Supplements to Help Relieve Depression

Sometimes life just seems to get the best of us. Even if you are the kind of person who is usually positive and on-the-go, you can have periods where you feel down and blue without being able to pinpoint exactly why. This could be a sign of depression. Many times when people hear that word, they think it could not possibly apply to them. However, there are a surprising number of people in the world who suffer from depression, often suffering in silence.

If you think you may be depressed, your best bet is to consult a physician. He or she may want to prescribe you certain medications, or suggest talk therapy. If you are not ready for prescription medication, or if you would simply prefer to keep your treatment natural, there are a number of supplements on the market that will enable you to get help while keeping it simple. There is a good selection of popular, helpful and well-documented supplements available in your local health food store or vitamin shop.

One of the most long-standing and well-known supplements for depression is an herb called St. John's Wort. St. John's Wort is also known as a hypericum. It is popular because it is known anecdotally to produce far fewer side effects than many of the popular prescription medications. Medications such as Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft are part of a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Other prescription-only drugs available for depression relief are those with brand names such as Nardil or Eldepryl, which belong to a class of drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAO inhibitors.

The problem with either of these classes of drugs is that they can cause long-term side effects including ones of which we are not even certain. The short term problems range from shortness of breath, to sexual dysfunction, to weight gain or weight loss, to nausea and headaches. The list is actually quite long; the side effects of St. John's Wort are few and far between. There are even studies that indicate certain foods should be avoided altogether while on MAO inhibitors, whereas no such warning exists for St. John's Wort use. The only recommendation is that if you are currently using one of the prescription medications, you should speak with your doctor about how to safely discontinue use before starting to supplement with St. John's Wort.

Another supplement that has increased in popularity for depression treatment is 5-Hydroxytryptophan, more commonly referred to as 5-HTP. In the United States, it is sold in natural food stores and vitamin shops for a variety of different uses, one of which is for relief of symptoms of depression. It is also useful as a sleep aid and an appetite suppressant. 5-HTP is not an herb, but an amino acid. Amino acids are naturally occurring in the body, and generally regarded as safe for consumption. This amino acid in particular can be found in small amounts in some foods, most notably cheese and poultry.

However, statistically one would have to consume a diet consisting of nothing but these two foods in order to get enough of it to help with depression. Hence, supplementation is a viable alternative to get the amount required for treatment. Since 5-HTP gets converted to serotonin with the help of the vitamin B-6, it is thought to work somewhat like the SSRIs but without the need for a prescription and again, without the potentially nasty side effects. One should not start a regimen of 5-HTP supplementation without consulting a physician, especially if he or she is already using another drug, herb or supplement for treatment of depression. The mixture could potentially be unsafe.

Some people prefer to treat depression with natural energy boosters, hoping that their lifted energy levels will subsequently lift their spirits. If this sounds more appealing to you, you can try a supplement called SAM-e. SAM-e stands for S-Adenosyl methionine, which is part of a methyl group that produces certain chemical reactions within the body. It too is naturally occurring, so supplementing with it is a decidedly better alternative for many people. SAM-e is produced and used by the liver, and while this supplement is touted as being quite effective, it does have a higher report of some side effects similar to the prescription drugs already mentioned. In rare circumstances, anxiety has been known to occur. Therefore, those prone to both anxiety and depression may want to avoid SAM-e.

For other mood-elevating substances, one could look to less potent supplements such as fish oils, B-vitamins, and ginseng. These are all energy-producing and mood balancing and come without any side effects. If you want to lift your spirits but are not ready to visit the idea of prescription drugs or even a strong natural supplement, you may want to start here. You could be on your way to feeling better by taking these supplements to care for yourself.

Megan Hazel is a freelance writer who writes about health, fitness and nutrition, often discussing specific products such as supplements.