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Tricyclic Antidepressant Medications

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Describe the side effects of Tricyclic Antidepressant medications. What is the difference between the clinical effect and side effect?

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This solution describes the side effects of Tricyclic Antidepressant medications, as well as the differences between the clinical effect and side effect.

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Describe the side effects of Tricyclic Antidepressant medications. What is the difference between the clinical effect and side effect?
Before we look at the side effects, let's look at the difference the clinical effect and side effect first. The difference between the two are that clinical effects are the effects that you are taking the drug for (i.e., alleviation of depression). In other words, you say that the drug has a clinical effect, for exmaple, when you notice that the signs of depression are no longer present or at least less than they were before taking the drug.
On the other hand, the side effects are the initial effects (i.e., tired, dry mounth etc. listed below) that a person ususally builds a tolerance for (meaning they et less over time or completely disappear) after a period of drug use.
The following information includes general information first, and then addresses the side effect (p. 3 below). I left the fact sheet in its entirety to further your understanding of this class of drugs and though you might find it helpful.
Tricyclic Antidepressants: Definition
Tricyclic antidepressants are medicines that relieve mental depression.
Purpose
Since their discovery in the 1950s, tricyclic antidepressants have been used to treat mental depression. Like other antidepressant drugs, they reduce symptoms such as extreme sadness, hopelessness, and lack of energy. Some tricyclic antidepressants are also used to treat bulimia, cocaine withdrawal, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, certain types of chronic pain, and bed-wetting in children.
Description
Named for their three-ring chemical structure, tricyclic antidepressants work by correcting chemical imbalances in the brain. But because they also affect other chemicals throughout the body, these drugs may produce many unwanted side effects.
Tricyclic antidepressants are available only with a physician's prescription and are sold in tablet, capsule, liquid, and injectable forms. Some commonly used tricyclic antidepressants are amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and protriptyline (Vivactil). Different drugs in this family have different effects, and physicians can choose the drug that best fits the patient's symptoms. For example, a physician might prescribe Elavil for a person with depression who has trouble sleeping, because this drug is more likely to make people feel calm and sleepy. Other tricyclic antidepressants might be more appropriate for depressed people with low energy.
Recommended dosage
The recommended dosage depends on many factors, including the patient's age, weight, general health and symptoms. The type of tricyclic antidepressant and its strength also must be considered. Check with the physician who prescribed the drug or the pharmacist who filled the prescription for the correct dosage.
Always take tricyclic ...

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