antidepressant
Treats clinical sadness
An antidepressant is a medication used to treat depression and related mood disorders.
Most work by altering brain chemistry—affecting serotonin, dopamine, or other neurotransmitters.
Common types include SSRIs, SNRIs, and older tricyclics.
Her doctor prescribed an antidepressant after months of persistent low mood.
The term also works as an adjective: antidepressant effects, antidepressant medication.
Antidepressant medication class abbreviation
- SNRIPsychiatric medication class
- MAOIEnzyme-inhibiting psychiatric medication
- tricyclicTriple-ring chemical structure
- sertralineSSRI antidepressant drug
fluoxetine · escitalopram · bupropion · paroxetine · citalopram · prescription · pharmaceutical · pill
Mood-regulating brain chemical
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
- reuptakeNeurotransmitter recapture by neurons
- inhibitorAgent that slows reactions
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
norepinephrine · receptor · synapse · neuron · serotonergic · tryptophan · neurochemistry · brain
Secondary, unintended outcomes
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- efficacyAbility to produce results
- responseAnswer to stimulus
- remissionTemporary disease absence
onset · tolerance · discontinuation · tapering · adjustment · titration · plateau · relapse
Curative mental treatment
- psychiatristMental disorder physician
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- disorderAbsence of organization
chronic · acute · maintenance · adherence · compliance · monitoring · follow-up · outpatient
Substance lessening nervous tension
- benzodiazepineSedative drug class
- antipsychoticDrug treating psychosis
- lithiumLightest solid element
- sedativeDrug promoting calm
hypnotic · barbiturate · neuroleptic · tranquilizer · psychoactive · polypharmacy · adjunct · atypical
SSRI
Antidepressant medication class abbreviation
- SNRIPsychiatric medication class
- MAOIEnzyme-inhibiting psychiatric medication
- tricyclicTriple-ring chemical structure
sertraline · fluoxetine · escitalopram · bupropion · paroxetine · citalopram · prescription · pharmaceutical · pill · capsule
serotonin
Mood-regulating brain chemical
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
- reuptakeNeurotransmitter recapture by neurons
- inhibitorAgent that slows reactions
dopamine · norepinephrine · receptor · synapse · neuron · serotonergic · tryptophan · neurochemistry · brain · selective
side-effects
Secondary, unintended outcomes
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- efficacyAbility to produce results
- responseAnswer to stimulus
remission · onset · tolerance · discontinuation · tapering · adjustment · titration · plateau · relapse · nausea
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- psychiatristMental disorder physician
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
disorder · chronic · acute · maintenance · adherence · compliance · monitoring · follow-up · outpatient · placebo
anxiolytic
Substance lessening nervous tension
- benzodiazepineSedative drug class
- antipsychoticDrug treating psychosis
- lithiumLightest solid element
sedative · hypnotic · barbiturate · neuroleptic · tranquilizer · psychoactive · polypharmacy · adjunct · atypical
- medicationspills, Tylenol, capsules, tablets, Xanax
- Medicinespill, tablet, aspirin, tablets, penicillin
- Drug Traitsaddictive, potent, toxic, sedative, narcotic
- Neurochemistrydopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, acetylcholine
- healthcaredoctors, nurses, hospitals, hospital, clinic
- mental healthpsychiatry, psychotherapy, mental illness, psychiatrist, therapist
antidepressantdepressant
Agent that reduces activity
downer · sedative · tranquilizer · barbiturate · anxiolytic