User:Phage/Sandboken

exist now please

Mechanism of Action
Reubtake inhibitors retard the brains ability to "recycle" certain chemicals in the brain, thus allowing more of the chemical to be available to be able to bind to the relevant receptor sites. Or at least, that's the idea.

Types
The underlying theory behind antidepressant drugs is that clinical depression is due entirely to chemical imbalances in the brain - and so drugs artificially stimulating certain receptors and chemical production in the body can aid permanent treatment of depression. There are many different types of antidepressants, each aimed at working on different chemicals in the brain.

SSRI
The most common chemical indicated and treated for depression being serotonin (happy hormone), it is common for doctors to prescribe an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These medications are the most commonly prescribed due to their lower incidence of side effects, and are often the first type of antidepressant tried by general practitioners and psychiatrists.

Some common SSRIs include:
 * Prozac (sertraline)
 * Celexa (citalopram)
 * Zoloft (fluoxetine)

SSNRI
Norepinephrine (which has to do with memory and concentration as well as flight or fight response), is also commonly indicated in depression. There are several different pharmacological compounds that work on both the serotonin and the norepinephrine systems in the brain. These are often used as a first and second line treatment.

There are a few SSNRIs:
 * Effexor (venlafaxine)
 * Cymbalta (duloxetine)
 * Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)

Other Types
There are other types of uncommonly prescribed antidepressants that are generally older than the above, or have side effects or require dietary restrictions that preclude them being prescribed widely. These include MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitor), and tricyclic antidepressants.

The most fun part of this is that since no one really knows exactly which drugs to prescribe (unlike, say, antibiotics), you get to be switched from one to several medications over the course of your treatment. If you respond poorly to side effects then it can be a great ride.