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Types of Medications

Explore different types of medications

How Do Medications Work? 

How Do Medication Work?

BASIC FUNCTION REVIEW

In the brain, neurons relay messages using what are called neurotransmitters. These are chemicals such as dopamine or serotonin. They are what control our emotions, reactions, and actions. They are our brain's responses to environmental factors.

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Neuron

BASIC FUNCTION REVIEW

Neurotransmitters stored in the axon terminal travel to the nearby dendrite and create a chemical bridge so electronic messages can travel between the gap.

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The type and quantity of neurotransmitters in the synapse (space between the axon terminal and the dendrite) impact how messages are sent and received. Again, this is what affects how a person feels, reacts, and acts.

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Axon Terminal

Dendrite

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Axon Terminal

Synapse

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Axon Terminal

Dendrite

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Dendrite

MEDICATION'S IMPACT ON NEUROTRANSMITTERS

Different medications behave in different ways. Specific medications impact specific neurotransmitters. Additionally, some medications are designed to block the production of neurotransmitters, while others increase the production.

Through introducing medication, it changes the amount of neurotransmitters in your body and starts a series of chemical changes that happen in the cells and neurons.

 

These changes eventually produce significant changes in the way that these neurons send and receive information, as well as function in general.

 

This is why you have to be consistent about taking medications and why it takes time to adjust to them.

Types of Medications

  • Mood Stabilizers

  • Anti-Psychotics

  • Sleep Medications

  • Stimulants

Depression Medications

MOOD STABILIZERS

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors 

(SSRIs)

SSRIs are used to treat and ease symptoms of moderate depression. They are relatively safe and typically cause fewer side effects than other types of depression.

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Many also couple this medication treatment with CBT.

WHAT THEY TREAT

LIST OF SSRIs

  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)

  • Citalopram (Celexa)

  • Sertraline (Zoloft)

  • Paroxetine (Paxil)

  • Escitalopram (Lexapro)

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS

  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

  • Headache

  • Drowsiness

  • Dry mouth

  • Insomnia

  • Nervousness, agitation or restlessness

  • Dizziness

  • Sexual problems, such as reduced sexual desire, difficulty reaching orgasm or inability to maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction)

  • Impact on appetite, leading to weight loss or weight gain

HOW DO THEY WORK?

"It's thought that SSRIs work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.

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Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a messenger chemical that carries signals between nerve cells in the brain). It's thought to have a good influence on mood, emotion and sleep.

​

After carrying a message, serotonin is usually reabsorbed by the nerve cells (known as 'reuptake'). SSRIs work by blocking ('inhibiting') reuptake, meaning more serotonin is available to pass further messages between nearby nerve cells."

Serotonin.svg.png

SEROTONIN

Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors

(SNRIs)

Antidepressant SNRIs help relieve depression symptoms, such as irritability and sadness, but some are also used for anxiety disorders and nerve pain.

WHAT THEY TREAT

LIST OF SNRIs

  • Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)

  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

  • Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)

  • ​Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS

  • Nausea

  • Dry mouth

  • Dizziness

  • Headache

  • Excessive sweating

  • ​Loss of appetite

  • Tiredness

  • Constipation

  • Insomnia

  • Changes in sexual function, such as reduced sexual desire, difficulty reaching orgasm or the inability to maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction

HOW DO THEY WORK?

"SNRIs ease depression by affecting chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) used to communicate between brain cells. Like most antidepressants, SNRIs work by ultimately effecting changes in brain chemistry and communication in brain nerve cell circuitry known to regulate mood, to help relieve depression.

 

SNRIs block the reabsorption (reuptake) of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain."

Serotonin.svg.png
320px-Norepinephrine_structure.png

SEROTONIN

NOREPINEPHRINE

Noradrenaline and Specific Serotonergic Antidepressants

(NASSAs)

NASSAs may be effective for some people who are unable to take SSRIs. The side effects of NASSAs are similar to those of SSRIs, but they're thought to cause fewer sexual problems. However, they may also cause more drowsiness at first.

WHAT THEY TREAT

LIST OF NASSAs

  • Aptazapine (CGS-7525A)

  • Esmirtazapine (ORG-50,081)

  • Mianserin (Bolvidon, Norval, Tolvon)

  • Mirtazapine (Norset, Remeron, Avanza, Zispin)

  • Setiptiline/teciptiline (Tecipul)

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS

  • Drowsiness

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Dry mouth

  • Increased appetite 

  • Weight gain

  • Diarrhea or constipation

HOW DO THEY WORK?

"Noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs) work by blocking receptors on brain cells that receive signals from monoamine neurotransmitters. Monoamine neurotransmitters include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. By blocking these receptors, NaSSAs increase levels of monoamine neurotransmitters to relieve depression symptoms."

Dopamine_chemical_structure.png
Serotonin.svg.png
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SEROTONIN

NOREPINEPHRINE

DOPAMINE

SOURCES

​https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/overview/

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https://www.madisonavetms.com/blog/what-are-the-classes-of-antidepressants/

Tricyclic Antidepressants

(TCAs)

TCAs are an older type of antidepressant. They're no longer usually recommended as the first treatment for depression because they can be more dangerous if an overdose is taken. They also cause more unpleasant side effects than SSRIs and SNRIs.

​

Exceptions are sometimes made for people with severe depression that fail to respond to other treatments. 

WHAT THEY TREAT

LIST OF TCAs

  • Amitriptyline

  • Clomipramine

  • Dosulepin

  • Imipramine

  • Lofepramine

  • Nortriptyline

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS

  • Feeling agitated, shaky or anxious

  • Feeling and being sick

  • Indigestion and stomach aches

  • Diarrhea or constipation

  • Loss of appetite

  • Dizziness

  • Headaches

  • Not sleeping well (insomnia), or feeling very sleepy

  • Loss of libido (reduced sex drive)

  • Difficulties achieving orgasm during sex or masturbation

  • Difficulties obtaining or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)

HOW DO THEY WORK?

"Tricyclic antidepressants work by increasing levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine (a neurotransmitter and hormone known to affect mood) in the brain. Just like SNRIs, TCAs work by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine to increase levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain."

Serotonin.svg.png
320px-Norepinephrine_structure.png

SEROTONIN

NOREPINEPHRINE

SOURCES

​https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/overview/

​

https://www.madisonavetms.com/blog/what-are-the-classes-of-antidepressants/

Serotonin Antagonists and Reuptake Inhibitors

(SARIs)

SARIs are not usually the first choice of antidepressant, but they may be prescribed if other antidepressants have not worked or have caused side effects.

WHAT THEY TREAT

LIST OF SARIs

  • Etoperidone (Axiomin, Etonin)

  • Lorpiprazole (Normarex)

  • Mepiprazole (Psigodal)

  • Nefazodone (Serzone, Nefadar)

  • Trazodone (Desyrel)

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS

  • Feeling agitated, shaky or anxious

  • Feeling and being sick

  • Indigestion and stomach aches

  • Diarrhea or constipation

  • Loss of appetite

  • Dizziness

  • Headaches

  • Not sleeping well (insomnia), or feeling very sleepy

  • Loss of libido (reduced sex drive)

  • Difficulties achieving orgasm during sex or masturbation

  • Difficulties obtaining or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)

HOW DO THEY WORK?

"SARIs work by inhibiting serotonin reuptake in the brain. They act as antagonists to inhibit a certain serotonin receptor—known as the 5HT2a receptor—and block the function of the serotonin transporter protein, thereby increasing the amount of active serotonin throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Trazodone use also results in some histamine and adrenergic receptor blockade in the brain; nefazodone additionally inhibits norepinephrine reuptake, though less potently than its effects on the serotonergic system."

Serotonin.svg.png
320px-Norepinephrine_structure.png

SEROTONIN

NOREPINEPHRINE

SOURCES

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/side-effects/

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https://americanaddictioncenters.org/antidepressants-guide/sari

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

(MAOIs)

MAOIs are an older type of antidepressant that are rarely used nowadays. They can cause potentially serious side effects so should only be prescribed by a specialist doctor.

WHAT THEY TREAT

LIST OF MAOIs

  • Isocarboxazid (Marplan)

  • Phenelzine (Nardil)

  • Selegiline (Emsam)

  • Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS

  • Dry mouth

  • Nausea, diarrhea or constipation

  • Headache

  • Drowsiness

  • Insomnia

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

  • Skin reaction at the patch site

HOW DO THEY WORK?

"Monoamine oxidase inhibitors were the first class of antidepressants developed. (6) Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that removes and breaks down the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine from the brain after they’ve done their job of helping brain cells communicate. MAOIs increase levels of these neurotransmitters by preventing monoamine oxidase from breaking them down."

Dopamine_chemical_structure.png
Serotonin.svg.png
320px-Norepinephrine_structure.png

SEROTONIN

NOREPINEPHRINE

DOPAMINE

SOURCES

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/overview/

​

https://www.madisonavetms.com/blog/what-are-the-classes-of-antidepressants/

​

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/maois/art-20043992

​

​

 

Anxiety Medications

ANTI-ANXIETY

Anti-Psychotic Drugs

Antidepressant SNRIs help relieve depression symptoms, such as irritability and sadness, but some are also used for anxiety disorders and nerve pain.

WHAT THEY TREAT

LIST OF SNRIs

  • Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)

  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

  • Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)

  • ​Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS

  • Nausea

  • Dry mouth

  • Dizziness

  • Headache

  • Excessive sweating

  • ​Loss of appetite

  • Tiredness

  • Constipation

  • Insomnia

  • Changes in sexual function, such as reduced sexual desire, difficulty reaching orgasm or the inability to maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction

HOW DO THEY WORK?

"SNRIs ease depression by affecting chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) used to communicate between brain cells. Like most antidepressants, SNRIs work by ultimately effecting changes in brain chemistry and communication in brain nerve cell circuitry known to regulate mood, to help relieve depression.

 

SNRIs block the reabsorption (reuptake) of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain."

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