And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 9:10 NKJV

The importance of praying about using medication cannot be stated enough. Pray about whether it is the right choice for you, pray for your doctor to have great wisdom in picking a medication, pray for understanding of the side effects and all you need to know to make an informed decision and pray that God would give you specific direction regarding His will for you.

There are many types of medications and I’m not going to go into all of them but I just want you to have some information about certain terms you will hear. I’m also not here to give you medical advice, simply to give you some information so that you can be more informed. Lets talk about medication by their categories and remembering one truth: medication is not a cure, it is one treatment option and should be approached prayerfully….and, longterm, it will only address about 10% of the feelings and emotions you are experiencing. Yes you may experience and initial lift but, longterm, the thought patterns will still need to be addressed as the “lift” can be short lived.

Chemical treatment for depression focuses on changing the brain’s levels of certain chemicals called neurotransmitters. While there are many, when dealing with depression the big three are Serotonin, Norepinephrine and Dopamine.

1. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s): Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that is referred to as a neurotransmitter. Imbalance of neurotransmitters (having too little or having too much) is believed to have an effect on mood and behavior. SSRI’s work by blocking serontonin from being reabsorbed thus increasing available levels in the brain. If SSRI’s are not dosed correctly (and it is a trial and error type of thing) the patient can begin to experience mania symptoms or serotonin syndrome.

SSRI’s must be taken for 2 to 4 weeks before you start to feel the positive effects but side effects are often immediate and may increase over time. Most common side effects are weight gain, sexual side effects, agitation, diarrhea, headaches and insomnia.

Common brand names are Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro and Paxil

2. Norepinephrin/Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor (NDRI): Only one medication falls into this class and that is Wellbutrin. Also marketed as Zyban for smoking cessation because it blocks the effects of nicotine. This medications works just like the SSRI’s except it focuses on 2 different neurotransmitters: norepinephrine and dopamine. It begins to take effect immediately but the first few weeks can be quite rough because the side effects of agitation and tremor (and sometimes diarrhea and headache) start immediately but they do fade over time.

Wellbutrin kind of works like a stimulant and as a result, you feel like you are on a stimulant. Heart rate is increased, blood pressure is higher and you feel a little shaky. Similar to the feeling of being on diet pills.

Most common side effects of Welbutrin include agitation, tremor, dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, migraines, and seizures.

3. Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI): You’re probably seeing a theme by now. This group also regulates neurotransmitters but it effects Serotonin and Norepinephrine. Serotonin and norepinephrine levels are increased because the medication blocks them from being reabsorbed. This group is also called “dual reuptake inhibtors”. As with SSRI’s, serotonin syndrome is a potential risk. Mania is as well but it isn’t as big an issue as it is with the SSRI’s.

There are 2 main SNRI’s on the market: Effexor and Cymbalta. Effects begin upon starting medication but may take a few weeks to reach the full benefit. Side effects begin immediately and may increase over time.

Common side effects of SNRI’s include dizziness, vomiting, insomnia, dry mouth, sexual side effects, agitation.

Overall, choosing medication will only be completely successful if you address your thought patterns. Try to work on your thought patterns without the medication, taking every thought captive and see how you do. If you have no ability to do this, absolutely none, then begin to pray about whether medication may help you get a bit more focus so that you can truly do the work of changing your thought patterns, fighting distorted thinking etc. In trade, you will also have to deal with the side effects.

In truth, there is no easy answer and I cannot tell you what to choose. You must pray about your depression, pray about renewing your mind and your thought patterns and pray about whether medication would help you or add to your burden. It really is a choice that you need to make while clinging to the Lord and His word.