Antidepressants

• Mononamine neurotransmitters are a class of neurotransmitters that consists of:

  • Dopamine
  • Norepinephrine
  • Serotonin
• Swapping antidepressants:

  • Depends on medication involved
  • Can usually swap directly between SSRIs and SNRIs (caution with paroxetine)
  • Others need to be cross tapered over several weeks e.g. switching between an SSRI and mirtazapine
  • Other antidepressants should not be started for 2 weeks after treatment with MAOIs
  • MAOI should not be started until: 2 weeks after another MAOI, 7-14 days after TCA or 7 days after SSRI (serotonin syndrome)