Antidepressants classification based

The traditional scheme is complicated by the fact that some antidepressants exhibit characteristics of more than one class. For example, clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) with side effects and toxicity similar to other TCAs, works more like the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRls). Similarly, venlafaxine and duloxetine, which are usually grouped with the atypical antidepressants, have a side effect and safety profile comparable to the SSRls. Although a classihcation system based on mechanism of action offers some advantage (see Table 3.7), even this scheme is limited by the fact that antidepressants that work in the same way may have widely divergent side effect and safety profiles. In the following discussion, the traditional classification system is adopted. Although fraught with problems and inconsistencies. 

Krijzer FNCM, van der Molen R (1987) Classification of psychotropic drugs by rat EEG analysis the anxiolytic profile in comparison to the antidepressant and neuroleptic profile. Neuropsychobiology 18 51-56 Krijzer F, Koopman P, Olivier B (1993) Classification of psychotropic drugs based on pharmaco-electrocorticographic studies in vigilance-controlled rats. Neuropsychobiology 28 122-137... 

A Figure 7.2 Basic drugs and classes, the largest subgroup in the acid-base classification scheme. The alkaloids are (or at least once were) derived from plant matter, while nonalkaloids are generally synthetic or semisynthetic. Tropane alkaloids Include cocaine, while tryptamines include mescaline and psilocyn. Caffeine and theophylline are xanthine alkaloids. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) include the second-generation SSRI antidepressants. Prozac (fluoxetine, shown) and Paxil belong to this class. 

---