imbalance of a chemical in the brain called serotonin.   If this imbalance happens, it can affect the way people feel.

How Zoloft Works

Scientists believe people with depression could have an imbalance of serotonin in their brain.   That means the level of serotonin is "off."   So the nerve cells can't communicate, or send messages to each other the right way.   This lack of contact between cells might cause depression.   Zoloft helps fix this.   Zoloft helps the nerve cells send messages to each other the way they normally should.

Watch the animation of how Zoloft works to correct this imbalance of serotonin levels in the brain.

Myths and Facts About Depression

Myth: Antidepressants are habit-forming and will change your personality.

Fact: Antidepressants are not habit-forming.   They don't turn you into a different person.   They make you feel more like yourself again.

The most common Zoloft side effects are dry mouth, insomnia, sexual side effects, diarrhea, nausea, and sleepiness.   Adverse events reported by at least 1% of patients taking Zoloft: ejaculation failure, mouth dry, sweating increased, impotence; palpitations, chest pain; somnolence, dizziness, headache, paresthesia, tremor, hypertonia, hypoesthesia; rash, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, appetite increased; fatigue, back pain, asthenia, malaise, weight increase; myalgia; agitation, anxiety, insomnia,libido decreased, nervousness, yawning, other male sexual dysfunction, other female sexual dysfunction; rhinitis; vision abnormal, tinnitus.

Fair Use Notice
This site contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner.   The Bonkers Institute for Nearly Genuine Research is making such material available to increase public awareness of scientific, medical, economic, social, political, ethical, moral and philosophical issues, thereby constituting a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.   In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those interested in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.   Anyone wishing to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of their own that go beyond fair use must obtain permission from the copyright owner.