Tricyclic antidepressants, or TCAs, are pills which are used in order to treat depression. They were discovered for the first time during the early 1950s, and, until recently, these medications were the first choice of many doctors to treat depression. The first TCAs were Imipramine, now popularly known as Tofranil. These antidepressants got their name after their chemical structure which consists of three rings of atoms. You might find many depression medications in the market today, but these pills still occupy a very important place. Tricyclic Antidepressants Names Given below is a list which talks about the various pills that are available to treat depression. Before you take any of these pills, it is strongly advised that you take the permission of the doctor. Let him tell you about the dosage of the medicine. These pills, though good for getting rid of depression, do have certain side effects.

Chemical Name	Brand Name	Side Effects
Desipramine	Norpramin	Change in sexual desires, blurred vision, diarrhea, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, appetite loss, lethargy, fatigue, sleeping problems.
Amitriptyline	Vanatrip, Elavil, and Endep	Impotence, nausea, constipation, appetite loss, concentration problems, swelling of breasts, severe headache, nightmares, blurred vision, vomiting.
Clomipramine	Anafranil	Irritation, diarrhea, nightmares, sweating, either loss or gain in weight, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, severe headache, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, and stomach upset.
Protriptyline	Vivactil	Dry mouth, unpleasant taste in mouth, no coordination, anxious feeling, restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, ringing sound in ears, swelling in breasts, nightmares, constipation, upset stomach, loss of appetite, change in vision, and vomiting.
Doxepin	Adapin, Sinequan	Change in body weight, blurred vision, headache, ringing sound in ears, dizzy, dry mouth, problems in sleeping, decreased sex drive, impotence, swelling in breast, vomiting, constipation, and tiredness.
Imipramine	Tofranil or Tofrainil-PM	Breast development in males, breast milk production, hives, high blood pressure, nausea, tremors, low blood pressure while standing, confusion, dry mouth, hallucinations, and breast enlargement in females.
Amoxapine	Asendin	Low fever, swelling of breast in males or females, headache, dizziness, numbness, tingly feeling, vomiting, nausea, appetite loss, no coordination, dry mouth, unpleasant taste in mouth, weakness, drowsiness, pain in stomach, and blurred vision.
Nortriptyline	Pamelor or Aventyl HCI	Increased sweating, ringing sound in ears, mild skin rash, swelling of breasts, weakness, no coordination, dry mouth, change in weight, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, and blurred vision.
Trimipramine	Surmontil	Low fever, numbness, nausea, weakness, swelling of breasts in men and women, appetite loss, no coordination, severe headache, dry mouth, and stomach problem.

Most of the side effects are common for almost all pills. The side effects can be less problematic, if one starts off with a low dosage. The only problem in this step will be that the time taken by the pills to take effect will be more. If, however, a person feels that he does not need to continue with the treatment anymore, he can slowly start reducing the dosage until finally, the day comes when he would not have to take it anymore. If the treatment is stopped immediately, then the person will undergo some discontinuation syndrome which will be bad for him/her. Thus, it's better to discontinue gradually. Instead of going for these chemical antidepressant treatments, it is best that one goes for natural antidepressant treatments such as pursuing a hobby or socializing and things like that. They have no side effects and they sure help a lot. Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.