Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Antidepressants

An understanding of the clinical pharmacology of antidepressant agents is essential to optimal prescribing. The following chapter outlines general principles that influence prescribing, and then discusses specific subgroups of antidepressants. There is no generally accepted classification scheme for antidepressants, and current groupings reflect marketing, the history of development, and pharmacologic effects. We use the following terminology 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 (non-traditional) antidepressants. Readers should keep in mind that there is no classification scheme that accurately reflects the actions of all the drug classes, and we have chosen a compromise classification system that is based on terms commonly used in clinical settings.