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Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

286
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...
286
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

464
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...
464
Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

621
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...
621
Depressants01:28

Depressants

149
Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
149
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

206
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...
206
Drug Therapy01:28

Drug Therapy

75
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
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Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
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[Antidepressants].

Koichiro Watanabe1

  • 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyorin University School of Medicine.

Brain and Nerve = Shinkei Kenkyu No Shinpo
|May 17, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Novel antidepressants like SSRIs, SNRIs, mirtazapine, and vortioxetine offer alternatives to tricyclic antidepressants. Each class presents unique benefits and side effect profiles for managing depression and related conditions.

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Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • Clinical Medicine

Context:

  • Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have significant anticholinergic, anti-adrenergic, and antihistaminic properties.
  • Overdoses of TCAs negatively impact patient quality of life, driving the need for safer alternatives.
  • The development of novel antidepressant medications is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose:

  • To review the properties, efficacy, and adverse effects of various classes of novel antidepressant drugs.
  • To compare selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), mirtazapine, and vortioxetine.
  • To inform clinical practice regarding antidepressant selection.

Summary:

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are non-sedating, effective for anxiety, but can cause gastrointestinal issues, sexual dysfunction, and bleeding.
  • Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are non-sedating, improve volition, treat chronic pain, but may cause GI symptoms, tachycardia, and hypertension.
  • Mirtazapine is a sedative for anorexia/insomnia but causes drowsiness and weight gain. Vortioxetine is non-sedating with fewer insomnia/sexual dysfunction side effects, though GI symptoms can occur.

Impact:

  • Provides a comparative overview of modern antidepressants, aiding clinicians in treatment selection.
  • Highlights the trade-offs between efficacy and side effect profiles for different antidepressant classes.
  • Contributes to informed decision-making in managing depression and associated symptoms, improving patient care.