MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) are drugs that are considered “first-generation” antidepressants. This class of drugs was originally developed for the treatment of tuberculosis, but were found to have antidepressant properties when given to depressed patients. In the 1950s, they became very popular as antidepressants. Scientists eventually developed more selective MAOI drugs to reduce side effects …
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) were developed in the 1950s as a way to treat depression with chemical compounds. These drugs are known for their specific chemical structure consisting of three rings of atoms, hence being referred to as “tri”-cyclic. Tricyclics were developed after researchers began exploring derivatives of the first typical antipsychotic medication Thorazine. Experimentation with derivatives …
Those who were taking the “old Nardil” (an MAOI antidepressant) formulation for depression know that it worked quite well. Many people had taken it for years, in some cases decades with relief from depressive symptoms. Although this drug didn’t work for everyone, those who found it effective usually experienced long-lasting relief from depression. As noted in …
SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are specific types of drugs that are most commonly utilized to treat depression and anxiety disorders. The drugs work to increase the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin by preventing or inhibiting its reuptake. By preventing the reuptake of serotonin in the pre-synaptic neurons, this allows for increased serotonin in the …
Abilify (Aripiprazole) is an atypical antipsychotic medication that functions primarily to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It also has also been approved to help treat major depression, tic disorders, as well as autism-related irritability. This is a relatively new drug and it has quickly become among the most popular drugs in the United States. It …
SNRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are also known as dual-reuptake inhibitors because they prevent the reuptake of multiple neurotransmitters in the brain. Most of the second-generation antidepressants are classified as “SSRI,” meaning they focus solely on preventing the reuptake of serotonin. SNRI drugs continue to prevent the reuptake of serotonin, but also focus on another …
Atypical antidepressants are unique from other classes of antidepressants based on pharmacological properties. These days, the most common antidepressants fit into one of a few categories: SSRIs/SNRIs, TCAs, and MAOIs. Respectively these are: selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclics (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). SSRIs and SNRIs are considered the …