Abstract

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are notorious for a number of disadvantages, but particularly for an array of side-effects that leads to poor compliance, and also for a dangerous toxicity in overdose. Lofepramine is a new tricyclic that seems safer. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are more limited in their actions. Side-effects include nausea and insomnia, but on the whole the side-effect profile is an improvement on the TCAs. A miscellaneous group of novel antidepressants includes mianserin and trazodone (which both produce drowsiness) and viloxazine (which causes nausea). The reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (RIMAs) are a group of drugs that, by producing inhibition selectively of monoamine oxidase A (MOA-A), still allow metabolism of tyramine by MAO-B. Moclobemide is a RIMA that has proved itself to be very effective in severe depressive illness. It is remarkably safe and has an exceptionally low incidence of side-effects. It may be expected to be associated with a high acceptability in depressed patients.

Authors

Priest RG, Baldwin DS, Bullock T, Kibel D, Smeyatsky N, Steinert J

Institution

Academic Department of Psychiatry, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.

Source

South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde Suppl: 1992 Jun 6 pg 1-4

MeSH

Antidepressive Agents
Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
Humans
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Serotonin Antagonists

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

1609337