Guide To The Most Common Antidepressants

Tetracyclics

Tetracyclic antidepressants, invented in the 1970s, are quite similar to tricyclic antidepressants. However, they contain four rings of atoms instead of three. Two examples of tetracyclics are setiptiline and mirtazapine, the latter also being a NASSA. Most medications in this class inhibit the reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin in the brain, thus elevating an individual's mood. These are incredibly effective antidepressants. However, as they are older, they also come with a longer list of potential side effects. They include weight gain, blurry vision, dry mouth, drowsiness, higher cholesterol, constipation, orthostatic hypotension, manic mood, seizures, and serotonin syndrome. In addition, stopping this antidepressant improperly can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms.

The result is that this type of antidepressant is often not prescribed as a first treatment for depression. Doctors often save them for severe cases, particularly when the patient has treatment-resistant depression. Some of them may be used off-label for obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Of course, this medication interacts with other antidepressants, so patients often cannot take them together. It may also interact with many other medicines, including migraine medications, thyroid medications, blood thinners, and insulin.

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Serotonin Antagonist Reuptake Inhibitors

Serotonin antagonist reuptake inhibitors (SARIs), as the name indicates, prevent the reuptake of serotonin. However, it is also vital to note that they prevent certain serotonin particles, those released in a synapse, from binding to undesired receptors. Instead, they redirect them to the receptors that will help the nerve cells that affect an individual's mood work better. Two examples of medicines in this class are trazodone and nefazodone. Medications in this class treat major depression, but also act as an off-label treatment for anxiety and insomnia.

They have fewer side effects than older antidepressants. However, common side effects include fatigue, dry mouth, constipation, headache, and blurred vision. SARIs may interact with several other medications, including anti-inflammatories, blood thinners, and other antidepressants, like MAOIs and SSRIs.