What types of antidepressants exist?
Antidepressants are conditionally divided into groups in accordance with the chemical agents which they affect (pharmacodynamic principle). There are several different types of antidepressants, including:
1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Citalopram (brand name Celexa)
- Escitalopram (brand name Lexapro)
- Fluoxetine (brand name Prozac)
- Paroxetine (brand name Paxil, Pexeva)
- Sertraline (brand name Zoloft)
Side Effects of SSRI’s
Compared with side effects of others antidepressants, the side effects of these medicines are insignificant. These are some side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors:
- dry mouth
- sickness
- nervousness
- sleeplessness
- sexual disorders
- headache
2. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
- Amitriptyline (brand name Elavil)
- Desipramine (brand name Norpramin)
- Imipraminum (brand name Tofranil)
- Nortriptilin (brand name Aventyl, Pamelor)
Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants
The most common side effects of tricyclic antidepressants:
- dry mouth
- loss of one’s eyesight
- diarrhea
- painful feeling by urination
- exacerbation of glaucoma
- disorder of thought process and rapid fatigability.
These antidepressants also affect blood pressure and heart rate.
3. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI)
- Venlafaxine (brand name Effexor)
- Duloxetine (brand name Cymbalta)
The most common side effects of Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor:
- sickness
- appetite loss
- anxiety and nervousness
- headache
- sleeplessness and rapid fatigability
Such effects like dry mouth, diarrhea, weight loss, sexual disorders, heart-rate acceleration and increase of blood cholesterol level are also possible.
4. Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors
- Bupropion (brand name Wellbutrin)
The most common side effects of norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors:
- anxious excitement
- sickness
- headache
- appetite loss
- sleeplessness.
Some people can have rise of blood pressure.
5. Combined reuptake inhibitors and receptor blockers
- Trazodone (brand mark Desyrel)
- Nefazodone (brand name Serzone)
- Maprotiline
- Mirtazapine (brand name Remeron)
The most common side effects of combined reuptake inhibitors and receptor blockers: drowse, dry mouth, sickness and giddiness. Nefazodone is counter-indicative for people with kidney diseases. Maprotiline is counter-indicative for epileptics.
6. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- Isocarboxazid (brand name Marplan)
- Fenelzin (brand name Nardil)
- Tranylcypromine (brand name Parnate)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are less widespread as compared with others antidepressants. They also can have serious side effects, including weakness, giddiness, headache and tremor. The combination of monoamine oxidase inhibitors with others antidepressants or flu medicines, which are dispensed without prescription, can cause dangerous reaction. Prescribing antidepressant, a doctor must tell, which food and spirits can not be taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors. You can take this medicine only if you are ready to respect doctor’s recommendations. If you take monoamine oxidase inhibitors and your attending physician wants to change or prescribe another antidepressant, then at first you should stop take the first one and only after a time you can take the second one. This time is required for completely leaving of monoamine oxidase inhibitor out from an organism.
Tags: appetite, Celexa, Citalopram, Cymbalta, Duloxetine, Effexor, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, headache, Lexapro, Paroxetine, Paxil, Pexeva, Prozac, Sertraline, sickness, sleeplessness, SNRI, SSRI, TCAs, Venlafaxine, Zoloft