Although Prozac and Paxil are the top treatments of depression, many people find their side effects to be disturbing. Cardiovascular problems are one side effect in which people experience change in blood pressure or heart rate. In addition gastrointestinal upset causes nausea, diarrhea, constipation or vomiting. Also, neurological difficulties include confusion, hallucination, numbness and seizures. Significant weight changes are also another side effect. Lastly, sedation, which is where a patient experiences anxiety, sleep disturbance and agitation is another side effect of anti-depressants (Relieving). Consequently two Wisconsin women have experienced these side effects. Christen Holcombe and Linda Go

Many of depressed Americans are waiting for the FDA's approval of a herbal alternative treatment called St. Johns Wort to assist in depression. St. John's wort is an extract of the yellow five- petaled plant and has been used especially in Germany to ease mood swings and anxiety. A trial in Germany was conducted during six weeks on 324 patients that have depression and compared St. John's wort with imipramine. After the trial was over it was found that 39% of those taking the herb experienced those same side effects while 63% taking the imipramine went through those side effects. A overall result showed that 3% taking St. Johns wort stopped treatment while 16% taking the imipramine stopped the treatment (Ancient). After the Council for Responsible Nutrition reviewed 30 trials conducted for St. John's wort they declared that it was safe and beneficial (Herbal).

Studies have found that the alternative treatment placebos, which are, a substance containing no medication, do change parts of the brain and does control a person mood. A new analysis found that in most trials done by drug companies the placebo has done as well as or better than antidepressants. A trial compared St. John's wort, Zoloft and the placebo. At the end it showed that St. Johns cured 24%, Zoloft cured 25% and the placebo cured 32% of the depressed patients taking place in the trial (Vendantam). Although this trial contradicts the above paragraph, when St. Johns is placed next to and compared with the placebo it does not do as well. Andrew Leuchter a professor of psychiatry at the University of California compared brain changes of the patients on the placebo with those taking antidepressants. He found that the changes took part in the same parts of the brain which are associated with facets of mood. Leuchter also noted that the patients that got better on the placebos showed an increase of activity in the prefrontal lobe which is in the front of the brain and those on the medication showed a decline in the prefrontal lobe (Vedantam). Another study done by Leuchter found that 52% of depressed patients that receive medication said that they were feeling better while 38% of the patient

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Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)