Depression is a major mental and emotional illness that is caused from either biological or emotional responses. This single condition has affected millions of people every day, which is directing medical experts to come up with new antidepressants for treating depression. New medicines are continually being introduced to the marketplace.  In 2002, there were an 8.5% of United States civilians who were noninstitutionaized and who had purchased at least one antidepressant drug. Some of the new classes of drugs included Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, tricyclic, Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors, Tetra cyclic, and Novel.

According to online sources, aside from two other medications, antidepressants are the third most prescribed medication in the United States. Common antidepressants given to patients include also Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro, which does not seem to offer much benefit except to those with mild depression.

Exceptions however include the group of people who suffer severe depression will often find some benefits in taking antidepressants. People who express suicidal thoughts or even those who are incapacitated may find some relief from taking the drugs. Just this past couple of years, medical doctors have written more than 160 million prescriptions for ministering to depression. Most people did not benefit from some of the older prescriptions, which has caused the emerging of new medications to treat depression.

A whole new crop of depression medications are coming out soon to treat depression. Yet, it remains to be seen how well these new meds will workand how free they will be from the common side effects of antidepressants. Some people are suggesting that the new remedies will still put patients at risk of side effects, e.g. agitation, reduced libido, insomnia, weight gain, etc. Such side effects can lead to some other health problems.

Yet, doctors are suggesting that adding more new drugs that raise the brain levels of serotonin can offer greater benefits to those suffering depression because it is the most effective treatment available. The new remedies are said to be more effective because depression is associated with the brain levels serotonin increasing.