depression

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) are currently the most common type of anti-depressants prescribed for depression.  The name is a mouthful, but if you take the time to remember the full-name of the medication class rather than just the acronym, then you will more easily remember what these medications do in the body at an A&P …

SSRI’s: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Read More »

Tricyclic antidepressants are one of the oldest anti-depressants available (along with MAOIs).  They work by inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin by pre-synaptic neurons in the Central Nervous System. Huh? Okay, let’s put this in plain English. Neurons communicate with each other by sending out messages using neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin.  But not …

TCA’s: Tricyclic Anti-depressants Read More »

When it comes to Pharmacology, many nursing students jump right to trying to memorize specific medications.  In the case of MAOI’s, two commonly used medications are Nardil (phenelzine), and Parnate (tranylcypromine).  But just memorizing specific drug names will not help you very much on an exam or in practice, it’s much more important to learn …

MAOI’s: Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors Read More »