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Learn More: Depression

Types of Antidepressant Medications

Treatment of Depression: Antidepressant Medications
Drug Class		Examples	Type of Action
5-HT Receptor Antagonists or SARI	Serotonin-2 Antagonists/Reuptake Inhibitors (SARI)	Dutonin, Serzone® Desyrel®	Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain. Type 5: Mimics the action of up neurotransmitters by binding to the receptors for these neurotransmitters.
DopRIs	Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors	Wellbutrin®	Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain.
SNRIs	Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors	Effexor®, Trewilor Remeron®	Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain.
SSRIs	Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors	Celexa® Luvox® Paxil® Prozac® Zoloft®	Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain.
MAOIs	Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors	Marplan Nardil® Parnate®	Type 1: Blocks the breakdown of up neurotransmitters in the brain.
TCAs	Tricyclic Antidepressants	Anafranil® Asendin®Aventyl Pamelor® Elavil® Endep Norfranil Norpramin® Sinequan® Surmontil® Tipramine Tofranil-PM® Vivactil®	Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain.
Lithium	Antimanic Medication	Eskalith® Lithonate® Lithotabs™	Mechanism of action is not well understood.

5-HT Receptor Antagonists or SARI: Serotonin-2 Antagonists/Reuptake Inhibitors

Type of Action Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain. Type 5: Mimics the action of up neurotransmitters by binding to the receptors.

Generic Name	Trade Name
nefazodone trazodone	Serzone®, Dutonin Desyrel®

Before taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor about your:	Precautions: While you are taking this medication:	Side Effects: Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these side effects or if you experience other side effects that are continuous or bothersome:
allergies current pregnancy current breast-feeding age other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medications kidney problems liver problems heart disease (if taking trazodone) other medical problems	use caution when driving or operating machinery because these medications may make you drowsy or dizzy (trazodone also may impair judgment and motor skills) do not drink alcohol. take (trazodone) with food	dry mouth anxiety drowsiness dizziness nausea constipation blurred vision weakness confusion lightheadedness fainting (may occur with trazodone) painful erection (may occur with trazodone)

DopRIs: Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors

Type of Action Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain.

Generic Name	Trade Name
bupropion	Wellbutrin®, Wellbutrin SR

Before taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor about your:	Precautions: While you are taking this medication:	Side Effects: Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these side effects or if you experience other side effects that are continuous or bothersome:
allergies current pregnancy current breast-feeding age other prescription or nonprescription medications seizure disorder eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia) other medical problems	use caution when driving or operating machinery because these medications may make you drowsy or dizzy and may impair judgment and motor skills do not drink alcohol (This may increase the risk of seizure.) break daily dose into three parts spaced throughout the day to minimize the risk of seizure do not abruptly discontinue Wellbutrin because this may result in withdrawal symptoms	dry mouth anxiety constipation blurred vision dizziness weight loss tremor increased perspiration

SNRIs: Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors

Type of Action Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain.

Generic Name	Trade Name
venlafaxine mirtazapine	Effexor®, Effexor XR, Trewilor Remeron®

Before taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor about your:	Precautions: While you are taking this medication:	Side Effects: Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these side effects or if you experience other side effects that are continuous or bothersome:
allergies current pregnancy current breast-feeding age other prescription or nonprescription medications other medical problems	be careful when driving or operating machinery because these medications may make you drowsy or dizzy (Effexor and Effexor XR also may impair judgment and motor skills.) do not drink alcohol do not abruptly discontinue SNRIs because this may result in withdrawal symptoms	dry mouth drowsiness dizziness constipation nervousness increased perspiration nausea weakness weight gain (Remeron) weight loss/decreased appetite (Effexor and Effexor XR) increased cholesterol sexual dysfunction in males

SSRIs: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Type of Action Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain.

Generic Name	Trade Name
citalopram fluoxetine fluvoxamine paroxetine sertraline	Celexa® Prozac® Luvox® Paxil® Zoloft®

Before taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor about your:	Precautions: While you are taking this medication:	Side Effects: Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these side effects or if you experience other side effects that are continuous or bothersome:
allergies current pregnancy current breast-feeding age other prescription or non-prescription medications kidney problems liver problems other medical problems	be careful when driving or operating machinery because these medications may make you drowsy or dizzy do not drink alcohol avoid sun exposure and wear sunblock because SSRI may cause sensitivity to sunlight	dry mouth weight loss or gain headache nausea upset stomach diarrhea dizziness drowsiness anxiety muscle twitches fatigue sleep problems sexual dysfunction or loss of libido

MAOIs: Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

Type of Action Type 1: Blocks the breakdown of up neurotransmitters in the brain.

Generic Name	Trade Name
isocarboxazid phenelzine tranylcypromine	Marplan Nardil® Parnate®

Before taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor about your:	Precautions: While you are taking this medication:	Side Effects: Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these side effects or if you experience other side effects that are continuous or bothersome:
allergies current pregnancy current breast-feeding age other prescription or non-prescription medications heart disease history of stroke high blood pressure Parkinson's disease other medical problems	avoid foods high in tyramine. The combination of tyramine and MAOIs may cause dangerously high blood pressure. The following foods should be avoided while taking an MAOI: alcohol (e.g., wine, beer, ale, vermouth, whiskey, and liqueurs), nonalcoholic beers and wines all cheeses, especially aged cheeses meats—avoid all processed and aged meats and protein products (including protein supplements) bean curd, especially fermented bean curd and soybeans. broad beans—avoid fava beans all fish, especially smoked, fermented, or aged fish. any food containing monosodium glutamate (MSG) shrimp paste ginseng sauerkraut all soups that may contain meat or protein products yeasts–all yeast extract, brewer's yeast, or yeast in vitamin supplement form. (Baking with yeast is safe.) avoid taking the following medications with MAOIs: cold and allergy medications local anesthetics amphetamines insulin some narcotics antiparkinsonian medication The following foods may be consumed with caution in small amounts (less than ½ cup or 120 ml): white wine and port avocado (unripe) caffeine chocolate dairy products (fresh) nuts raspberries soy sauce spinach Do not abruptly discontinue MAOIs because this may result in withdrawal symptoms.	rapid heartbeat heart palpitations dizziness drowsiness headache anxiety blurred vision nausea vomiting weakness confusion sleep problems fainting tremors muscle twitching confusion memory problems sexual dysfunction dangerously high blood pressure stroke

Tetracyclics: Tetracyclic Antidepressants

Type of Action Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain.

Generic Name	Trade Name
maprotiline	Ludiomil

Before taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor about your:	Precautions: While you are taking this medication:	Side Effects: Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these side effects or if you experience other side effects that are continuous or bothersome:
allergies current pregnancy current breast-feeding age other prescription or nonprescription medications other medical problems	use caution when driving or operating machinery because these medications may make you drowsy or dizzy and may impair judgment and motor skills do not drink alcohol do not abruptly discontinue Ludiomil because this may result in withdrawal symptoms	dry mouth drowsiness constipation blurred vision weight gain

TCAs: Tricyclic Antidepressants

Type of Action Type 2: Blocks reuptake of the up neurotransmitters back into the nerve cells of the brain.

Generic Name	Trade Name
clomipramine amoxapine nortriptyline amitriptyline imipramine desipramine doxepin trimipramine imipramine protriptyline	Anafranil® Asendin® Aventyl Pamelor® Elavil® Endep Norfranil Norpramin® Sinequan® Surmontil® Tipramine Tofranil-PM® Vivactil®

Before taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor about your:	Precautions: While you are taking this medication:	Side Effects: Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these side effects or if you experience other side effects that are continuous or bothersome:
allergies current pregnancy current breast-feeding age other prescription or nonprescription medications heart problems thyroid disorders high blood pressure other medical problems	be careful when driving or operating machinery because these medications may make you drowsy or dizzy do not drink alcohol do not abruptly discontinue TCAs because this may result in withdrawal symptomsTCAs may interact with the following substances: thyroid hormone blood pressure medication oral contraceptives blood thinners sleeping agents antipsychotic medications diuretics antihistamines (allergy medications) aspirin vitamin C alcohol tobacco bicarbonate of soda	blurred vision dry mouth constipation weight gain/loss dizziness drowsiness headache nausea vomiting increased perspiration difficulty urinating sexual dysfunction/loss of libido anxiety heart palpitations nightmares hair loss mood swings muscle twitches confusion fatigue weakness RARE: Panic attacks, seizure, stroke, and heart attack.

Others: Antimanic Agents—Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Type of Action not well understood

Generic Name	Trade Name
lithium carbonate	Eskalith® Lithonate® Lithotabs™

Before taking this medication, be sure to tell your doctor about your:	Precautions: While you are taking this medication:	Side Effects: Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these side effects or if you experience other side effects that are continuous or bothersome:
allergies current pregnancy current breast-feeding age other prescription or nonprescription medications cardiovascular disease heart problems kidney problems liver problems brain damage other medical problems	be careful when driving or operating machinery because these medications may make you drowsy do not drink alcohol have your blood monitored frequently to prevent toxic effects from lithium treatment maintain adequate sodium and fluid intake do not abruptly discontinue lithium because this may result in withdrawal symptoms	gastrointestinal distress nausea confusion drowsiness diarrhea thirst fatigue muscle weakness/tremor weight gain/loss blurred vision restlessness arrhythmia seizure

Go to Mind and Mood Center

Last reviewed on: July, 2009

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