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Tricyclic Antidepressants Are Still A Good Choice For Treating
By LeeAnna, Tue Jan 10th

Tricyclic antidepressants is one of the more popular drugs usedto fight depression in people today. Known as the "firstgeneration" antidepressants because Tricyclic antidepressantswere the first medications to come into use in the 1950's totreat depression. They are still one of the better drugs totreat not only depression but have been found to treat chronicpain also. None of the Tricyclic antidepressants have beenapproved by the government to be used for chronic pain; they areone of the basic treatments for pain even when no depression isinvolved. These antidepressants seem to work effectively for theburning or searing pain common after nerve damage which mayoccur with shingles, diabetes, and strokes. This medication canonly be prescribed by your doctor, only he or she knows yourspecific condition and would be able to tell you if using thisdrug is a good idea for you to use. There are some side effectsthat come with this drug however, most people claim it's a"slight nuisance."

It is not fully understood why Tricyclic antidepressants work sowell on killing pain. The theory is that these type ofantidepressants increase neurotransmitters in the spinal cordthat reduces pain signals. However, Tricyclic antidepressants donot work immediately and you may have to take them for severalweeks before they start reducing pain. The good thing aboutusing Tricyclic antidepressants is they are not addicting orcause people to become dependant on them but they do have theability to make you drowsy at first. Your doctor will probablyprescribe them for you to take at night before you go to bed.Side affects can be anything from causing dry mouth, sleepiness,constipation and weight gain, difficulty with urination, andchanges in blood pressure. To reduce side effects, your doctorwill probably start you on a low dose and increase dosage untilthe one that is right for you is achieved.

Other side effects you will want to watch out for are dizziness,lightheadedness, and fainting may occur, especially when gettingup from a sitting or lying position, it's recommended to riseslowly when getting up. Tricyclic antidepressants may cause yourskin to be more sensitive to sunlight than normal. Be aware ofhow long you are out in strong sunlight when you first startthis medication until you know if it will have an adverse affecton your skin. Getting to much exposure from the sun may cause askin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration; even serversunburn may be an adverse affect from this medication. It issuggested that one stay out of the sunlight during the hours of10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. if possible. Be sure to apply a good sunblock to exposed areas of skin when taking Tricyclicantidepressants , with at least a SPF of 15, and for fair skin asun block with a higher SPF rating. Be sure to discuss thesetypes of topics and any others you may have a concern about withyour doctor before you start taking any medication. You wantyour medication to work for you so it will help you get well.