Drug Development and Toxicology: Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).

There are currently three main classes of drugs used in the treatment of depression (a highly debilitating mood disorder characterised by hallucinations, delusions and psychotic behaviour) and these are Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). TCAs were the first to be discovered and used in the 1950s. Tricyclic antidepressants, also known as TCAs, were first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These drugs work by increasing the concentrations of two mood-altering chemicals (the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain). Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) block the activity of monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in the brain and other parts of the body. MAOIs have many drug and food interactions and cause significant side effects in comparison to the new antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs that are typically used as antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders and related illnesses to serotonin deficiencies. Drugs in this class include: (Trade names in parentheses), Citalopram (Emocal, Sepram, Celexa, Cipramil, Seropram), Escitalopram oxalate (Esertia, Lexapro, Cipralex, ), Fluoxetine (Seronil, Prozac, Fontex, Seromex, Sarafem, Fluctin (EUR)), Fluvoxamine maleate (Luvox, Faverin), Paroxetine (Deroxat, Rexetin, Xetanor, Paroxat, Paxil, Seroxat, Aropax), Sertraline (Serlain, Zoloft, Lustral, ), Dapoxetine(no known trade name).This book aims at adding insight on the history and timeline of SSRIs, development and use. Some drugs have been withdrawn because of dangerous side effects to human mental heal