Tetracyclic Antidepressants are high power, anti depressant medication used to treat patients suffering from mild to severe depression. Antidepressants generally work to play a neuro-protective role in anxiety and depression relief. Supposedly, antidepressants help keep balance in the nerve cells sensitivity to the organic, nonessential amino acid compound glutamate. This resultant increased support of the nerve cells offer protection against overwhelming of the glutamate and subsequent excited brain activity related to depression.

Unlike tetracyclic antidepressants, which work to inhibit the re-absorption of certain neurotransmitters, Tetracyclic Antidepressants inhibit depression by stopping neurotransmitters and alpha-2 receptors, a type of nerve cell receptors, from binding. Indirectly this increases the serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain, which in turn elevates or improves mood.

Tetracyclic antidepressant drugs used are;

• Amoxapine (e.g. Asendin)
• Loxapine  (e.g. Loxapac, Loxitane)
• Mirtazapine (e.g. Remeron, Avanza, Zispin)
• Maprotiline (e.g. Deprilept, Ludiomil, Psymion)
• Mianserin (e.g. Bolvidon, Norval, Tolvon)
• Setiptiline (e.g. Tecipul)
• Oxaprotiline

Like all medications, tetracyclic antidepressants have a number of side effects. These include but may not be limited to dry mouth, increase in appetite and resultant weight gain, dizziness, thirst, muscle/joint aches, constipation, drowsiness and increased cholesterol levels. Tetracyclic antidepressants should not be taken without a doctor’s prescription.