Antidepressants: Clinical aspects

Abstract

Several new agents for the treatment of depression have been introduced in recent years. While there are certain advantages for these agents over existing drugs, their efficacy and speed of onset of action is not different. The efficacy, adverse effects and toxicity of the various classes of antidepressants is reviewed. Newer agents such as the SSRIs or mirtazapine may be better drugs of first choice than the tricyclics in terms of patient acceptability and safety.© 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.