
Addiction to Antidepressants
List of Antidepressant Drugs
Different types of antidepressants can be categorized based on how they work. A few of the most commonly used antidepressants today include;
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors or MAOIs
These are some of the first antidepressants to be made; they work by blocking the monoamine oxidase enzyme. This way, the enzyme can no longer block neurotransmitters in the brain and freely flow throughout the brain. These types of antidepressants don’t work with certain foods or medication; therefore, it is important to monitor the person using them.
Tricyclic Antidepressants or TCAs
TCAs were some of the earliest antidepressants. These also block the brain from absorbing norepinephrine and serotonin. It is reserved for those patients who are resistant to modern antidepressants.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs & Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors or SNRIs
SSRIs and SNRIs are two of the most commonly used medications today. SSRIs are the most popular antidepressants. Both of these have fewer side effects as compared to older medications. SNRIs are also used to treat menopause, anxiety, and fibromyalgia syndrome. Both SNRIs and SSRIs block the brain from absorbing serotonin. SNRI also blocks the absorption of norepinephrine.
Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors
NDRIs also block the brain from absorbing norepinephrine and dopamine. As they are readily present in the brain, this provides feelings of wellbeing.
Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms

Treatment
- Whether the person was taking prescription drugs
- The amount they were consuming
- If they were consuming the drug with any other substance