How many ssri are there

Tricyclic antidepressants, or TCAs, are an older class of antidepressants. They first came onto the market in the midth century as treatments for depression. As well as depression, some tricyclic antidepressants are also used to treat certain anxiety and pain disorders.

Like other antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants work by increasing the amounts of certain neurotransmitters in your brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine. As medications for treating depression, tricyclic antidepressants are about equally as effective as SSRIs. Despite this, many people are still prescribed tricyclic antidepressants to treat depression and other conditions.

As some tricyclic antidepressants have sedating effects, they may be used off-label as sleep aids for people who struggle with insomnia. Because of their age, many tricyclic antidepressants are no longer marketed under their original brand names and are instead only available as generic medications. Our complete guide to tricyclic antidepressants explains how these medications work in more detail, as well as how they should be used safely.

Currently, a variety of tricyclic antidepressants are used to treat depression, anxiety disorders and other conditions. Compared to certain other tricyclic antidepressants, desipramine is slightly less likely to cause certain side effects common to this class of antidepressants.

In addition to depression, desipramine may be prescribed off-label to treat neuropathic pain, bulimia nervosa, irritable bowel syndrome and several other conditions. It may also be used off-label to treat other conditions, such as migraines and neuropathic pain. It may also be used off-label for panic disorder and neuropathic pain.

Nortriptyline Pamelor is another tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression. It may also be prescribed off-label as a treatment for chronic pain, myofascial pain, orofacial pain, diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia, a potential complication of shingles. Protriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant prescribed for depression.

Protriptyline may also be prescribed off-label for treatment-resistant depression, sleep apnea, cocaine dependence, as a local anaesthetic and as a support medication for people trying to quit smoking.

However, protriptyline is still available and sold as a generic. Tetracyclic antidepressants are another older class of antidepressants. They were introduced in the s and s and work similarly to tricyclic antidepressants. Like other antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressants work by increasing the levels of certain neurotransmitters including serotonin and norepineprhine affected in people with depression or anxiety disorders.

Numerous tetracyclic antidepressants are used to treat depression and other conditions. It would be too simplistic to say that depression and related mental health conditions are caused by low serotonin levels, but a rise in serotonin levels can improve symptoms and make people more responsive to other types of treatment, such as CBT. SSRIs are usually taken in tablet form. When they're prescribed, you'll start on the lowest possible dose thought necessary to improve your symptoms.

SSRIs usually need to be taken for 2 to 4 weeks before the benefit is felt. You may experience mild side effects early on, but it's important that you don't stop taking the medication.

These effects will usually wear off quickly. They may recommend increasing your dose or trying an alternative antidepressant. A course of treatment usually lasts for at least 6 months, although longer courses are sometimes recommended and some people with recurrent problems may be advised to take them indefinitely. In some cases, the combined use of drugs that both exert serotonergic action can lead to serotonin syndrome.

This is the toxic accumulation of serotonin that can trigger a cascade of potentially dangerous physical and psychiatric symptoms. To avoid this, always advise your doctor about any and all drugs you are taking, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication, nutritional supplements, or herbal remedies.

Antidepressants should only be used as prescribed and may take up to eight weeks before the benefits are fully felt. It is important never to stop, interrupt, decrease, or increases doses without first speaking with your doctor.

Stopping abruptly can lead to disruptive and often debilitating withdrawal symptoms , including nausea, vomiting, tremors, nightmares, dizziness, depression, and electrical shocks sensations. This can be avoided by gradually tapering the dose , preferably under the direction of a doctor.

Antidepressants should be used with extreme caution in children, teens, and younger adults. In , the FDA issued a black box warning about the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in people under 24 on antidepressants of any type. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor.

If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Antidepressants should only be used in children, teens, and younger adults when absolutely needed and only after weighing the potential benefits of treatment against the potential risks. Everything feels more challenging when you're dealing with depression.

Get our free guide when you sign up for our newsletter. Depression: How effective are antidepressants? National Library of Medicine. January 12, Fasipe, O. Neuropharmacological classification of antidepressant agents based on their mechanisms of action. Arc Med Heal Sci. DOI: Ramachandraih, C. Ind J Psychiatry. Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: a pharmacological comparison. Innov Clin Neurosci. PMID: May 30, Laban TS. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.

Published April 7, A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs. Products and services. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs This commonly prescribed type of antidepressant can help you overcome depression.

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