Antidepressant
(Redirected from Thymoleptic)
Antidepressants are a broad class of pharmacological agents primarily used in the treatment of depression, but also prescribed for other mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. These medications operate by altering chemical interactions within the brain, typically focusing on neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
Classification[edit | edit source]
Antidepressants can be classified into several categories based on their mechanism of action:
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): These are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants due to their lower side effect profile compared to other classes. Examples include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and citalopram (Celexa).
- Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): These affect both serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters. Examples include venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta).
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): An older class of antidepressants, they are as effective as SSRIs but generally have a more severe side effect profile. Examples include amitriptyline (Elavil) and nortriptyline (Pamelor).
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): These are among the oldest antidepressants. They are used less commonly today because they require dietary restrictions and can have significant side effects, but can be effective when other treatments have failed. Examples include phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate).
- Atypical Antidepressants: This group doesn't fit neatly into other categories, but they affect neurotransmitter levels in the brain. Examples include bupropion (Wellbutrin) and mirtazapine (Remeron).
Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]
Antidepressants function by modulating the concentration of specific neurotransmitters in the brain, primarily serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They typically achieve this by inhibiting the reuptake or breakdown of these neurotransmitters, thereby increasing their availability in the brain.
Side Effects[edit | edit source]
While antidepressants are generally effective in treating depression and related disorders, they can also have undesirable side effects. Common side effects include dry mouth, nausea, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and increased suicidal thoughts (particularly in young adults). It's important for patients to have an open dialogue with their healthcare provider about potential side effects and any concerns they may have.
References[edit | edit source]
- American Psychiatric Association. (2010). Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 167(Supplement 1), 1-152.
- Hirschfeld, R. M. (2000). Antidepressants in long-term therapy: a review of tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 101(S402), 39-49.
- Stahl, S. M. (2008). Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications. Cambridge University Press.
External Links[edit | edit source]
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Depression
- Psychotherapy
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- Atypical antidepressants
Antidepressant Resources | |
---|---|
|
The following are antidepressant subclasses and drugs
MAO Inhibitors Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine
SNRIs Duloxetine, Levomilnacipran, Venlafaxine
SSRIs Citalopram, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline, Vilazodone, Vortioxetine
Tricyclics Amitriptyline, Amoxapine, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Doxepin, Imipramine, Nortriptyline, Protriptyline, Trimipramine
Miscellaneous Bupropion, Flibanserin, Mirtazapine, Nefazodone, Trazodone
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Deepika vegiraju