Working Well

Antidepressants are a class of medication designed to counteract the feeling of depression. They can only be prescribed by a doctor such as a general practitioner, specialist doctor or psychiatrist. 

Antidepressants work by changing the level of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain, which are thought to be in low supply. They include noradrenaline and serotonin.  Antidepressants fall into a number of different categories depending on their action within the body.  For further information on the way they work, please select from the categories below. 


Always consult your doctor before changing any aspect of prescribed medication.  Discuss your progress with them, mention if you ever feel unwell, are experiencing side effects or notice any changes that you are concerned about.  Medications can affect different people in different ways and finding the right antidepressant and the right dosage is likely to involve a period of trial and adjustment.

Antidepressants fall into the following main categories:

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Noradrenergic and Specific Serotonergic Antidepressants (NaSSAs)
Noradrenergic Reuptake Inhibitors (NRIs)
Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
Tetracyclic Antidepressants

The information contained within these links is periodically reviewed by a pharmacist from the depressioNet Healthcare Professional Advisory Team or other appropriately qualified professional.  A number of the medications are linked to their respective webpages on the Consumer Medicine Information website, subsidised by the Australian Government through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The information within these pages should only be used as reference and if you have any questions about any particular medications, you should always consult your doctor.

References

ANU

The Black Dog Institute