Antidepressants
Antidepressants
Antidepressants (/æntɪdɪˈprɛsənts/) are a class of medications that are primarily used to treat depression. They can also be used for other mental health conditions and chronic pain.
Etymology
The term "antidepressant" is derived from the English words "anti-", meaning against, and "depressant", referring to something that reduces activity or vigor. It was first used in the 1960s to describe the action of these medications in combating the symptoms of depression.
Types of Antidepressants
There are several types of antidepressants, including:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Atypical antidepressants
Each type works in a different way and has different side effects.
Usage
Antidepressants are used to treat several conditions other than depression, including:
- Anxiety disorders
- Panic disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders
- Chronic pain
It's important to note that antidepressants take time to work, often several weeks, and they must be taken consistently to be effective.
Side Effects
Like all medications, antidepressants have side effects. These can include:
- Nausea
- Increased appetite and weight gain
- Loss of sexual desire and other sexual problems
- Fatigue and drowsiness
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antidepressants
- Wikipedia's article - Antidepressants
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski