title: A review of the adverse effects and safety of noradrenergic antidepressants.
abstract: There are a variety of noradrenergic antidepressants available, most of which act by inhibiting neuronal noradrenaline re-uptake, although few drugs are specific for this action. Where drugs have numerous actions the adverse effects of noradrenaline reuptake may be difficult to isolate, although in this respect the adverse effects of reboxetine, a specific noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor, are illuminating. Noradrenergic antidepressants typically cause minor changes in blood and heart rate, sweating and insomnia. Other pharmacological actions shown by non-specific antidepressants may act to worsen or mitigate these adverse effects. Noradrenergic drugs are less likely than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to cause sexual dysfunction but more likely to cause urinary hesitancy. Doubts remain over the relative propensity for antidepressants with different modes of action to cause diabetes and hyponatraemia. Noradrenergic actions do not seem to confer a risk of death in overdose.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Eromona
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Whiskey
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D009025:Morpholines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077593:Reboxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009025:Morpholines; D009638:Norepinephrine; D000077593:Reboxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: Antidepressant agent; adverse drug reaction; noradrenaline