what are the major classifications of antidepressant drugs

What are the classes of available antidepressants?

What are the three classes of antidepressants?

• Atypical antidepressants have various mechanisms of action.
• Bupropion, for example, works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine at the presynaptic cleft. ...
• Agomelatine works as an agonist at melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2. ...

More items...

What are the categories of antidepressants?

Types of antidepressants

• The four types of antidepressants. MAOIs: monoamine oxidase inhibitors. ...
• SSRIs: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. ...
• SNRIs: serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. ...
• TCAs: tricyclic antidepressants. ...
• MAOIs: monoamine oxidase inhibitors. ...
• Food advice when taking MAOIs. ...

What are the different groups of antidepressants?

Types of tricyclic antidepressants are:

• amitriptyline
• clomipramine
• desipramine
• doxepin
• imipramine
• nortriptyline
• protriptyline
• trimipramine

What are the drug classes of antidepressants?

There are at least seven types of antidepressant:

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCAs)

More items...

What are the three major classes of antidepressant drugs?

The major classes of antidepressant drugs include the tricyclic and related antidepressants, the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

What are the four major classes of antidepressants?

Antidepressants can be divided into four major classes which include:Tricyclic antidepressants.Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)Atypical antidepressants.

How many antidepressant classes are there?

five major classesThere are five major classes of antidepressant and several others that are less commonly used. Each has its own benefits, risks, and appropriate uses. While some may be considered preferred options, the drug selection can vary based on your symptoms, history of treatment, and co-existing psychological disorders.

What is the most popular class of antidepressants?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants.

What are the top 5 antidepressants?

The five well-known, FDA-approved SSRIs to treat depression are:Citalopram (Celexa)Escitalopram (Lexapro)Fluoxetine (Prozac)Paroxetine (Paxil)Sertraline (Zoloft)

What are the top 10 antidepressants?

The top 10 antidepressant drugs most commonly prescribed in the U.S. include:Vilazodone (Viibryd)Citalopram (Celexa)Sertraline (Zoloft)Fluoxetine (Prozac Weekly, Prozac)Trazodone (Desyrel)Escitalopram (Lexapro)Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR)Venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR)More items...•

What is the strongest antidepressant?

6 most effective antidepressants sold in the United StatesAmitriptyline.Effexor (venlafaxine)Lexapro (escitalopram)Paxil (paroxetine)Remeron (mirtazapine)Trintellix (vortioxetine)

What are the top 20 antidepressants?

SSRIs: The Most Frequently Prescribed AntidepressantsCitalopram (Celexa)Escitalopram (Lexapro)Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax)Fluvoxamine (Luvox, Luvox CR)Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva)Sertraline (Zoloft)Vilazodone (Viibryd)

What are antidepressant drugs give an example?

Examples of Antidepressants - Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA)amitriptyline (Elavil)amoxapine.clomipramine (Anafranil)desipramine (Norpramin)doxepin (Sinequan)imipramine (Tofranil)maprotiline.nortriptyline (Pamelor)More items...

Which is the best antidepressant?

Bupropion, citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline were better tolerated than the other antidepressants. Escitalopram and sertraline were found to have the best combination of efficacy and acceptability.

What is the difference between SSRI and tricyclic antidepressants?

SSRIs can also cause more norepinephrine to be available, but usually less than what tricyclic antidepressants do. They are different from tricyclic antidepressants because they are much more selective as to which receptors they work on throughout the body, so they usually have fewer side effects.

What was the first antidepressant?

The 1950s saw the clinical introduction of the first two specifically antidepressant drugs: iproniazid, a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor that had been used in the treatment of tuberculosis, and imipramine, the first drug in the tricyclic antidepressant family.

What is the difference between SNRI and tricyclic antidepressants?

SSRIs can also cause more norepinephrine to be available, but usually less than what tricyclic antidepressants do. They are different from tricyclic antidepressants because they are much more selective as to which receptors they work on throughout the body, so they usually have fewer side effects.

What is the strongest antidepressant?

6 most effective antidepressants sold in the United StatesAmitriptyline.Effexor (venlafaxine)Lexapro (escitalopram)Paxil (paroxetine)Remeron (mirtazapine)Trintellix (vortioxetine)

How do SSRIs and SNRIs differ?

What are the differences between SSRIs and SNRIs? Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are two different types of antidepressants. SSRIs increase serotonin levels in the brain, while SNRIs increase both serotonin and norepinephrine levels.

What class of antidepressant is Wellbutrin?

WELLBUTRIN (bupropion hydrochloride), an antidepressant of the aminoketone class, is chemically unrelated to tricyclic, tetracyclic, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, or other known antidepressant agents. Its structure closely resembles that of diethylpropion; it is related to phenylethylamines.

What Are Antidepressants Used for?

Antidepressants help to relieve the symptoms of depression such as low mood, irritability, feelings of worthlessness, restlessness, anxiety, and di...

What Are The Differences Between Antidepressants?

There are distinct differences between the different classes of antidepressants available because they all work in a different way. In addition, wi...

Are Antidepressants Safe?

When taken at the recommended dosage, antidepressants are considered safe. However, some have been associated with severe side effects, some potent...

What Are The Side Effects of Antidepressants?

Not everybody experiences significant side effects with antidepressants, and some antidepressants are more likely to cause side effects than others...

What are the differences between antidepressants?

In addition, within each class, there are differences between individual antidepressants with regards to how long they remain in the body, how they are metabolized, and how much they interact with other medications.

What are antidepressants used for?

Antidepressants help to relieve the symptoms of depression such as low mood, irritability, feelings of worthlessness, restlessness, anxiety, and difficulty in sleeping.

What are the side effects of antidepressants?

Not everybody experiences significant side effects with antidepressants, and some antidepressants are more likely to cause side effects than others. Some of the more commonly reported side effects include:

How do tetracyclic antidepressants work?

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) and tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCAs) TCAs and TeCAs work by increasing levels of norepinephrine and serotonin. They may also block the actions of other neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine and histamine.

How do SSRIs increase serotonin levels?

SSRIs increase levels of serotonin in the brain by preventing the reuptake of serotonin by nerves.

What is the name of the drug that blocks the reuptake of dopamine and norepinep?

Generic name. Brand name examples. Bupropion.

What was the first antidepressant?

MAOIs and TCAs were among the first antidepressants developed. They have largely been superseded by newer antidepressants (such as the SSRIs) that have fewer side effects, although these older antidepressants may still suit certain people or be effective when other antidepressants have been ineffective.

What are the different types of antidepressants?

There are 5 main classifications of antidepressants that are commonly prescribed to treat depression (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, and atypical antidepressants). These were all developed at different times and differ in their benefits, risks, and what conditions they are best at treating. The medication chosen will depend upon the severity ...

What are antidepressants?

Antidepressants are a type of medication which is primarily used as a treatment of depression, although they can be used to treat other conditions such as anxiety disorders.

Why are SSRIs the most prescribed antidepressants?

SSRIs are typically the most prescribed antidepressant due to most people being more tolerant of them compared to other antidepressants and they have fewer side effects .

How do antidepressants work?

Antidepressants work by acting on some part of neurotransmission within the brain. Neurotransmission is when neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) which have travelled through neurons, reach the presynaptic terminals, and are released into the synaptic cleft, to be taken up by the corresponding receptors of the postsynaptic neuron.

Why are SSRIs selective?

SSRIs are called selective because they mainly affect serotonin, rather than any of neurotransmitters. These antidepressants do not cause more serotonin to be produced in the brain, but instead help the brain to use the serotonin levels it has more effectively.

Which neurotransmitter is influenced by antidepressants?

There are three main neurotransmitters which are influenced by antidepressants and are believed to be involved in the regulation of mood: Serotonin – this is believed to play a role in mood, feelings of happiness, rewards, appetite, and sleep. Dopamine – this plays a role in how we feel pleasure, motivation, arousal, and decision-making.

What are some examples of SSRIs?

Below are examples of some of the SSRIs that can be prescribed: Fluoxetine (Prozac) – this was the first major SSRI created in 1987.

What are the major classes of antidepressants?

The major classes of antidepressant drugs include the tricyclic and related antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the selective serotonin and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs ). A small number of drugs don’t easily fall into this classification ...

What are the benefits of antidepressants?

Improvement in sleep is usually the first benefit of antidepressant therapy, with additional beneficial effects on psychomotor and physiological changes such as loss of appetite. The information provided in this section summarises the classes of antidepressants available to the prescriber.

Why are MAOIs used less frequently than tricyclic antidepressants?

MAOIs are used much less frequently than tricyclic and related antidepressants, or SSRIs and related antidepressants because of the dangers of dietary and drug interactions. MAOIs exhibit some benefit for phobic patients and depressed patients with atypical, hypochondriacal, or hysterical features, but should only be prescribed by specialists. In general, MAOIs have been replaced by newer antidepressants that are safer and cause fewer side-effects. Common side-effects include postural hypotension, weight gain, and sexual side effects.

What is Citalopram used for?

Citalopram - used to manage depressive illness and panic disorder.

Which antidepressant is less sedating?

Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs can be roughly divided into those with additional sedative properties ( amitriptyline, clomipramine, dosulepin, doxepin, mianserin, trazodone, and trimipramine) and those that are less sedating ( imipramine, lofepramine, and nortriptyline ).

What are the side effects of SSRIs?

Side effects of SSRIs may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, sexual dysfunction, headache, weight gain, anxiety, dizziness, dry mouth, and insomnia. Caution should be used when prescribing SSRIs alongside other drugs that increase the risk of bleeding. SSRIs should not be used in patients with poorly controlled epilepsy or in patients entering manic phase. Common shared side-effects (often dose-related) include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting. An uncommon, but potentially serious side-effect is serotonin syndrome.

Can antidepressants be combined with psychological therapy?

(2018) following meta-analysis of results from clinical trials of 21 different antidepressants)- and is recommended to be combined with psychological therapy . Drug treatment of mild depression may also be considered in ...

What are the side effects of antidepressants?

The most prevalent side effects of antidepressants include sexual dysfunction, drowsiness, weight gain, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, blurred vision, nausea, rash, and tremor. Patients may also describe asthenia and malaise while on antidepressant therapy. Clinicians may note symptoms of hyperprolactinemia, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), and hyponatremia in patients taking antidepressants. [21]

How toxic are antidepressants?

Antidepressants are frequently used to self-poison in an attempt to commit suicide, particularly in women. In general, the older tricyclic anti depressants (TCAs) are more toxic than newer antidepressant classes. Such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Researchers can track drug toxicity using the fatal toxicity index, a ratio of self-poisoning mortality rates to prescription rates. Researchers may also employ a case fatality index, which compares fatal versus non-fatal self-poisoning attempts. With that said, clinicians may wish to alter treatment strategies depending on a patient’s suicide risk. [38]

How do antidepressants affect mood?

The different antidepressants all work in slightly different ways and target certain neurotransmitters to modulate mood and behavior. All currently licensed antidepressants are believed to increase serotonin, norepinephrine, or both in the synapse. The mechanisms to increase these neurotransmitters vary, though antidepressant drugs target reuptake by the nerve terminals. [6]

What is the best medication for depression?

Antidepressants are the drug of choice for depression, but they also have FDA approval as treatments for other medical disorders. For example, antidepressants are useful in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). [4]

Which drug has the highest selectiveness for inhibiting norepinephrine reuptake?

In contrast with other selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors like duloxetine, venlafaxine, and desvenlafaxine; milnacipran and levomilnacipran has higher selectivity for inhibiting norepinephrine reuptake than serotonin reuptake [9] [10]

What is the first line of treatment for depression?

SSRIs are currently the first-line agents for the treatment of depression. [8]

What is the most disabling mental illness?

Depressive disorders include unipolar major depression, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and depressive disorder due to another medical condition. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most disabling mental illnesses, and it has significant morbidity and mortality. The lifetime prevalence of MDD ranges from 2 to 21% worldwide. The main sociodemographic correlates were divorced marital status and female gender. [1] With appropriate treatment, 70-80% of individuals with major depressive disorder can significantly reduce symptoms. Drugs used for the treatment of depression include the following.

When were trycyclic antidepressants first discovered?

Trycyclic Antidepressants belong to an older class of antidepressants first discovered and approved in the 1950s . Their chemical structure of three interconnected atom rings is what gave them their name.

How do antidepressants help the brain?

We all know that antidepressants help mechanically articulate the dysfunction of our brain-chemistry and neurotransmitters trafficking through the nerve routes to and from the brain. Antidepressants group to form classes depending on the way they affect our central nervous system.

How does selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor work?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors work by specifically preventing the reabsorption of serotonin which prolongs the effects of serotonin and by now you surely know what they are. SSRIs are a newer class of antidepressants that developed in 1970.

How long does it take for mood to improve after taking antidepressants?

Some data suggest that 5 to 6 people out of every 10 will experience a certain improvement in mood regulation after 3 months of antidepressant use. People who experience improvement should continue medicating for at least 6 months after the initial improvement.

How many molecules are there in mood regulation?

Your mood regulation seems to come down to 3 basic molecules that go by the name of monoamines.

What determines how well a drug absorbs, tolerates, and disseminates?

The difference in the chemical structure of the drugs can decide on how well our body will absorb, tolerate and disseminate the drug.

What are the causes of depression?

Doctors agree that the causes for depression are physiological, psychological and environmental in nature.

What are some examples of antidepressants?

More commonly prescribed antidepressants in this category include trazodone, mirtazapine (Remeron), vortioxetine (Trintellix), vilazodone (Viibryd) and bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, others).

What type of antidepressant is used for depression?

Many types of antidepressant medications are available to treat depression, including: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Doctors often start by prescribing an SSRI.

What to do if antidepressant doesn't work?

If you have bothersome side effects or no significant improvement in your symptoms after several weeks, talk to your doctor about changing the dose, trying a different antidepressant (switching), or adding a second antidepressant or another medication (augmentation).

How to deal with depression with antidepressants?

Talk to your doctor or therapist about coping with depression symptoms as you wait for the antidepressant to take effect. Take your antidepressant consistently and at the correct dose. If your medication doesn't seem to be working or is causing bothersome side effects, call your doctor before making any changes.

How long does it take for an antidepressant to work?

Once you and your doctor have selected an antidepressant, you may start to see improvement in a few weeks, but it may take six or more weeks for it to be fully effective.

How to get rid of depression?

Try psychotherapy. In many cases, combining an antidepressant with talk therapy (psychotherapy) is more effective than taking an antidepressant alone. It can also help prevent your depression from returning once you're feeling better.

Which antidepressants have more side effects?

Tricyclic antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants — such as imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), amitriptyline, doxepin and desipramine (Norpramin) — tend to cause more side effects than newer antidepressants. So tricyclic antidepressants generally aren't prescribed unless you've tried other antidepressants first without improvement.

What are the types of antidepressants?

Antidepressants, along with psychotherapy, are usually the first-line treatment for depression. Some people may require treatment with more than one type of antidepressants. The types of antidepressants include:

What are antidepressant medications?

Several different classes of antidepressant medications, including SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, MAOIs and others, are used in the treatment of clinical depression. Each of them works in a unique way to reduce symptoms of depression.

What is the most commonly prescribed antidepressant?

The most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Serotonin is a neurotransmitter of primary importance in mood regulation, and SSRIs prevent its reabsorption (reuptake) by the neurons.

What is depression?

Depression is a mood disorder that makes a person feel sad, lonely and hopeless. It is normal to feel sad and depressed during stressful periods in one’s life, for instance; after the loss of a loved one. Persistent depression is a serious medical illness, however, that can affect the physical and emotional wellbeing of a person.

What are the neurotransmitters that are used in antidepressants?

Other antidepressants used for treating depression regulate neurotransmitters such as dopamine and glutamate, in addition to serotonin and/or norepinephrine.

How do antidepressants help with depression?

Antidepressant medications are prescribed to treat clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder. Antidepressants reduce symptoms of depression by altering the levels of certain hormones in the brain. These hormones, known as neurotransmitters, carry signals between nerve cells (neurons), which help them communicate with one another.

What is the function of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors?

Serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors block the uptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine, another hormone/neurotransmitter. Reuptake of these chemicals is a normal process in the brain, the malfunction of which seems to contribute to depression.

What is the most commonly prescribed medication for depression?

Getting started. Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed meds for depression, but they’re used to treat a number of other conditions as well. Antidepressants are some of the world’s most prescribed medications. These meds can be used for a variety of mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, ...

What was the first antidepressant?

Another drug type introduced in the 1950s, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) were one of the first types of antidepressants developed. MAOIs inhibit the brain enzyme called monoamine oxidase, which is responsible for breaking down neurotransmitters.

What is the best medication for depression?

There are several medications used to treat depression, but antidepressants are the most popular.

How long does it take for antidepressants to work?

It can take several weeks to fully feel the effects of most antidepressants.

Does bupropion affect dopamine?

Common atypical antidepressants include: Each one works differently. For example, bupropion inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, raising the levels of all three hormones in the brain.

Can antidepressants stop depression?

Like the name suggests, antidepressants can help relieve symptoms of depression and may stop them from coming back.

Do antidepressants increase neurotransmitters?

When you have depression, you may have lower levels of these neurotransmitters in your brain . Antidepressants can help increase the availability of one or more of these neurotransmitters over time. How they do that, though, depends on what type of antidepressant you’re prescribed.