Depression Treatments

Monoamine neurotransmitter agonists are used to treat depression. Monoamineoxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are use to inhibit enzymes that destroy monoamines. Monoaminesoxidase is an enzyme that destroys monoamine neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft. So if the receptor was inhibited then neurotransmitters can stay in the synaptic cleft for longer. Tricyclics incresae the norepinephrine and serotonin by blocking reuptake. Reuptake is an ability of the presynaptic cleft to absorb any of the left over neurotransmitters back into the neuron. Having the neurotransmitters stay in the synaptic cleft for longer allows for more chances for the neurotransmitters to bind. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to increase serotonin within the synapse by blocking reuptake. Specifically it blocks the transporter on the presynaptic neuron.