There are several reasons why you need to know about tricyclic antidepressants. Many patients prefer them to SSRIs and SNRIs, and although they are older, tricyclic antidepressants are still some of the most effective of all available antidepressants. Like the newer antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants work by helping the brain increase serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the gaps between brain cells so the cells can fire more easily. They also increase brain factors that heal brain cells and protect the brain from the body’s overactive response to stress. However, unlike SSRIs, most tricyclics increase both serotonin and norepinephrine, so they may have stronger effects.
Advertisements for SSRIs and SNRIs claim that they are superior to the tricyclics because they have fewer side effects like dry mouth and drowsiness, not because they are more effective at healing depression. However, tricyclics cause fewer of the side effects for which SSRIs are famous, like insomnia, anxiety, agitation, loss of sexual drive, impotence, inability to ejaculate, and numbness of the genitals. Tricyclic antidepressants have been used for years, and we know a lot about how to use them safely.
Most tricyclic antidepressants are now generic, and they are as cheap as dirt. Despite the fact that they work very well, you will not see magazine, television, or Internet advertisements extolling the virtues of these generic medications, because they are unprofitable for the major drug companies. Do not be swayed by the fact that tricyclic antidepressants are out of fashion. Like any other important decision, you have to consider the options, do your homework, and discuss the benefits and risks of the available treatment options with your doctor in order to choose the antidepressant that is right for you.
