Affective disorders are mental conditions in which there is extreme or dramatic change in mood, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. These include major depression, bipolar depression and schizoaffective disorder. Moods may be elevated, as in mania, or depressed. Some people experience episodes of either extreme. Drugs used to treat these conditions include antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers.
SSRIs
Antidepressants are medications typically prescribed for the treatment of major depression. This mental disorder is characterized by symptoms such as chronic feelings of sadness, loss of interest or motivation, and suicidal thoughts. The National Institute of Mental Health says most antidepressant medications work by prolonging the activity of a neurotransmitter called serotonin. These medicines are called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Examples include fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram and paroxetine.
SNRIs
Some antidepressants also increase the activity of another neurotransmitter called norepinepherine. These drugs are serotonin norepinepherine re-uptake inhibitors, or SNRIs. Examples include venlafaxine and duloxetine. The National Institute of Mental Health says another medication called bupropion is also sometimes used to treat depression. Bupropion acts on a neurotransmitter called dopamine.
MAOIs and Tricyclic Antidepressants
The Mayo Clinic says older antidepressants falling out of use because of unwanted side effects include MAOIs and tricyclic antidepressants. MAOIs--monoamine oxidase inhibitors--include phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid and selegiline. Tricyclic antidepressants include amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine and doxepin.
Antipsychotics
MedlinePlus explains psychosis as a loss of contact with reality that involves false beliefs known as delusions or hallucinations--seeing or hearing things that are not there. Psychosis may present itself as a feature of some affective disorders, such as bipolar depression or schizoaffective disorder. Antipsychotic medications help patients with these symptoms to organize their thoughts and reduce the occurrence of delusions and hallucinations. The National Institute of Mental Health says examples of antipsychotics include chlorpromazine, haloperidol and aripiprazole.
Mood Stabilizers
Patients with bipolar depression usually benefit from the use of mood stabilizers, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These medications are helpful for controlling the manic and depressive episodes characteristic of the disorder. Mood-stabilizing medications include lithium, divalproex sodium, carbamazepine, lamotrigine and oxcarbazepine.
