Usually we think of someone who is moderately to severely depressed as being very sad and unresponsive to things. Maybe even zombie like. However, it isn’t always like this. It can look something like this. We call it melancholic features, or melancholic depression.
We call it having atypical characteristics or atypical depression when someone can have positive days and still enjoy certain things. The most common form of depression is called atypical depression.
Here is a comparison between the two types:
Atypical
Mood lifts
More appetite
Leaden paralysis
Rejection sensitive
Worse in afternoon
Melancholic
Always sad
Less appetite Slowed or agitated
Guilt-focused
Worse in morning
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOI’s, have been proven to be more effective in treating atypical depression. These drugs aren’t used as much as they once were 20-30 years ago before the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI’s came out. These medications would include Lexapro, Zoloft, and Prozac. These medications are generally less irritating and more easily tolerated. They are not as effective for treating atypical depression.
MAOIs have been out of favor due to their drug interactions and serious interaction with foods rich in tyramine. You could develop hypertension if you eat those foods and take one of these drugs. Your blood pressure will rise very high. This could lead to death. People who were taking the medication were told what foods they couldn’t have while on it. These foods included wine and aged cheeses. It is important to be careful when taking prescription or non-prescription medication, including allergy medications. These interactions can lead to serotonin syndrome, which can make you sick enough to need to be admitted to the hospital.
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