Future developments, antidepressant drug

The antidepressants available in the United States are classified by either their chemical structure (e.g., the tricyclics, TCAs) or their actions on neurotransmitters (e.g., SSRIs and MAOIs) or simply as other (e.g., Wellbutrin). In the future, the classification of the antidepressants may become more confusing as new drugs are developed that are neither TCAs, SSRIs, or MAOIs. 

The future of atypical antidepressants in the treatment of psychiatric disorders is bright. Advances in neuroscience are being followed closely by those involved in drug development. It is likely that in the future more unique, novel agents will be developed. Such collaborative efforts will make safer and more effective medications for childhood psychiatric disorders possible. 

The mood stabilizer lithium was developed as the first treatment for bipolar disorder. It has definitely modified the long-term outcome of bipolar disorder because it not only treats acute episodes of mania, but it is the first psychotropic drug proven to have a prophylactic effect in preventing future episodes of illness. Lithium even treats depression in bipolar patients, although it is not so clear that it is a powerful antidepressant for unipolar depression. Nevertheless, it is used to augment antidepressants for treating resistant cases of unipolar depression. 

In terms of the new MAO inhibitors that may become available in the future, it is possible that some new RIMAs may be approved as antidepressants. Moclobemide, available in many countries, is unlikely, for commercial reasons, to become available in the United States. Another promising RIMA, brofaramine, is also unlikely to be developed for any country. However, befloxatone is progressing in clinical trials, and other RIMAs are also potential drug development candidates, including RS-8359, cimoxatone, and toloxatone. 

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