Depression may occur only once in a person's life. Often, however, it occurs repeatedly with depression-free periods in between. Or it may be a chronic condition, requiring ongoing treatment over a lifetime. The disorder affects more than 18 million Americans of all ages and races. Medications are available that are generally safe and effective, even for the most severe depression. With proper treatment, most people with serious depression improve, often within weeks, and can return to normal daily activities.

Sometimes, a stressful life event can trigger depression. In other cases, depression seems to occur spontaneously with no identifiable cause.Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder) is a state of intense sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual's social functioning and/or activities of daily living. Although a low mood or state of dejection that does not affect functioning is often colloquially referred to as depression, clinical depression is a clinical diagnosis and may be different from the everyday meaning of "being depressed". Many people identify the feeling of being depressed as "being blue", "feeling sad for no reason", or "having no motivation to do anything". Clinical depression is generally acknowledged to be more serious than normal depressed feelings.

Depression can be treated with medicines, or a special type of counseling called psychotherapy, or with both.Many medicines can be used to treat depression. These medicines are called antidepressants. They correct the chemical imbalance in the brain that causes depression.

Antidepressants work differently for different people. They also have different side effects. So, even if one medicine bothers you or doesn't work for you, another may help. You may notice improvement as soon as 1 week after you start taking the medicine. But you probably won't see the full effects for about 6 to 8 weeks. You may have side effects at first but they tend to lessen after a couple of weeks.

Recently,the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic version of Wellbutrin XL (Bupropion hydrochloride) Extended-Release Tablets, which are indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The approval is an important step in the agency's effort to increase the availability of lower-cost generic medications. In 2005, Wellbutrin XL was the 21st highest-selling brand-name drug in the United States, with sales totaling $1,326,323,000 as reported in the online magazine Drug Topics.

"This approval is another example of our agency's efforts to increase access to safe and effective generic alternatives as soon as the law permits," said Gary J. Buehler, Director, Office of Generic Drugs. "Bupropion hydrochloride is a widely used antidepressant, and its generic version can bring significant savings to the millions of Americans with depression."

The economic benefits of FDA's generic drug approval program are significant because generic drug products, which are used to fill over 50 percent of all prescriptions, frequently cost a fraction of the price of the brand-name drugs. The Office of Generic Drugs reviews and takes action on generic drug applications, and the same thorough and rigorously scientific review standards of safety, efficacy and quality are applied to generic drug applications as are applied to new drug application. Consumers and health professionals can be assured that an approved generic drug is bioequivalent to a brand name drug and is its equal in dosage form, strength, and route of administration, quality, performance characteristics, and intended use.

FDA received a citizen petition (a formal request for FDA action) that asked FDA to consider several issues for bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets, including how similarly the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream. After reviewing the issues raised in the petition, FDA determined that its standards for approval of the generic drug application for bupropion are appropriate.

Bupropion Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets, 150 mg and 300 mg are manufactured by Anchen Pharmaceuticals Inc, of Irvine, CA

Reasons to get help for depression:

• Early treatment helps keep depression from getting worse or lasting a long time.
• Thoughts of suicide are common in people with depression. The risk of suicide is higher if you don't get treatment for your depression. When depression is successfully treated, the thoughts of suicide will go away.
• Treatment can help you return to your "normal" self, enjoying life.