Antidepressants

Antidepressants are a family of drugs primarily used to treat mental depression as well as chronic pain, childhood bed-wetting, anxiety, panic disorder, eating disorders, cigarette addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, obesity, social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual depression. Antidepressants are classified according to their action on brain chemicals or by their chemical structure and are divided into the following four categories:

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

Phenelzine (Nardil®)
Tranylcypromine (Parnate®)

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Amitriptyline (Elavil®)
Amoxapine (Asendin®)
Clomipramine (Anafranil®)
Desipramine (Norpramin®, Pertofrane®)
Doxepin (Adapin®, Sinequan®)
Imipramine (Tofranil®, Janimine®)
Nortriptyline (Aventyl®, Pamelor®)
Protriptyline (Vivactil®)
Trimipramine (Surmontil®)

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Citalopram (Celexa®)
Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)
Paroxetine (Paxil®)
Sertraline (Zoloft®)

Miscellaneous Antidepressants

Bupropion (Wellbutrin®, Zyban®)
Maprotiline (Ludiomil®)
Mirtazapine (Remeron®)
Nefazodone (Serzone®)
Trazodone (Desyrel®)
Venlafaxine (Effexor®)

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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2003.