Antidepressants are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in many rich nations, and dozens of different types are currently available. They are taken for clinical depression plus a number of other conditions, which can include anxiety, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Many people with depression have found antidepressant drugs to be helpful, but they can have side effects. Some people also find it difficult to stop taking antidepressants once they have started. Other treatments for depression include talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, while regular exercise appears to help many people with mild depression.
There is scientific debate over how certain antidepressants work, and whether they are more effective than a placebo.
Some are said to boost the levels of a brain-signalling molecule called serotonin. This class of drugs is known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and includes Prozac. Other types of antidepressant include serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), noradrenaline and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NASSAs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
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