Alternative Medication

Alternatives to 'traditional' medication
News on meds

Alternatives to 'traditional' medication

This page will look at any alternatives to the medications included in the 7 'traditional' classifications of anti-depressants. Although the word alternative may conjure up natural remedies, and some may be natural, here it is purely an alternative in the basic sense of the word.

Again, this is not intended to get technical, if this interests you then you may wish to check out the online resources section for websites that do explain how the brain works, what chemicals are affected and how individual medications work to help correct any imbalance.

As jfo is a worldwide site and brand names vary, all medication will be referred to by its generic name.

Skip to: St Johns Wort Tryptophan Homoeopathy Lithium ECT

St Johns Wort

Traditional anti-depressants require a prescription but St Johns Wort is a herbal remedy that may be bought over the counter in health shops. The active ingredient is called Hypericum Perforatum and the extract is thought to work similarly to traditional anti-depressants.

St Johns Wort is undergoing further studies for effectiveness, past studies suggest that it is effective for mild to moderate depression and has few side effects compared to traditional anti-depressants.

St Johns Wort can be used for many things including depression, anxiety, concentration, dysthymia and sleep disturbances. Side effects can include sensitivity to light, dry mouth, nausea/vomiting, headache, constipation.

Although it is a herbal remedy and a prescription is not needed, you should consult your doctor before taking it if you are taking other medication, especially traditional anti-depressants.

Tryptophan

Tryptophan is an 'essential' amino acid and a key ingredient in making serotonin, the lack of which is linked to depression. Increased tryptophan can bring feelings of calm, relaxation, and sleepiness and is thought to have an effect on mood, memory and sociability. There are many foods that contain higher levels of tryptophan but dietary supplements may be the only way to ensure a high enough concentration to make a difference.

It has to be cautioned that the FDA banned all tryptophan supplement imports following problems in Japan. The part played by tryptophan is unknown as any negative effect may have been masked by the blamed impurities in the supplements. Recent studies however, have shown unexpected benefits in social behaviour, decreasing aggression and irritability.

Homoeopathy

Doctors are very willing to dish out smarties (read 'traditional' medicines, aka prescribed medicines) and in many cases they may be needed. But are there more natural alternatives that are as effective for those who wish to try? St Johns Wort is one that can be used for mild to moderate depression, homoeopathy may be another alternative.

In the UK, a referral to a homoeopath is possible on the NHS in some areas, although it would still depend on your own GP and whether they believed in it. Would someone let me know the position in other countries so that I can report on it here please? Clinical research into the effectiveness is still preliminary but trials are happening in the US.

Traditional anti-depressants would treat your depression, whereas homoeopathy is a system that treats the whole person. An assessment with a qualified homeopath would consider both your mental and bodily types, as well as the symptoms of the disease. It works on the principle of 'like cures like'.

Where St Johns Wort cannot be taken with some traditional medicines, homoeopathy can. For this reason, it is a 'complementary' medicine and not an 'alternative'. (Homoeopathy will feature in both alternative and complementary pages in jfo for ease).

The remedies are substances diluted to 1/100th in alcohol or water. It is not known why something so diluted can work but it has been suggested that water has a memory. Remedies can be prescribed by homoeopaths or bought over the counter in some pharmacies and health shops.

If you do a search on the internet, you may wish to try both spelling variations used: homoeopathy and homeopathy.

Lithium

Lithium is not an anti-depressant but is classed as a mood stabiliser. The first thing that comes into most peoples head is Manic Depression or Bipolar Disorder as it is known. Generally, it is not known that Lithium is also used to treat very severe depression where other medication has failed.

It may be used on its own or more commonly with another anti-depressant to augment, or boost, the effect of the anti-depressant. Augmentation is explained more in the page dealing with Treatment Resistant Depression.

Even though Lithium has been around for a very long time, no one knows how it works. It is very effective and usually stops the mood swings completely or reduces the severity. Despite potential difficulties with lithium treatment, it is still the best medication for stabilising mood in most people and has a preventative effect if taken in the medium to long term. Lithium is usually prescribed by a psychiatrist.

Like traditional anti-depressants, it is not addictive but care should be taken when coming off it, for reasons of withdrawal and relapse. Initial side effects can include a dry mouth, metallic taste and slight shakiness, longer term common effects are thirst and passing urine more, weight gain or thyroid problems. It can take between several weeks and up to two years to reach its full effect.

Regular blood tests are needed to ensure that the correct (and stable) blood lithium levels are maintained for it to work effectively. Liver and thyroid functions will also be checked regularly, thyroid can be permanently damaged by long term use.

Care must be taken that the lithium level is correct or lithium toxicity can occur. This can be dangerous, some severe side effects may be experienced, which is a warning sign.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Like Lithium, ECT has been used for many years and the exact way it works is not known. It is known though, that people who suffer with epilepsy and depression experience improvements in their depression shortly after a seizure. It is thought that ECT works in the same way.

ECT is controversial but it may be the best course of treatment for some patients whose depression is life-threatening. Those who undergo the treatment are given a general anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant and then subjected to electrical pulses to induce carefully controlled seizures. It sounds barbaric but it is so effective for some that the side effects are tolerable.

Side effects include memory loss, initial confusion on waking, impaired learning for some weeks after treatment and headaches. Brain damage has not been proven, brain damage is also not an issue for those with epilepsy. Don't forget that side effects have to be weighed with the effect of the depression and for anyone needing to consider ECT, their depression is so severe that suicide is a real risk.

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