Finding the right medication to treat depression can take some time. You can speed up this process by reading this article.
In this article I will discuss a very relevant and important topic:
Can You Take Nootropics With Antidepressants?
Let’s start…
What Are Depressive Disorders?
Depressive disorder is a chronic state of depressed mood, causing a loss of interest in life, the onset of apathy and decreased activity.
The causes of depression have not yet been fully established.
It is likely that heredity, neuroendocrine dysfunction, fluctuations in the level of neurotransmitters, and psychosocial phenomena play a role in the occurrence of depression.
Usually, depressive disorders are characterized by a variety of symptoms and manifestations, including:
Irritability, decreased intellectual-amnestic functions and volitional qualities, apathy, inability to perform previously freely performed actions, and many other manifestations.
To correct the condition, medication, psychotherapeutic and combined treatment is used.
The Differences of Nootropics and Antidepressants
| Nootropics | Antidepressants | |
| What is this? | Nootropics are the supplements that contain organic or synthetic active substances, as well as their derivatives, that stimulate the work of neurotransmitters. | Antidepressants are substances that affect the functioning of the central nervous system and, as the name implies, are mainly used in the treatment of depression. |
| How do they work? | Affects the metabolic processes in nerve cells, improves the blood supply to the central nervous system and, as a result, stimulates the integrative activity of the brain, i.e. memory, thinking and concentration. | Antidepressants ensure the maintenance of an acceptable concentration of neurotransmitters in the body, and prevent the formation of disorders of various spectrums.
Neurotransmitters are biologically active substances that have a significant impact on the functioning of the brain and the main body systems. The lack of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine leads to the development of depressive states. |
| For what? | Psychiatrists and psychotherapists can prescribe nootropics both as monotherapy and in combination with other psychotropic drugs.
For example, nootropics are prescribed in the treatment of neurosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depressive disorders and other mood disorders, schizophrenia. Some People are taking nootropics for improving cognitive performance and mood improvement. |
Antidepressants may be prescribed for a variety of conditions that include anxiety-depressive symptoms.
It can be depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder… |
Remember that antidepressants are potent drugs.
They require individual selection.
It is necessary to adhere to the dose and duration of administration. I strongly do not recommend taking antidepressants on your own, without a doctor’s prescription, even if you decide to resume taking after the previously prescribed treatment.
The effect of the drug is usually not felt immediately – between the start of taking and a noticeable improvement in the condition, at least 2-3 weeks should pass, although in the presence of a good mood, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel of hopelessness earlier.
There are also “fast” antidepressants. Their effect is noticeable 7 days after the start of therapy.
As for nootropics...
Previously, nootropics were only used to treat the elderly.
Recently, new technologies have been widely used in the treatment of: Alzheimer’s disease, pediatrics, concentration of attention, vegetovascular dystonia, developmental delay, mental fatigue and increased stress, attention deficit and many other areas of medicine.
The action of nootropics is cumulative, that is, accumulated, the same as of antidepressants.
Nootropics are drunk in courses, from several days to several weeks.
Therefore, it makes no sense to take a magic pill before an exam or taking an IQ test.
Can You Take Nootropics With Antidepressants?
Antidepressants are drugs aimed to treat depression and to improve mood.
Antidepressants are classified into categories depending on the mechanism of action, almost all of them block the breakdown of different types of monoamines, that is, the hormones of serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, phenylethylamine, since it is precisely the insufficient level of these hormones in the human brain for a long time that leads to depression.
To achieve a stable desired level of monoamines, a long complex treatment is necessary.
Antidepressants are usually prescribed along with nootropics.
While nootropics relieve signs of anxiety almost from the first use, antidepressants must accumulate in the body, and often their pronounced effects start in several weeks after the start of use.
As a rule, the standard course of taking antidepressants ranges from three months to six months.
Patients who are taking nootropics in combination with antidepressants, have the following results:
- Improved quality of life criteria, such as energy, vitality and social functioning
- A significantly greater antidepressant effect
- Reduced apathy
- Increased interest in the environment, streamlined emotional reactions
Nootropics in combination with antidepressants also can develop side effects in the form of irritability, anxiety, headache….
Do Nootropics Affect Antidepressants?
Nootropics work well with Antidepressants.
The combination of these 2 substances help the brain to create new neural connections with proven effectiveness and saturate the brain with serotonin.
Antidepressants can be used as nootropics.
But not every nootropic will help with depression.
So, at the same time, these are the drugs of two different areas of action.
But sometimes the effect of the nootropics may correspond to the effect of antidepressants.
For example, nootropic: psilocybin is used to treat depression.
If your symptoms of depression become more noticeable as soon as you take antidepressants with nootropics, or if you feel better at first and then suddenly get worse, this is a sign that the combination is not working properly. You need to contact your doctor immediately.
Do Nootropics Interact With Medications?
Nootropics work well with different nootropics, it is called a nootropic stack.
A nootropic stack is a specific combination of nootropic supplements.
Usually well organized nootropic stacks combine substances that work perfectly together.
The ingredients of nootropic stack will compliment each other and provide you with a double beneficial effect.
People prefer nootropic stacks more often because sometimes nootropic supplements that they want to get are not cheap, so nootropic stacks may be more useful and cheaper.
Remember that with prolonged use of nootropic stacks, there can be an irreversible change in the psyche and behavior. It can lead to a decrease in intelligence and chronic mental disorders – psychosis, depression.
As for Interactions of Nootropics with Medications it can be always dangerous, so better always consult with your doctor.
Final Words
Antidepressants in combination with nootropics can reduce the severity of clinical manifestations of depression, improve the quality of life and increase compliance in patients with depression.
Despite the fact that nootropics with antidepressants in the medical world are now very praised, you need to be careful with them.
Their effectiveness decreases with constant use, the body adapts to these substances.
This means that in the future, with serious depressive disorders this combination will no longer help.
In any case, before taking any nootropic and antidepressants together , read the contraindications, harming your health through your own stupidity is the worst thing.
And don’t forget to consult with your doctor before you start the course.
FAQ
What is The Danger of Antidepressants?
Side effects of antidepressants are most often limited to complaints of dry mouth, nausea, and drowsiness during the day.
Only in some cases are also observed phenomena of transient orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, headaches, and skin allergic reactions.
Can You Take a Lion’s Mane With Antidepressants?
Nowadays, there are no studies of Lion’s Man with Antidepressants.
Lion’s Mane is considered to be a natural antidepressant, a growth stimulator of nerve endings, it also relieves anxiety.
What Are The Side Effects of Nootropics?
One of the most common side effects is withdrawal. With a sharp withdrawal of nootropics, the body begins to suffer. The effect manifests itself in different ways: headache, dizziness, lethargy, irritability, insomnia, and so on.
Therefore, the course of many nootropics ends smoothly, even if the effect of them was not felt.
