Antidepressants are drugs that were created to reduce symptoms of depression by targeting various neurotransmitters in the brain. Although initial researchers hypothesize that those with depression have a “chemical imbalance,” this isn’t a proven fact. With that said, increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters such as: serotonin, norepinephrine, and to a lesser extent dopamine seems to …
Tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCAs) are a class of antidepressants that are similar to tricyclic antidepressants, except they are composed of four atomic rings; hence the name “tetra”-cyclic. This class of drugs was developed in the 1970s and most hit the market decades after the first tricyclic antidepressants. These were essentially a spin-off of TCAs with one …
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 …