List of Antidepressants

Written by Jan Black    Sunday, 18 January 2009

A number of medical conditions are attributed to depression and even those that are not directly caused by depression can be affected or aggravated by it. For this reason, it is important to know how to treat depression, especially in its early stages, when it is easier to come up with solutions. Below is a list of antidepressant drugs that are approved by medical professionals for use in the treatment of depression in all stages. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This is a class of antidepressant which is used not only to treat depression but also some anxiety disorders and personality disorders. Medications belonging to this class increase the level of serotonin in our body and are the most widely-prescribed antidepressants in most countries. It might be interesting to note that these drugs are also used to treat premature ejaculation and some cases of insomnia. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors. This is a more powerful class of antidepressant drugs and has been identified to be particularly effective in treating atypical depression. It has, however, been reserved as a last line of defense in the treatment of depression because of its potentially lethal drug and dietary interactions. Drugs belonging to this class have also been known to be effective in smoking cessation. Tricyclics. This class of antidepressants has been in use since the 1950s. These antidepressant drugs are known not only to boost serotonin levels but also to produce more sedation for patients. Tetracyclics. The name of this class of antidepressants is derived from its molecular structure, consisting of four rings. Drugs belonging to this class are widely known to treat clinical depression. The effects of these antidepressant drugs can be boosted by non-antidepressant drugs and some medical professionals use a combination of antidepressants and non-antidepressants to get better and faster results.

Last Updated ( Friday, 29 May 2009 )