Antidepressants
There are several types of antidepressants one of which you may be prescribed. While all the antidepressants seem to be equally effective, one may suit you better than another. This is a brief guide to antidepressant medication.
Two of the chemical messengers in the brain are called serotonin (sometimes called 5-HT) and noradrenaline. Both are important in the areas of the brain that control or regulate mood and thinking. It is known that these two chemical messengers are not as effective or active as normal in the brain of someone who is depressed.
Antidepressants increase the amount of these chemical messengers, helping to correct the lack of action of the messengers and improving mood.
Antidepressants are not addictive.
Tricyclic antidepressant
Tricyclics used to be one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants.
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI’s)
NICE guidelines on depression recommend the sue of SSRI's. SSRI’s may also be used to treat other conditions, including anxiety, bulimia nervosa, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The SSRI’s are now one of the most commonly prescribed types of antidepressants. All of these drugs seem to be equally effective at the right dose but have different side-effects from each other. Generally, SSRI’s have less side-effects than the older drugs.
Mono-amine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
MAOI’s are used to treat symptoms of anxiety and a number of other symptoms as well as treating low mood and depression. Most notable about MAOIs is that you must watch your diet. Some foods are not agreeable with these drugs.
Other antidepressants
There are also other antidepressants that may be used that do not belong to any of the above groups.
You can find more information in our Antidepressants factsheet (195 kb) ![[pdf]](http://www.rethink.org/display_images/document_icons/pdf.gif){kind=icon}
, written by the Rethink Advice and Information Service
