Also called: Also called: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Tricyclic antidepressants
Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. Your doctor can prescribe them for you. They can improve your mood, sleep, appetite and concentration. It may take several weeks for them to help. There are several types of antidepressants. You and your doctor may have to try several before finding what works best for you.
Medicines sometimes cause unwanted side effects. For example, when you first start your antidepressant you may feel tired, have trouble sleeping or feel sick to your stomach. The side effects usually go away after a short time. Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You should also let your doctor know if you take any other medicines, vitamins or herbal supplements.
It is important to keep taking your medicines, even if you feel better. Do not stop taking your medicines without talking to your doctor. You often need to stop antidepressants gradually.
National Institute of Mental Health
- Antidepressant Medicines: A Guide for Adults with Depression(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) - http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/healthInfo.cfm?infotype=sg&DocID=10&ProcessID=7
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Antidepressants: Medicine for Depression(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/treatment/012.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/mentalhealth/treatment/012.printerview.html
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Medications
(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/medications/complete-publication.shtml
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Antidepressants: Summary of Affordable Alternatives(Consumers Union of U.S.) - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/antidepressants.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/2pager_SpanishAntidepress.pdf
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Depression: How Medicine Can Help(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/treatment/045.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/mentalhealth/treatment/045.printerview.html
- Questions and Answers on Antidepressant Use in Children, Adolescents, and Adults(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/QA20070502.htm
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Millisecond Brain Signals Predict Response to Fast-Acting Antidepressant(10/02/2008, National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/oct2008/nimh-02.htm
- U.S. Kids Take More Psychotropic Drugs Than Europeans(09/25/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69684.html
- Antidepressants May Damage Male Fertility(09/24/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69647.html
- Antidepressant Use Tied to Poorer Driving(08/18/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68233.html
- More News on Antidepressants http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_a.html#antidepressants
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St. John's Wort(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/
- MAOIs and Diet: Restricting Tyramine Prevents Serious Side Effect(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/maois/HQ01575/METHOD=print
- Antidepressants: Get Tips to Cope with Side Effects(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/MH00062
- Combined Reuptake Inhibitors and Receptor Blockers(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mental-health/MH00070/METHOD=print
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/maois/MH00072/METHOD=print
- Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/antidepressants/MH00068/METHOD=print
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/ssris/MH00066/METHOD=print
- Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/antidepressants/MH00067/METHOD=print
- Tetracyclic Antidepressants(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mental-health/MH00069/METHOD=print
- Tricyclic Antidepressants(InteliHealth) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8596/35229/363019.html?d=dmtContent
- Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/treatment/904.printerview.html
- Antidepressants: Are They Safe During Pregnancy?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/antidepressants/DN00007/METHOD=print
- Antidepressants: Selecting One That's Right for You(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/antidepressants/HQ01069/METHOD=print
- Antidepressants: Which Cause the Fewest Sexual Side Effects?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/antidepressants/AN01739/METHOD=print
- Serotonin Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/serotonin-syndrome/DS00860/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Antidepressants(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/intervention=antidepressants
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Results for Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) Study(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/trials/practical/stard/index.shtml
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Stopping Antidepressant Use While Pregnant May Pose Risks(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2006/stopping-antidepressant-use-while-pregnant-may-pose-risks.shtml
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Efficacy, tolerability, and safety of duloxetine. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18841598&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Pathophysiology of pain and depression: the role of dual-acting antidepressants. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18841597&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: The inhibition of human neutrophil phagocytosis and oxidative burst by... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18806032&tool=MedlinePlus
- Antidepressants -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=antidepressive+agents[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Center for Mental Health Services - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/
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NAMI - http://www.nami.org/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/NAMI_en_español/NAMI_en_español.htm
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National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
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Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents: Information for Parents and Caregivers(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/antidepressant-medications-for-children-and-adolescents-information-for-parents-and-caregivers.shtml
- Antidepressants for Children: Explore the Pros and Cons(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/antidepressants/MH00059/METHOD=print
- Bipolar Disorder - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bipolardisorder.html
- Depression - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/depression.html
- Drug Therapy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugtherapy.html
- Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Antidepressants is the National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/