Journal of Applied Biotechnology & Bioengineering Research Article Open Access Antidepressants: mechanism of action, toxicity and possible amelioration Abstract Volume 3 Issue 5 - 2017 Depression being a state of sadness may be defined as a psychoneurotic disorder Khushboo, Sharma B characterised by mental and functional activity, sadness, reduction in activity, Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, India difficulty in thinking, loss of concentration, perturbations in appetite, sleeping, and feelings of dejection, hopelessness and generation of suicidal tendencies. It Correspondence: B Sharma, Department of Biochemistry, is a common and recurrent disorder causing significant morbidity and mortality University of Allahabad, Allahabad 211002, UP, India, worldwide. The antidepressant compounds used against depression are reported to Email
[email protected] be used also for treating pain, anxiety syndromes etc. They have been grouped in five different categories such as Received: June 29, 2017 | Published: September 01, 2017 i. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) ii. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) iii. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) iv. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and v. Non-TCA antidepressants based on their mode of action. Most of the antidepressants have been reported to possess adverse effects on the health of users. The present review article focuses on an updated current of antidepressants, their mechanism of actions, pathophysiology of these compounds, their side effects and