Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

Medicine for Depression & Chronic Pain

According to Rachel Wurzman, M.S.; Wayne Jonas, M.D.; and James Giordano, Ph.D., more than 65 percent of individuals with chronic pain have a history of major depression, which is almost four times the rate of major depression in the general population. Medications are available that treat both chronic pain and depressive symptoms.

  1. Types of Medication

    • Two types of antidepressants are commonly used for treating chronic pain: tricyclics (TCAs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). TCAs include Elavil (amitriptyline), Tofranil (imipramine) and Anafranil (clomipramine). SNRIs include Effexor (venlafaxine) and Cymbalta (duloxetine).

    Types of Pain

    • Antidepressants are typically used to treat certain types of pain, including diabetic neuropathy, pain caused by shingles, tension headaches, migraines, fibromyalgia and lower back pain.

    Function

    • It is unclear what the exact role of TCAs and SNRIs are in treating chronic pain. However, TCAs and SNRIs increase levels of certain neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine and serotonin, that play a role in regulating mood.

    Side Effects

    • Common side effects of TCAs and SNRIs include fatigue, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, changes in blood pressure and gastrointestinal disturbances.

    Opiate Pain Medications

    • Opiate pain medications, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone, may cause depressive symptoms to become worse. These medications also have a high potential for abuse and may be used to "self-medicate" for depression.

    Warning

    • Discontinuation syndrome may result after discontinuing SNRIs after long-term use. Symptoms of discontinuation syndrome include dizziness, mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, "electric shock" sensations throughout the body, tremor and chills, and typically last for one to three weeks.

Related Searches:

References

Resources

You May Also Like

  • How to Change SSRI

    Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, known widely as SSRIs, treat the symptoms of depression in people with Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Spectrum Disorder...

  • Depression Medication and Chronic Pain

    Neurotransmitter levels affect both depression and pain. Antidepressants are beneficial for addressing depression and chronic pain. A lesser dose of the ...

  • Low Serotonin & Pain

    Low serotonin and pain often go hand in hand. The National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) reports individuals suffering serotonin-related depression commonly ...

  • Medications for Chronic Nerve Pain

    Nerve pain can be a serious medical condition and sometimes requires treatment by a physician. But luckily there are oral medications commonly...

  • Chronic Depression Medication

    Clinical depression is a treatable condition. Depression can be a chronic condition as mood episodes have a tendency to reoccur and can...

  • Pain Medication for Depression

    According to the Mayo Clinic, pain and depression are often closely associated. Depression may manifest physically as back pain or headaches. Depressed...

  • How to Switch From an SNRI to an SSRI

    Switching from a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor requires time and caution. Discontinuation of an serotonin ...

  • Depression Medication Basics

    Depression Medication Basics.Wadding through the sea of medications available for depression can overwhelm the strongest souls. You may have to try several...

  • Depression & Chronic Pain

    The link between depression and chronic pain has been studied heavily in recent years, with more and more people diagnosed with depression...

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured