Tranquilizers and antidepressants are classified as psychotropic substances. The difference between the groups of drugs is that tranquilizers have a depressant effect on the central nervous system (CNS) and, first of all, are medications for anxiety and fear, while antidepressants awaken the activity of the central nervous system (this is felt as revitalization) and treat depression.
It is also impossible to say which group of drugs is stronger due to the fact that they are intended to treat different pathologies. If a person has a mixed anxiety-depressive syndrome, then drugs of a mixed nature are chosen (Paroxetine, Chlorprothixene). It is also possible to combine drugs from different groups.
What are antidepressants?
Frequent stressful situations and a fast pace of life become a common cause of irritability and the occurrence of various phobias.
A group of pharmacological agents that alleviate or prevent the development of depression are antidepressants. Before their discovery, depression was treated with substances that cause euphoria (caffeine, opiates, ginseng, etc.).
Sometimes drugs are used to treat other pathologies, but in this case the effectiveness of their use decreases. The action consists of changing the level in the cells of the central nervous system:
- dopamine
- serotonin,
- norepinephrine.
For patients suffering from depression, they relieve apathy, increase interest in work, and improve their mood. They were called “good mood pills.” People who do not suffer from depression may not always feel this effect.
With the development of schizophrenia, it is prescribed along with antipsychotics. Taking any antidepressants can cause a decrease in sexual function, disruption of the heart and blood vessels.
Based on their clinical effects on the central nervous system, drugs are divided into:
- sedatives (have a calming effect, relieve anxiety, activate nervous processes);
- balanced (have a universal effect);
- activating (relieves apathy and inhibition).
According to the mechanism of action, drugs are divided into:
- TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants);
- MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors);
- SSRIs, SSRIs, SSRIs, SSRIs: selective serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
TCA
Tricyclic antidepressants are medications used to treat depression. They were the first in this category; modern medicine rarely uses them due to the large number of side effects.
They differ in their ability to increase the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine. Fixed assets from this group:
- Imipramine (Melipramine),
- Amitriptyline,
- Clomipramine,
- Mianserin.
MAOI
They are first generation antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors. They prevent the destruction of hormones, which helps to increase the amount of neurotransmitters and activate mental processes.
These remedies have many side effects, but they are effective and inexpensive. Representatives of this group are:
- Pearlindol,
- Moclobemide,
- Metralindole,
- Bethol.
Modern drugs of this class are able to inhibit only 1 type of enzyme. They have fewer unwanted effects and are called selective inhibitors.
SSRIs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are 3rd generation. Patients tolerate them relatively easily, and there are fewer contraindications and side effects (compared to MAOIs and TCAs). If you exceed the dosage, the danger is not so great (compared to other groups).
The greatest effect is achieved with severe depression. Minor and moderate depressive disorders do not produce this result. The effect occurs after treatment for 2-5 weeks.
Representatives of this class are:
- Paroxetine,
- Fluoxetine,
- Sertraline,
- Citalopram,
- Escitalopram,
- Fluvoxamine.
Antidepressants of different groups
Medicines belong to pharmacological groups that have differences. The chemical structure in this case is not particularly important; the main criterion is the mechanism of action.
There are differences between drugs from different groups:
- Each group has a different mechanism of action. When drugs from different groups interact with different substances in the central nervous system, a similar effect occurs, but the biochemical reactions occurring in the body are different.
- The transformations that drugs undergo in the body are different. Therefore, one drug may last longer than another. Some substances accumulate during treatment, others are eliminated quickly. This must be taken into account when choosing medications.
The mechanism of elimination is of great importance.
If excretion occurs through the urinary system, and the patient suffers from renal failure, the medicine will accumulate, causing kidney damage, and the risk of complications increases.
As a result of the peculiarities of the action on the body, the drug may cause an undesirable effect:
- Interactions between drugs and various substances occur in the body. When taken simultaneously, the effect on the body may be enhanced or weakened and produce unexpected results. The instructions indicate how the active substance interacts with other drugs.
- Each product has its own chemical structure. The patient may develop an allergic reaction. In this case, you need to consult a doctor to replace it with another medication.
- The properties of the drug depend on the chemical structure of the molecule. Therefore, each method has advantages and disadvantages.
Anticonvulsants
It is believed that anticonvulsants (ACs) are prescribed only for the treatment of epilepsy. This point of view is wrong. In neurology, AK is used for chronic pain syndromes, migraines, neuropathic pain, restless legs syndrome, and also as sedative therapy.
Today, anticonvulsants are used as preventive therapy for migraines. These drugs activate the endogenous pain suppression system and reduce the sensitivity of vascular wall receptors to pain.
Side effects when taking AK:
- drowsiness;
- weight gain;
- alopecia;
- dyspepsia;
- toxic effects of drugs on the liver and hematopoietic system.
The incidence of side effects of AK exceeds 10%. That is why the doctor makes the decision to take them based on a calculation of the benefits and risks to the patient’s health.
Contraindications for taking anticonvulsants:
- pregnancy;
- lactation;
- chronic liver and/or kidney failure.
What are tranquilizers?
These medications are prescribed for anxiety, fear, epilepsy, and other pathologies.
They have anti-anxiety and calming qualities, can have anticonvulsant and hypnotic effects, relax muscles, and muffle fear.
Their action is associated with the inhibition of brain structures that regulate the emotional state. Most tranquilizers are benzodiazepine derivatives.
Benzodiazepine drugs
The action is based on an increase in gamma-aminobutyric acid in the brain and a decrease in neuronal excitability. Benzodiazepines are available in pharmacies with a doctor's prescription.
Their sedative effect eliminates unwanted symptoms in some diseases. Each drug has its own trade name, but they are combined into groups. Apply:
- in anesthesiology,
- neurology,
- psychiatry.
Barbiturates
These drugs are derivatives of barbituric acid. After penetration into the nervous system, they have a depressing effect on the nerve centers and block their activity.
They can have hypnotic and sedative effects, the duration varies. They also have analgesic and anticonvulsant effects.
They are used under the supervision of a doctor, as they have many contraindications and unwanted effects. Exceeding the dosage can cause severe poisoning.
Prescribed for severe mental disorders, insomnia. For epilepsy it is used as an anticonvulsant. If there are problems, a specialist can prescribe:
- Librium (for neuroses, insomnia);
- Amutal (strong barbiturate);
- Phenobarbital (has a strong, long-lasting effect);
- Valium (is a mild tranquilizer).
What is the difference between medications?
Antidepressants and tranquilizers differ in that they belong to different pharmacological groups and have different effects on the central nervous system.
In most cases, tranquilizers have a pronounced sedative effect. They are capable of causing:
- apathy,
- drowsiness,
- decreased physical activity.
Their goal is to eliminate psychomotor agitation in aggressive patients; they prescribe drugs in small doses in short courses.
Antidepressants have more therapeutic effects. Only some drugs from this group have an effect similar to the effect of tranquilizers. The difference from each other is that they relieve symptoms of depression: they give strength and increase internal motivation.
The differences also lie in different chemical structures and interactions with other substances. Sometimes doctors prescribe taking medications from these 2 groups simultaneously.
Psychotherapy
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), based on research results, recognizes the treatment of headache within the cognitive-behavioral direction as more effective than medication, and therefore neurologists recommend psychotherapy as the main method. Medications are then prescribed as support to relieve symptoms. The IASP considers this combined approach to the treatment of chronic headaches to be optimal.
The cause of headaches is not cerebral vasospasm. The chronic course of the disease can be caused by emotional stress, imbalance of water in the body and diet, prolonged exposure to the sun and other personal risk factors. Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to identify these factors and correct their effect on the body.
These tasks are within the competence of a psychotherapist (not to be confused with a psychiatrist - a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders). His job is to change the patient's habits, which are a potential cause of chronic disorder, and to develop new systems of thinking. The psychotherapist's assistance in the treatment of chronic headaches is also aimed at teaching the patient relaxation techniques, which prevent repeated attacks of cephalalgia. This technique in the treatment of hypertension is more effective than medication.
Today there is no universal remedy for chronic head pain - the choice of treatment method for the disease and its effectiveness largely depend on the accuracy of diagnosis. Advanced diagnostics helps to obtain a complete picture of the disease. For this purpose, specialists from GUTA CLINIC and the Center for Neurosurgery named after Academician N.N. Burdenko has developed an exclusive comprehensive diagnostic program that makes it possible to determine with a high degree of accuracy the cause of head pain and the type of cephalgia. Contact us and see for yourself!
List of the best drugs
Best Antidepressants Without a Prescription (Herbal)
Some antidepressants have fewer unwanted effects. More often they have a weak therapeutic effect, so they can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription.
Such drugs include:
- Afobazole (has a mild antidepressant, anti-anxiety effect);
- Negrustin (anti-anxiety and antidepressant drug);
- Leuzea extract (improves appetite and mood, increases performance);
- tincture of ginseng (reduces fatigue, increases blood pressure and performance);
- Schisandra tincture (has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, increases blood pressure, improves vision);
- Persen (helps relieve irritability, relieve sleep disorders, increased nervous excitability);
- Novo-Passit (eliminates anxiety).
Medicines that can be purchased without a prescription help cope with neuroses, but they should not be taken for a long time and uncontrolled.
Products for depression
Natural antidepressants can be considered ordinary food products - of course, only natural and fresh. Such products contain substances that help the body maintain normal hormonal levels. Both “plant” and “animal” products will help cope with depression: fresh vegetables and fruits, berries and dried fruits, freshly squeezed juices, cottage cheese, kefir and other “fermented milk”, low-fat and mild cheese, eggs, fish and seafood; meat and offal – veal, turkey, chicken, liver; unrefined vegetable oils, “pure” chocolate, nuts and seeds. Among vegetable crops, cabbage (broccoli, white cabbage and cauliflower), peas, carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, parsley and dill are especially useful.
