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| '''Tricyclic antidepressants''' are a class of ] ]s | '''Tricyclic antidepressants''' are a class of ] ]s | ||
| ⚫ | first used in the 1960s. Tricyclic antidepressants are not addictive. Although they remain effective, they have been increasingly replaced by | ||
| first used in the 1960s. They were discovered by accident, in that one | |||
| drug in this class was intended to treat tuberculosis. It was found | |||
| that it was not suitable for this purpose as the drug elevated the mood | |||
| of the patients making them less likely to rest, as was necessary for | |||
| their condition. | |||
| ⚫ | Tricyclic antidepressants are not addictive. Although they remain effective, they have been increasingly replaced by | ||
| ] because the difference between | ] because the difference between | ||
| a therapeutic and a toxic dose of a tricyclic antidepressant is small. Like ]s, this posed a | a therapeutic and a toxic dose of a tricyclic antidepressant is small. Like ]s, this posed a | ||
| difficulty for the physician in that they were prescribing a | difficulty for the physician in that they were prescribing a | ||
| medication for a depressed person that could be used to | medication for a depressed person that could be used to | ||
| commit suicide. | commit suicide. | ||
| ] | |||
| /Talk | |||
Revision as of 15:51, 25 February 2002
Tricyclic antidepressants are a class of antidepressant drugs first used in the 1960s. Tricyclic antidepressants are not addictive. Although they remain effective, they have been increasingly replaced by SSRIs because the difference between a therapeutic and a toxic dose of a tricyclic antidepressant is small. Like monoamine oxidase inhibitors, this posed a difficulty for the physician in that they were prescribing a medication for a depressed person that could be used to commit suicide.