"If you are taking any kind of medication, you should tell your dentist," Keene tells WebMD. People taking antidepressants may need a stricter dental program including more frequent brushing and flossing, he says. Atlanta-area dentist Thomas Kauffman, DDS, says his patients are taking more and more medications -- including antidepressants.
Full Answer
How are antidepressants used in dentistry?
General Dentistry: Dental Management of the Patient with Major Depressive Disorder. The tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline and desipramine) exert their effect by preventing presynaptic neurones from reabsorbing (blocking re-uptake) noradrenaline and serotonin from the synaptic cleft for recycling.
How to choose the right dental treatment for depression?
The selected dental treatment requires not only a higher degree of care and consideration toward the depressed patient, but also a skillful choice of therapeutic agents administered in order to avoid undesirable interactions between medicines.
How many antidepressants are you taking that could be harming your teeth?
They report their findings in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. They found that more than one in five patients was taking at least one kind of antidepressant. Why is this a dental problem? More than half of these patients were taking two or more drugs that can cause dry mouth.
How is major depressive disorder (MDD) treated in dentistry?
General Dentistry: Dental Management of the Patient with Major Depressive Disorder. Thus the concentrations of these two neurotransmitters are elevated and neuronal activity is enhanced. The MAOIs are reserved for those whose depression has been refractory to a course of TCAs, SSRIs or the “other” antidepressants.
Can dentists take antidepressants?
These drugs can have dangerous interactions with common ingredients of dental nerve-numbing drugs. And patients taking some antidepressants and other drugs may develop low blood pressure when they are lying down. They might get dizzy during prolonged dental work, leading to falls when they try to get up.
What precautions should be taken with antidepressants?
Driving and operating machinery. Some antidepressants can cause dizziness, drowsiness and blurred vision, particularly when you first start taking them. If you do experience these problems, you should not drive or use tools and machinery.
Which side effect of SSRI medications would be of most concern for a dentist?
The most common adverse effects of SSRIs include nausea, diarrhea, headache, jitteriness, insomnia, fatigue and sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction (including decreased libido, impaired arousal and anorgasmia) is a common adverse effect and affects a significant number of patients treated.
What is the preferred first line treatment for antidepressants?
Main Points. Consider sertraline and escitalopram as first-line agents for initial treatment of major depression in adults. The least tolerated antidepressants in this study were bupropion, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and duloxetine.
Can you take antibiotics with antidepressants?
Most often, there's something interfering with the effects of the antidepressant drug. Other medications -- such as steroids or antibiotics -- can interact with and blunt the impact of an antidepressant.
Can I drink coffee while taking antidepressants?
Interactions with food and drink The SSRI, fluvoxamine, is also known to enhance the effects of caffeine, so people who drink large amounts of caffeine may experience unpleasant symptoms such as heart palpitations, feeling sick, restlessness and insomnia.
Can antidepressants cause teeth issues?
In terms of a link to antidepressants, dry mouth can lead to inflammation and gum disease which in turn can potentially lead to receding gums. Teeth grinding can also cause the gums to recede.
What helps dry mouth from antidepressants?
Dry mouth is a common side effect of many antidepressants....Consider these strategies:Sip water regularly or suck on ice chips.Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy.Avoid tobacco, alcohol and caffeinated beverages because they can make your mouth drier.Breathe through your nose, not your mouth.More items...
Can antidepressants cause oral thrush?
This may occur as a side-effect from certain medicines (such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, chemotherapy medicines). It may also occur following radiotherapy to the head or neck, or as a symptom of Sjögren's syndrome.
Which class of antidepressant medications do not block reuptake?
Tetracyclics are another class of antidepressant with drugs such as amoxapine ( Asendin), maprotiline (Ludiomil), and mirtazapine (Remeron). Although it affects neurotransmitters, Remeron doesn't prevent reuptake in the same way.
What's the safest antidepressant?
Among the newer antidepressants, bupropion and venlafaxine were associated with the highest case fatality rates. In addition, among SSRIs, citalopram and fluvoxamine appeared to be related to higher mortality rates in overdose, whereas fluoxetine and sertraline were the safest [188].
What is the second line treatment for depression?
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors are considered second line due to tolerability and safety issues. Other adjunctive medications include atypical antipsychotics, lithium, adding a second antidepressant, buspirone, and thyroid hormone (T3) among others.
What is the therapeutic guidelines for dental and dental 6?
Therapeutic Guidelines: Oral and Dental 6 recommends that before treatment patients should have a dental check-up followed by treatment of any active dental disease. Instruction in oral hygiene (and denture hygiene if dentures are used) should be given.
What is the best treatment for dry mouth?
Therapeutic and preventive strategies are recommended to manage the oral and dental effects of dry mouth. Dental management involves the use of products that promote remineralisation of the teeth as a means of preventing caries.
What drugs cause dry mouth?
Other drugs associated with dry mouth include antihistamines, anticholinergics, antihypertensives and antipsychotics. These drugs may cause salivary gland hypofunction, or may alter the threshold for the perception of dry mouth or they may do both. 1 Older patients appear to be more at risk of a drug-induced dry mouth, ...
Can sugarless gum stimulate saliva flow?
Chewing of sugarless gum or CPP-ACP gum to stimulate saliva flow may be helpful . Therapeutic Guidelines: Oral and Dental 6 contains practical advice for patients with dry mouth and advises patients to avoid acidic beverages such as wine, fruit juices, soft drinks and sports drinks.
How to prevent dry mouth?
Kauffman and Keene agree that dry mouth is indeed a problem that must be taken seriously. Keene suggests several ways to prevent dry mouth: 1 Practice better home dental care. 2 Drink more water. 3 Use a fluoride application. 4 Schedule more frequent dental visits.
Can antidepressants cause low blood pressure?
And patients taking some antidepressants and other drugs may develop low blood pressure when they are lying down. They might get dizzy during prolonged dental work, leading to falls when they try to get up. Most of these side effects are seen with the older types of depression drugs called tricyclic antidepressants.
Do you have to tell your dentist about antidepressants?
Doctors often prescribe these drugs for other conditions such as some forms of pain. "If you are taking any kind of medication, you should tell your dentist," Keene tells WebMD. People taking antidepressants may need a stricter dental program including more frequent brushing and flossing, he says.
Does Keene recommend a saliva substitute?
Keene suggests that patients might consider using a saliva substitute, but both he and Kauffman are reluctant to prescribe saliva-stimulating drugs. For patients who have low blood pressure as a side effect of their medications, Keene recommends: Shorter dental visits.
What should a dentist do to overcome barriers?
In order to overcome such barriers and obtain necessary information, the dentist should display a supportive, non-judgmental attitude and advise their patients that such information will be held confidential and is indispensable to the provision of safe dental care.
Why are MAOIs used in antidepressants?
MAOIs prevent the gut wall and liver from inactivating exogenous amines (e.g. tyramine found in aged cheeses, meats, and red wine).
What is the best treatment for xerostomia?
Artificial salivary products, antiseptic mouthwash, and a 0.05% sodium fluoride mouthrinse are prescribed for many patients with signs of xerostomia. Dental treatment should consist of subgingival scaling, root planing and curettage, caries control, application of fluoride gel, and dental restorations.
Does bupropion block serotonin?
A third group, known as the “other” antidepressants consists of a heterogeneous collection of medications which exert their effects through varied mechanisms. Bupropion’s exact antidepressant mechanism remains illusive, however it does weakly block the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.
Can depression cause periodontitis?
Individuals who report a great number of signs associated with depression are also prone to suffer periodontitis.49-52 It is hypothesized that neglect of oral hygiene, xerostomia, increase in smoking and altered immune response facilitate increased colonization by pathogenic bacteria.
Can TCAs interact with barbiturates?
The respiratory depressant effects of narcotic analgesics are potentiated by tricyclics and the barbiturates may accelerate the metabolism of TCAs thereby attenuating their anti depressant effects.
What is the best treatment for depression?
Good options for treatment for depression include drug therapy, psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or a combination of the two.
How do SSRIs help with depression?
SSRIs increase levels of serotonin in the brain by preventing the reuptake of serotonin by nerve cells. They are often selected as a first-line drug treatment for depression due to effectiveness and a lower risk of side effects compared to older antidepressants. Most SSRIs are now available in generic form, making them very affordable.
What is Zulresso injection?
Zulresso ( brexanolone) injection from Sage Therapeutics was approved in March 2019 for the treatment of Postpartum Depression (PPD) in adult women. PPD is a major depressive episode that occurs following childbirth or during pregnancy with symptoms of sadness, loss of interest, inability to feel pleasure, and lack of self-worth. Postpartum depression can also interfere with the maternal-infant bond or lead to suicidality.
Which TCAs block serotonin?
The tertiary amine TCAs have a greater effect at blocking serotonin (compared to norepinephrine) and include: amitriptyline, clomipramine, doxepin, imipramine, and trimipramine. The secondary amine TCAs preferentially block norepinephrine and include: desipramine, nortriptyline, and protriptyline.
How many people respond to antidepressants?
No single antidepressant medication has been found to be the best treatment for every patient. In general 40% to 60% of patients (4-6 out of 10 patients) will have a positive response to the first antidepressant medication they try.
Why do people get depressed?
Depression may be due to a mixture of: biological and genetic traits. adverse medical conditions. situational events such as job loss, divorce, stress, trauma, or violence.
Can antidepressants be used for depression?
There are many affordable generic options for the more common antidepressants. In addition to depression, certain antidepressants may also be used to treat a range of other conditions, for example: anxiety. bed-wetting. bulimia nervosa. neuropathy, nerve-related pain. fibromyalgia. hot flashes.
Is therapy better than antidepressants?
Whether therapy is more effective than antidepressants may depend on the types of symptoms you ’re experiencing and their severity.
Should you start with therapy before taking antidepressants?
Talk therapy is often very effective, and it is something you can try out for a few weeks and quit if it isn‘t right for you. This is not the case with an antidepressant because there are serious side effects that can occur if you suddenly stop taking it.
Will antidepressants work without therapy?
While you will likely gain some short-term relief from the symptoms of depression through antidepressants, 2017 research has shown that medications alone may not work as well in the long term compared with a combination treatment.
Is combining therapy and antidepressants the best?
Combined treatments of psychotherapy and medication are the preferred treatment for depression, according to a 2014 literature review. The most effective type of treatment may be to use both options. You can decide to take them at the same time or at different points along the treatment course.
They are effective at relieving symptoms
Antidepressants have been found to be more effective than placebo in treating major depression in adults, though they usaully take a few weeks to reach their full effect, and you might have to try more than one to find the most effective antidepressant for you.
They are well-studied and generally safe
Antidepressants have all been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means they have gone through rigorous testing and clinical trials.
They can help you succeed with other parts of your treatment plan
Your treatment plan can involve a variety of things, including things like performing basic self-care tasks. If your depression makes you apathetic and lethargic, antidepressants can help restore your energy so you can do everyday activities, participate in therapy, and other items on your treatment plan.
Improved quality of life
In addition to mood benefits, people on antidepressants report an improved quality of life: they are less reactive to negative life events, they can examine things in a more balanced way, and they can concentrate better.
You may need to try several to find the right one for you
Not every antidepressant will work for every person. You might have to switch more than once to find the best medication for you and your symptoms.
They may affect your sex drive
Antidepressants may reduce your sex drive or sexual functioning. Some antidepressants are more likely than others to have sexual side effects. About 1 in 5 adults in the US experiences sexual side effects due to antidepressants. This can include delayed lubrication, delayed or blocked orgasm, or trouble maintaining an erection.
They may be costly
Even with insurance and generic prescriptions, the medication might still be financially difficult for some people.
Why are people hesitant to take antidepressants?
Many people are hesitant about trying antidepressants because of potential side effects . There are different types of antidepressants. Newer medications have fewer and less severe side effects. Doctors will normally start people off with these medications.
What are the symptoms of taking antidepressants?
Depressive symptoms include: Changes in sleep patterns. Changes in appetite. Changes in energy, such as feeling restless or lethargic. Contemplating death or suicide.
How many people have depression?
More than 260 million people around the world have depression or depressive symptoms. That makes it one of the most common mental health issues for people to face. Other common conditions include anxiety.
What does depression mean?
Depression also presents with mood changes, such as sadness or anger. People may withdraw from activities they used to enjoy. If this sounds like you, then you should talk to your doctor. You may want to start with options such as lifestyle changes or counseling first.
Does medication help you feel better?
For others, they’re a key part of lifelong treatment. No matter what, medication could help you get back to feeling like yourself sooner. When combined with other therapies and lifestyle changes, you could be feeling a lot better sooner. Getting the help you need is important for your well-being.
Can antidepressants help with depression?
Taking antidepressants can help you get back to level ground. When Antidepressants Are the Best Option. Some types of depression do not respond to non-medication therapies. Some people have low concentrations of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.