Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...
Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...
Drug Therapy01:28

Drug Therapy

The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview01:26

Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview

Anxiolytic drugs are vital in managing anxiety disorders by effectively alleviating symptoms such as excessive fear, tachycardia, and tremors. There are several classes of anxiolytic medications, each with unique mechanisms of action and potential side effects.
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic circuitry.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2011
Same author

Unnecessary delay in tricyclic antidepressant treatment of a patient with atrial fibrillation.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2011
Same author

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: clinical review.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2011
Same author

Seasonal affective disorder.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2011
Same author

Evidence that a single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter of the G protein receptor kinase 3 gene is associated with bipolar disorder.

Molecular psychiatry·2003
Same author

Linkage of a bipolar disorder susceptibility locus to human chromosome 13q32 in a new pedigree series.

Molecular psychiatry·2003
Same journal

Impact of virtual case conferences between primary care clinicians and an interdisciplinary chronic pain clinic.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2026
Same journal

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2026
Same journal

Predictors of high-performing family medicine clinics: Prospective cohort study in Alberta.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2026
Same journal

Acetylsalicylic acid use for artial fibrillation and bleeding risk.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2026
Same journal

Clinical practice guidelines: Important tools to teach the art of medicine.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2026
Same journal

Paratonia in advanced dementia: Challenges and evidence-based interventions.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
08:15

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Antidepressants: which one?

R A Remick

    Canadian Family Physician Medecin De Famille Canadien
    |January 27, 2011
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Tricyclic antidepressants are the first choice for major depression due to proven efficacy and lower cost. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are a safe alternative, while newer antidepressants offer varied benefits and risks.

    More Related Videos

    Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
    04:29

    Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

    Published on: January 7, 2019

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

    Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
    08:15

    Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

    Published on: June 6, 2025

    Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
    04:29

    Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

    Published on: January 7, 2019

    Area of Science:

    • Pharmacology
    • Psychiatry

    Background:

    • 15 effective antidepressants are available in Canada, including tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and novel agents.
    • TCAs are frequently prescribed for major depression due to their established efficacy, well-documented side effect profiles, and cost-effectiveness.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review the current landscape of antidepressant medications available in Canada.
    • To provide guidance on the selection of appropriate antidepressant therapy based on efficacy, safety, and cost.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of marketed antidepressant medications in Canada.
    • Comparative analysis of efficacy, side effect profiles, and cost of different antidepressant classes.

    Main Results:

    • Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) remain the first-line treatment for major depression.
    • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are a viable and safer alternative than previously thought.
    • Maprotiline shows limited advantages over TCAs at a higher cost; trazodone may be a second- or third-line option with fewer anticholinergic effects.

    Conclusions:

    • Tricyclic antidepressants are recommended as the initial treatment for major depression.
    • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors represent a safe and effective alternative treatment option.
    • Further evaluation is needed for nomifensine, and amoxapine should be used cautiously due to potential adverse effects.