Antidepressant Medications

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

• Most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant
• Work by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain
• Examples:
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • Sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil)
  • Citalopram (Celexa)
  • Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Effective in treating depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Side effects:
  • Nausea, headache, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction

Antidepressant Types

• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): increase levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): increase levels of serotonin
• Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine
• Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs): increase levels of norepinephrine and dopamine

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

• Older type of antidepressant, introduced in the 1950s
• Work by increasing levels of serotonin and norepinephrine
• Examples:
  • Amitriptyline (Elavil)
  • Imipramine (Tofranil)
  • Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• Effective in treating depression, anxiety, and insomnia
• Side effects:
  • Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and drowsiness

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

• Older type of antidepressant, introduced in the 1950s
• Work by increasing levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
• Examples:
  • Phenelzine (Nardil)
  • Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• Effective in treating depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder
• Side effects:
  • Dizziness, headache, insomnia, and weight gain
• Dietary restrictions: must avoid foods high in tyramine (e.g. cheese, wine)

Off-label Use

• Using antidepressant medications for conditions other than depression
• Examples:
  • Anxiety disorders (e.g. social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder)
  • Insomnia and sleep disorders
  • Chronic pain management
  • Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• Off-label use requires careful consideration of risks and benefits, and close monitoring by a healthcare professional

Antidepressant Medications

• Most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant is Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
• SSRIs increase levels of serotonin in the brain to treat depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Types of Antidepressants

• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) increase levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) increase levels of serotonin
• Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine
• Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs) increase levels of norepinephrine and dopamine

SSRIs

• Examples: Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Side effects: nausea, headache, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

• Older type of antidepressant, introduced in the 1950s
• Examples: Amitriptyline (Elavil), Imipramine (Tofranil), Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• Side effects: dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and drowsiness

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

• Older type of antidepressant, introduced in the 1950s
• Examples: Phenelzine (Nardil), Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• Dietary restrictions: must avoid foods high in tyramine (e.g. cheese, wine)
• Side effects: dizziness, headache, insomnia, and weight gain

Off-label Use

• Using antidepressant medications for conditions other than depression
• Examples: anxiety disorders, insomnia and sleep disorders, chronic pain management, premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• Requires careful consideration of risks and benefits, and close monitoring by a healthcare professional

Learn about the different types of antidepressant medications, their mechanisms, and side effects. Includes Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs).