New classes of antidepressant drugs

Abstract

The January 1997 issue of this journal contained four reviews that compared tricyclic antidepressants with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other newer antidepressants in terms of their pharmacology (Palazidou, 1997), adverse effects, potential drug interactions and toxicity (Henry, 1997), efficacy in the prevention of relapse and recurrence (Edwards, 1997), and findings from meta-analyses (Anderson, 1997). In July 1997 reboxetine was promoted as the first selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NARI), and in October of the same year mirtazapine was promoted as the first noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA). Milnacipran is presently being registered by the manufacturers, after which it will be the second antidepressant drug promoted as a specific serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).