Clinical Applications and Adverse Effects
Start with the big picture
The lesson surveys how antidepressant classes are used across depression, anxiety-related disorders, and selected pain or other conditions. It compares common agents, including SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, bupropion, mirtazapine, and trazodone, with newer serotonin-modulating and rapid-acting options. Key adverse effects range from gastrointestinal symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and sedation to blood-pressure changes and class-specific serious risks. The topic also introduces precautions that apply across antidepressant treatment, including the suicidality warning for people younger than 25 and the need for a washout period when switching between serotonergic drugs and MAOIs. These distinctions can help learners connect a medication’s potential role with its risks and safety considerations.
What you'll learn
- Identify common clinical uses of major antidepressant classes and selected agents.
- Compare characteristic adverse effects across SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, and MAOIs.
- Recognize selected uses and risks of atypical and rapid-acting antidepressants.
- Describe universal antidepressant precautions, including suicidality and switching concerns.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
