Anti-depressants

Chemical involved in anti-antidepressants

Serotonin and sometimes dopamine.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

It is the most commonly prescribed AD. They work by increasing the concentration (amount) of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin helps to regulate mood, memory, pleasure, sleeping, eating, learning and cell communication. It is also licenced for anxiety and OCD.

Selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

-Newer and stronger than SSRIs

-Side-effects can be stronger and overdose can be more dangerous

-Venlafaxine tends to be used when SSRIs haven’t worked

-Serotonin, Reuptake (think about recycling), Inhibitors (think about stopping)

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Side effects of AD

Feeling agitated, shaky, anxious, sickly, indigestion, stomach ache, diarrhoea, constipation, loss of appetite, dizziness, insomnia, 

Tricyclics 

Tricyclics are rarely prescribed as front line treatment as they are very lethal in overdose, and have quite unpleasant side-effects.

Tend to see them in older people who have been on them for many years.

TCAs also used to treat nerve pain, so always check what condition the patient was prescribed the drug for.

Types of tricyclics

Amitryptline (can be used for neuropain) and Trazodone