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: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

2.0K
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...
2.0K
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

1.1K
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...
1.1K
Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

1.9K
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...
1.9K
Drug Therapy01:28

Drug Therapy

376
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
376
Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview01:24

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview

738
Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as...
738
Electroconvulsive Therapy01:30

Electroconvulsive Therapy

1.8K
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early...
1.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Clozapine-Induced Acute Interstitial Nephritis: A Systematic Review.

Journal of clinical psychopharmacology·2026
Same author

The Candesartan Adjunctive Depression Trials-CADET: Study Protocols for Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials for Bipolar Depression and Major Depressive Disorder.

Journal of clinical psychopharmacology·2026
Same author

Recovery-Oriented Practice in Public Mental Health Services: A Systematic Scoping Review of Multidisciplinary Clinicians' Views on Its Implementation.

International journal of mental health nursing·2026
Same author

Achieving gender equity in academic psychiatry - barriers to involvement and solutions for success.

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·2024
Same author

Experiences of consumers, carers and clinicians during borderline personality disorder presentations to the emergency department-An integrative review.

Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing·2023
Same author

What clinicians need to know about intranasal esketamine for treatment-resistant depression?

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Conventional Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: A Step-by-Step Protocol
10:54

Conventional Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: A Step-by-Step Protocol

Published on: November 21, 2025

728

Switching and stopping antidepressants.

Nicholas Keks1, Judy Hope1, Simone Keogh2

  • 1Monash University, Melbourne.

Australian Prescriber
|June 28, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Switching antidepressants requires caution to manage inadequate response or side effects. Gradual dose reduction minimizes withdrawal, relapse, and serious complications during these medication changes.

Keywords:
antidepressantdrug interactiondrug withdrawalserotonin syndrome

More Related Videos

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

687
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

29.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Conventional Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: A Step-by-Step Protocol
10:54

Conventional Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: A Step-by-Step Protocol

Published on: November 21, 2025

728
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

687
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

29.8K

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Antidepressant therapy changes are common due to treatment failure or adverse drug reactions.
  • Abrupt discontinuation or improper switching can lead to withdrawal syndromes, relapse, or exacerbation of depression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline safe and effective strategies for switching between antidepressant medications.
  • To highlight the risks associated with antidepressant switching and provide guidance for clinicians.

Main Methods:

  • Review of conservative switching strategies involving gradual tapering and washout periods.
  • Discussion of rapid or cross-taper switching methods and associated risks, such as serotonin syndrome.
  • Emphasis on the importance of clinical expertise in managing antidepressant transitions.

Main Results:

  • Conservative switching is time-consuming and carries risks of illness exacerbation during treatment gaps.
  • Rapid or cross-taper switching requires careful management to prevent drug toxicity and serotonin syndrome.
  • Gradual dose reduction is crucial for mitigating withdrawal symptoms and ensuring treatment continuity.

Conclusions:

  • Antidepressant switching necessitates meticulous planning and close patient monitoring.
  • Understanding drug interactions and potential adverse effects is vital for safe medication management.
  • Phased dose adjustments are recommended to minimize complications during antidepressant transitions.