Antidepressants

Antidepressants

There are a few important things you need to mention to your doctor before he/she prescribes antidepressants.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’S)

These are among the newer antidepressants, which have been available from 1988. They act on the neurotransmitter serotonin.

Tricyclics

This is an older group of drugs, which has been in use since 1957. These drugs affect predominantly noradrenaline.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s)

This is an older group of antidepressants, which is used less frequently today. These agents act by inhibiting an enzyme called monoamine oxidase.

Other antidepressants

These antidepressants do not fit into the aforementioned groups and many of them are newer agents.

What is a psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in psychiatry. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication and psychotherapy to treat depression and other mental illnesses.

Antidepressants are not helping me

You've taken the responsible step to tackle your depression head-on and to seek treatment. However, it's a few weeks down the line and you are still not feeling better.

Antidepressants and your libido

The "new generation" of antidepressants have few side-effects compared to earlier medication, but can it cause problems when you least expect it to?

Will antidepressants affect my libido?

Many people who take antidepressants report that their libido, or sex drive, becomes much lower than it used to be.

Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors

Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI) is a class of medications which is closely related to the SSRI’s.