Topic overview

Start with the big picture

The lesson connects chemical scaffolds and substituents with pharmacological activity across antidepressant and antipsychotic classes. For tricyclic antidepressants, terminal amine type relates to relative serotonin or norepinephrine reuptake inhibition. SSRI discussion focuses on the aryloxy-propylamine scaffold and the role of a para electron-withdrawing group; examples also illustrate active metabolites and oxidative metabolism. Other antidepressant classes include SNRIs, bupropion, mirtazapine, and MAOIs, with attention to their characteristic structures and selected metabolic or safety features. The antipsychotic section compares phenothiazines, butyrophenones, thioxanthenes, and atypical agents, emphasizing structural features linked to activity, metabolism, and cautions such as haloperidol-associated QT prolongation.