Depressive disorders involve your body, mood, and thoughts. Your eating and sleeping patterns, feeling of self-worth, and mental outlook are affected by depressive disorders. These disorders are not to be mistaken with a passing blue mood. If you have a depressive illness you cannot merely “pull yourself together” and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. The longer they last, the more difficult they are to treat.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and ability to function. Bipolar disorder is much more severe than the ups and downs of mood that most people experience. A concern in the treatment of depression in patients with bipolar disease is the possibility that the patients will switch into mania. It is estimated that more than two million American adults have bipolar disorder.
Commonly Prescribed (On-Label) Drugs: Aripiprazole, Tegretol, Lamotrigine, Lithium, Olanzapine, Olanzapine/Fluoxetine, Valproic Acid, Ziprasidone
Off-Label Prescription Drugs Breakthrough Options: Bupropion, Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Gabapentin, Levetiracetam, Methylphenidate
Major depressive disorder (also called clinical depression and unipolar depression) is a condition in which you feel consistently sad for long periods of time. You do not take pleasure in activities you used to enjoy. You often have changes in your sleep pattern, loss of appetite, inability to concentrate, and forgetfulness. You feel worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Major depressive disorder is quite common. It has been estimated that 15% of the population experiences major depression at least once in their life.
Commonly Prescribed (On-Label) Drugs: None
Off-Label Prescription Drugs Breakthrough Options: Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Selegiline
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of major depressive disorder or the depressive part of bipolar disorder in which the depressive episodes occur at certain times of the year. SAD typically appears as winter depression, and you may experience depressive episodes starting in the fall and occurring through the winter; symptoms usually resolve by the spring and summer. Symptoms of SAD include depressed mood, lack of energy, increased sleep, and weight gain. As the hours of daylight decrease, SAD symptoms increase. Treatments for SAD include phototherapy (therapy with artificial light) and drugs.
Commonly Prescribed (On-Label) Drugs: None
Off-Label Prescription Drugs Breakthrough Options: Modafinil, Zoloft
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