How can anti-depressants help in pain relief?

Anti-depressants are medications known to adjust the level of neurotransmitters, or natural chemicals, in the body. These adjustments can help to alleviate pain, and improve emotional conditions. These drugs can enhance the accessibility of indicators within the body that are responsible for inducing comfort and relaxation.  This in turn allows for chronic pain management for people whose bodies do not respond positively to general pain relief treatments.

Low-dose antidepressants can relive pain conditions resulting from headaches such as migraines, and menstrual pains. Some of the common anti-depressant medications include –Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac, Celexa, and Paxil; Tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil and Elavil; Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SSNRIs) such as Effexor.

These drugs are administered in small, steady doses to allow for building up in the body in order for them to work.

Anti-depressants usually have fewer long-term side-effects than with the use of other pain medications. Some of the most common side-effects with anti-depressants may include constipation and urinal difficulties. Fatigue, nausea, burry vision, and headache are also side-effects of anti-depressants.

Anti-depressants are generally used to treat depression, but have also shown to be effective for pain relief. However, antidepressants should be taken with doctor’s prescription, as it may not show satisfactory results with all kinds of pain.