Definition: One of several types of antidepressant medications used to treat depressive disorders. These include newer medications, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the tricyclics, and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs). Lately Saint John's wort has been particulary popular as an herbal treatment for depression. The SSRIs--and other newer medications that affect neurotransmitters such as dopamine or norepinephrine--generally have fewer side effects than tricyclics. Sometimes your doctor will try a variety of antidepressants before finding the medication or combination of medications most effective for you. Sometimes the dosage must be increased to be effective. Antidepressant medications must be taken regularly, sometimes for as long as 8 weeks, before the full therapeutic effect occurs.
Also Known As: SSRIs (one class of antidepressants), depression medications
Common Misspellings: antidepresants Celexia Prosac amitriptiline amitryptiline Elivil doxapin nortryptiline nortriptyline
Examples: Examples include Adapin-doxepin Anafranil-clomipramine, Elavil-amitriptyline, Endep-amitriptyline, Ludiomil-maprotiline, Norpramin-desipramine, Pamelor-nortryptyline, Pertofrane-desipramine, Sinequan-doxepin, Surmontil-trimipramine, Tofranil-imipramine, Vivactil-protriptyline, Buspar-buspirone) Desyrel,-trazodone, Effexor-venlafaxine, Remeron-mirtazapine, Serzone-nefazodone, Wellbutrin-bupropion, Celexa-citalopram, Luvox-fluvoxamine, Paxil-paroxetine, Prozac-fluoxetine, Zoloft-sertraline