In our everyday life we use the term depressed, but that is the normal state of mind when something goes wrong, or if things don't work according to your way.

In case of clinical depression, the individual suffers from intense sadness, melancholia or despair. In case of clinical depression these things are advanced at the extreme levels that finally result in the disruption of the social life of an individual.

Anti-depressants were first developed in the year 1950. From that time onwards they are successfully used by people. There are a number of anti-depressants. It can range to about thirty different varieties. But out of these thirty types, four are mainly used, namely the Trycyclics, the Monoamine oxidase inhibitor, the selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitor and the Serotonin and the Nor adrenaline reuptake inhibitors.

Treatment on depression is prescribed by the doctors today, but one has to find out the main reason behind depression. According to studies there are two main reasons that are responsible for depression. Physiological causes and the socio psychological causes.

When anti-depressants are taken, they increase the chemical activity in the brain, especially the neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters are responsible for passing the signal from one brain cell to another. Thus the use of anti-depressants can help the person to come out of depression.

Anti-depressants are used in case of moderate to severe depression, chronic pain, severe anxiety and panic attacks, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, post traumatic stress disorder. The intake of anti-depressants in some cases is useful and they definitely show their effect within a period of one to three months.

The use of anti-depressants is from a long time ago. The new tablets are better than the old anti-depressant tablets. This is because the new anti-depressant tablets if overdosed do not have any serious side effect. On the other hand, the old tablets are dangerous in cases where there is an overdose.

The medication of anti-depressants should be taken only when prescribed by the doctor. If a person is tempted into eating more tablets, he or she must immediately inform the doctor. Also one should wait till the medicine does its work. Last but not the least, they must be kept away from the reach of children.