Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Antidepressants

An understanding of the clinical pharmacology of antidepressant agents is essential for optimal prescribing. This chapter outlines general principles that influence prescribing, then discusses specific subgroups of antidepressants. There is no generally accepted classification scheme for antidepressants; current groupings reflect marketing practices, the history of drug development, and pharmacological effects. We use the following terms in our discussion: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), cyclic antidepressants, mixed action agents, selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and alternative (nontra-ditional) antidepressants. Readers should keep in mind, however, that we have chosen a compromise classification system that is based on terms commonly used in clinical settings. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.