Abstract
Although options for pharmacologic treatment for depression have grown seemingly exponentially over the past several decades, the current armamentarium of antidepressants continues to have limitations of both efficacy and tolerability. The problems include an unacceptable lack of efficacy, delayed onset of therapeutic effects, an inability to predict responses to one or another agent, drug-drug interactions, and difficulty with tolerability during both acute and chronic treatment. This article reviews the problems that persist in the use of currently available antidepressant medications and presents a list of attributes that would be characteristic of the ideal antidepressant.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / adverse effects
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Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Antidepressive Agents / adverse effects
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Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
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Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / adverse effects
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Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / therapeutic use
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Biological Transport / drug effects
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Clinical Trials as Topic
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Comorbidity
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Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
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Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
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Depressive Disorder / psychology
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Drug Design
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Drug Interactions
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Drug Tolerance
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Humans
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Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / adverse effects
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Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Norepinephrine / metabolism
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Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / adverse effects
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Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors
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Antidepressive Agents
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Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
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Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
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Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
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Norepinephrine