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Antidepressants

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

What are antidepressants? 

Antidepressants are psychiatric drugs which are licensed to treat depression. Some are also licensed  to treat other conditions, such as: 

  • anxiety disorders 
  • phobias 
  • bulimia (an eating disorder)
  • some physical conditions, including managing long-term pain.

Who can prescribe antidepressants? 

The healthcare professionals who can prescribe you antidepressants include:

  • a psychiatrist 
  • your family doctor 

Many antidepressants can be prescribed by your doctor, although some may only be prescribed if you are supervised by a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist. 

These information pages refer to ‘your doctor’ prescribing medication, as they are the most likely person to prescribe you an antidepressant. 

“I took medication for six months. It helped lift the fog and gave me the energy I needed to tackle the  root cause of my depression. There is no shame in taking medication to treat an illness.” 

How do antidepressants work?

Antidepressants can treat the symptoms of depression or other mental health problems. But they don’t always deal with the causes. Doctors will often prescribe them alongside a talking therapy, to help deal with the causes of your mental health problems. 

You may find that some types of antidepressant work better than others for your symptoms. Or you may find that antidepressants aren’t right for you. See our page on how antidepressants can help to find out more. 

What’s the science behind antidepressants? 

Antidepressants work by boosting the activity of particular brain chemicals, or making its activity last longer. This includes noradrenaline and serotonin, which are thought to be involved in regulating your mood.

Noradrenaline and serotonin are neurotransmitters. This means that they are chemicals which function to pass messages between nerve cells in your brain, and between nerves and other organs in the rest of your body. 

By causing a change to your brain chemistry, antidepressants may lift your mood. But antidepressants don’t work for everyone. And there is no scientific evidence that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance which is corrected by antidepressants. 

What different types of antidepressant are there? 

There are several different types of antidepressant. They mostly affect the same brain chemicals and cause similar effects. But some people may respond to certain antidepressants better than others. And the different drugs may cause different side effects. 

The different types are: 

  • selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 
  • serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) 
  • tricyclics and tricyclic-related drugs 
  • monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 
  • other antidepressants 

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 

About SSRIs: 

  • SSRIs mainly work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin into the nerve cell that released it.  This means that the serotonin acts for longer on your brain and body. 
  • You may find the side effects of SSRIs easier to cope with than with other antidepressants. But these effects can still feel unpleasant, especially when you first start taking the drugs. 
  • SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant in Hong Kong. 

Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) 

About SNRIs: 

  • SNRIs work in a similar way to SSRIs. But they also have a significant effect on your noradrenaline reuptake. 
  • Like SSRIs, you may find that you can take SNRIs without experiencing too many unwanted side effects. But their side effects can still be unpleasant.
  • SNRIs are sometimes preferred for treating more severe depression and anxiety.

Tricyclics and tricyclic-related drugs 

About tricyclics: 

  • Like SNRIs, tricyclics affect your reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin, making their effects on your brain and body last longer. 
  • But tricyclics also affect some other chemicals in your body. This can mean they’re more likely to cause unpleasant side effects than other antidepressants. 
  • They’re called ‘tricyclic’ because of their chemical structure, which has three rings. About tricyclic-related drugs: 
  • These act in a very similar way to tricyclics, but they have a slightly different chemical structure. 
  • Tricyclic-related drugs tend to cause more unpleasant side effects compared with other types of antidepressants, such as SSRIs or SNRIs. But they are less likely to cause antimuscarinic side effects than tricyclics.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 

About MAOIs: 

  • MAOIs work by making it harder for an enzyme called monoamine oxidase to break down noradrenaline and serotonin. This causes noradrenaline and serotonin to stay active for longer in your brain and body. 
  • MAOIs can have dangerous interactions with some kinds of medication and food. If you take  MAOIs, you need to follow a careful diet. And you should always check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medication alongside MAOIs. 
  • MAOIs should only be prescribed by a specialist. You are unlikely to be prescribed an MAOI  unless you’ve tried all other types of antidepressant, and none of them have worked for you.  This is because of the dangerous interactions that are possible with MAOIs. 

Other antidepressants 

There are several other antidepressants available which don’t fit into any of the categories above.  

 

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

What are antidepressants?

What are antidepressants? 

Antidepressants are psychiatric drugs which are licensed to treat depression. Some are also licensed  to treat other conditions, such as: 

  • anxiety disorders 
  • phobias 
  • bulimia (an eating disorder)
  • some physical conditions, including managing long-term pain.

Who can prescribe antidepressants? 

The healthcare professionals who can prescribe you antidepressants include:

  • a psychiatrist 
  • your family doctor 

Many antidepressants can be prescribed by your doctor, although some may only be prescribed if you are supervised by a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist. 

These information pages refer to ‘your doctor’ prescribing medication, as they are the most likely person to prescribe you an antidepressant. 

"I took medication for six months. It helped lift the fog and gave me the energy I needed to tackle the  root cause of my depression. There is no shame in taking medication to treat an illness." 

How do antidepressants work?

Antidepressants can treat the symptoms of depression or other mental health problems. But they don’t always deal with the causes. Doctors will often prescribe them alongside a talking therapy, to help deal with the causes of your mental health problems. 

You may find that some types of antidepressant work better than others for your symptoms. Or you may find that antidepressants aren’t right for you. See our page on how antidepressants can help to find out more. 

What’s the science behind antidepressants? 

Antidepressants work by boosting the activity of particular brain chemicals, or making its activity last longer. This includes noradrenaline and serotonin, which are thought to be involved in regulating your mood.

Noradrenaline and serotonin are neurotransmitters. This means that they are chemicals which function to pass messages between nerve cells in your brain, and between nerves and other organs in the rest of your body. 

By causing a change to your brain chemistry, antidepressants may lift your mood. But antidepressants don't work for everyone. And there is no scientific evidence that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance which is corrected by antidepressants. 

What different types of antidepressant are there? 

There are several different types of antidepressant. They mostly affect the same brain chemicals and cause similar effects. But some people may respond to certain antidepressants better than others. And the different drugs may cause different side effects. 

The different types are: 

  • selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 
  • serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) 
  • tricyclics and tricyclic-related drugs 
  • monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 
  • other antidepressants 

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 

About SSRIs: 

  • SSRIs mainly work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin into the nerve cell that released it.  This means that the serotonin acts for longer on your brain and body. 
  • You may find the side effects of SSRIs easier to cope with than with other antidepressants. But these effects can still feel unpleasant, especially when you first start taking the drugs. 
  • SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant in Hong Kong. 

Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) 

About SNRIs: 

  • SNRIs work in a similar way to SSRIs. But they also have a significant effect on your noradrenaline reuptake. 
  • Like SSRIs, you may find that you can take SNRIs without experiencing too many unwanted side effects. But their side effects can still be unpleasant.
  • SNRIs are sometimes preferred for treating more severe depression and anxiety.

Tricyclics and tricyclic-related drugs 

About tricyclics: 

  • Like SNRIs, tricyclics affect your reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin, making their effects on your brain and body last longer. 
  • But tricyclics also affect some other chemicals in your body. This can mean they’re more likely to cause unpleasant side effects than other antidepressants. 
  • They're called 'tricyclic' because of their chemical structure, which has three rings. About tricyclic-related drugs: 
  • These act in a very similar way to tricyclics, but they have a slightly different chemical structure. 
  • Tricyclic-related drugs tend to cause more unpleasant side effects compared with other types of antidepressants, such as SSRIs or SNRIs. But they are less likely to cause antimuscarinic side effects than tricyclics.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 

About MAOIs: 

  • MAOIs work by making it harder for an enzyme called monoamine oxidase to break down noradrenaline and serotonin. This causes noradrenaline and serotonin to stay active for longer in your brain and body. 
  • MAOIs can have dangerous interactions with some kinds of medication and food. If you take  MAOIs, you need to follow a careful diet. And you should always check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medication alongside MAOIs. 
  • MAOIs should only be prescribed by a specialist. You are unlikely to be prescribed an MAOI  unless you've tried all other types of antidepressant, and none of them have worked for you.  This is because of the dangerous interactions that are possible with MAOIs. 

Other antidepressants 

There are several other antidepressants available which don't fit into any of the categories above.