List of Antidepressants

The neurotransmitters which control moods are also involved in other processes like sleeping, eating, and pain etc., so drugs affects you in many different ways that used to affect these neurotransmitters that is to treat depression. Antidepressants are used to treat disorders like Headache, eating disorders, and bed-wetting. All antidepressant drugs are best antidepressant, effective, but certain types work best for certain kinds of depression. Such as those who are depressed and agitated do best when they take an antidepressant drug that also calms them down where as those who are depressed and withdrawn may get benefit from an antidepressant drug that has a stimulating effect.

Types of Antidepressants

There are many different types of antidepressants listed as below :

1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
2. Tricyclic antidepressants (tricyclics)

Generally same as all the medicines, antidepressant drugs may also cause side effects but it is not same for all people to get these side effects in equal percent or at the same time of treatment. Mainly the side effect depends on you and the medicine preferred by your doctor is how much suitable for you. So doctors are also advised to talk about all the side effects before prescribing any of the antidepressant to the patient along with his medical history and background.

In case of depressed patients, the drugs interaction may occur when concurrently taking Dilantin and Coumadin that is the Dilantin and Coumadin levels are increased. Always check with pharmacy regarding potential drug interactions along with following antidepressents :

1. MAOIs or monoamine oxidase inhibitors
2. phenelzine
3. tranylcypromine

Serious and potentially fatal adverse reactions can also be possible with concurrent use of other antidepressants like SSRIs, nefazodone, trazodone etc. also carbamazepine, cyclobenzaprine, buspirone, and many more.

Many of the times similar potentially fatal reactions can occur with food products containing tyramine such as cheese and beer along with following antidepressants :

1. Tricyclics
2. amitriptyline
3. clomipramine
4. desipramine
5. doxepin
6. imipramine
7. nortryptyline
8. protriptyline
9. trimipramine
10. lofepramine

Tricyclics may cause arrhythmias and EKG changes and are very lethal in overdose. So tehy should be used with extreme precaution and not at all for children, some are listed below :

1. Tetracyclics
2. maprotiline (Ludiomil)
3. amoxapine
4. mianserin

Antidepressents and Use

1. Mirtazapine : It is mainly used to stimulate appetite and improve sleep when depression is associated with sleeping disorders
2. bupropion : Used for smoking cessation
3. duloxetine : Newest antidepressant
4. nefazodone : Liver functioning should be monitored closely
5. trazodone : Used mainly as a sleep agent
6. venlafaxine : Also used to treat generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder

Tricyclics

These are old drug type that affect norepinephrine and serotonin and effective as SSRI's in most people, but have strong side effects and should not be used at the first level of treatment. Common side effects of it are dry mouth, constipation, bladder problems, sexual dysfuntion, blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness and increased heart rate.

MAOI's

Monamine oxydase inhibitors are mostly and generally effective in major depression and used for those who do not respond to other antidepressants easily and used to treat panic disorder. Also should not take along with decongestants and certain foods that contain high levels of tyramine like cheese, wines, and pickles etc. The interaction of tyramine with MAOIs may cause a sharp increase in BP that may lead to a stroke.

SSRI

Side effects of SSRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) used for treating depression when the causes like sexual dysfunction, nausea, nervousness and insomnia, agitation, decreased sweating with increased body temperature.

Newer Drugs

A new class of anti-depressants is now available that, like the tricyclics, affect both norepinephrine and serotonin and also having very few side effects. They are Effexor and Serzone. Other newer medications chemically unrelated to the other antidepressants but with similar side effects as SSRI's are Remeron (mirtazepine) and Wellbutrin (bupropion) but they must not be used for people with, or at risk for, suicide.

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