Anti depressants

Major classes of antidepressants are:

1. SSRIs: Selective Serotonin Re uptake Inhibitors
Mechanism of Action (MOA): SSRIs prevent re uptake of serotonin in presynaptic nerve cells thereby increasing the concentration of serotonin in the synaptic cleft. Thus more serotonin is available to bind to post synaptic receptor. The SSRIs are:

a. Citalopram
b. Fluvoxamine
c. Escitalopram
d. Paroxetine
e. Sertaline
f. Fluoxetine


2. SNRIS : Serotonin Norepinephrine Re uptake Inhibitors
MOA: inhibit re uptake of serotonin and Norepinephrine. The drugs belonging to this class are:

a. Venlafaxine
b. Desvenlafaxine
c. Fluoxetine
d. Minlacipran
e. Levomilnacipran
f. Sibutramine

3. Atypical antidepressants
These antidepressants affect the neurotransmitters such as dopamine, Norepinephrine and serotonin.
a. Bupropion
b. Mirtazapine
c. Nefazodone
d. Trazodone

4. TCAs: Tricyclic antidepressants
a. Amitriptiline
b. Clomipramine
c. Imipramine
d. Desire mine
e. Nortriptyline

MOA: they mainly act by inhibiting re uptake of serotonin and Norepinephrine by blocking serotonin transporter

MAO I: Monoamine Oxidise Inhibitors
MOA: Act by inhibiting monoamine oxidase which breaks down neurotransmitters