II. Mechanism

  1. Biogenic Amine Hypothesis
    1. Depression is associated with decreased monoamine (Serotonin, Norepinephrine and Dopamine) neurotransmission
    2. Antidepressants that increase synaptic Neurotransmitter concentrations appear to improve Major Depression
    3. Delayed Antidepressant effects may be related to postsynaptic monoamine receptor downregulation
    4. In contrast, mania occurs when there is excessive monoamine neurotransmission

VIII. Resources: Patient Education

  1. Information from your Family Doctor
    1. http://www.familydoctor.org/handouts/012.html

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Related Studies

Ontology: Antidepressive Agents (C0003289)

Definition (MEDLINEPLUS)

Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. Your doctor can prescribe them for you. They work to balance some of the natural chemicals in our brains. It may take several weeks for them to help. There are several types of antidepressants. You and your doctor may have to try a few before finding what works best for you.

Antidepressants may cause mild side effects that usually do not last long. These may include headache, nausea, sleep problems, restlessness, and sexual problems. 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.

NIH: National Institute of Mental Health

Definition (NCI) Mood-stimulating drugs used primarily in the treatment of affective disorders and related conditions. Several monoamine oxidase inhibitors are useful as antidepressants apparently as a long-term consequence of their modulation of catecholamine levels. The tricyclic compounds useful as antidepressive agents also appear to act through brain catecholamine systems. A third group is a diverse group of drugs including some that act specifically on serotonergic systems. (MeSH)
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A drug used to treat depression.
Definition (MSH) Mood-stimulating drugs used primarily in the treatment of affective disorders and related conditions. Several MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS are useful as antidepressants apparently as a long-term consequence of their modulation of catecholamine levels. The tricyclic compounds useful as antidepressive agents (ANTIDEPRESSIVE AGENTS, TRICYCLIC) also appear to act through brain catecholamine systems. A third group (ANTIDEPRESSIVE AGENTS, SECOND-GENERATION) is a diverse group of drugs including some that act specifically on serotonergic systems.
Definition (CSP) mood-stimulating drugs used primarily in the treatment of affective disorders and related conditions.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121)
MSH D000928
SnomedCT 283012004, 36236003, 372720008
LNC LP18893-5, MTHU006782
English Agents, Antidepressive, Antidepressants, Antidepressant Drugs, Antidepressant drug, Drugs, Antidepressant, antidepressants (medication), antidepressants, Antidepressive, Antidepressive Agent [TC], [CN600] ANTIDEPRESSANTS, Antidepressive Agent, antidepressant drugs, antidepressive agents, antidepressive agent, antidepressant drug, drugs antidepressant, antidepressants drugs, ANTIDEPRESSANTS, Antidepressant drug (substance), Antidepressant, Antidepressant (product), Antidepressant (substance), antidepressant, Antidepressant, NOS, Antidepressant Agent, Antidepressive Agents
French Anti-dépresseurs, Agents antidépresseurs, Médicaments antidépresseurs, Antidépresseurs
Swedish Antidepressiva medel
Czech antidepresiva
Finnish Masennuslääkkeet
Italian Farmaci antidepressivi, Antidepressivi
Russian TIMOLEPTICHESKIE SREDSTVA, ANTIDEPRESSIVNYE SREDSTVA, ANTIDEPRESSANTY, TIMOANALEPTIKI, TIMOLEPTIKI, АНТИДЕПРЕССАНТЫ, АНТИДЕПРЕССИВНЫЕ СРЕДСТВА, ТИМОАНАЛЕПТИКИ, ТИМОЛЕПТИКИ, ТИМОЛЕПТИЧЕСКИЕ СРЕДСТВА
Japanese 抗抑鬱薬, 抗うつ薬, 抗鬱剤, 抗鬱薬, 抗抑うつ薬, 抗うつ剤, 感情賦活薬
Croatian ANTIDEPRESIVI
Polish Leki przeciwdepresyjne, Tymoleptyki, Środki antydepresyjne, Środki przeciwdepresyjne
Portuguese Agentes Antidepressivos, Antidepressivos
Spanish Antidepresivos, Agentes Antidepresivos, antidepresivo (producto), antidepresivo (sustancia), antidepresivo
Norwegian Antidepressiva
German Antidepressiva, Antidepressive Mittel