Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are commonly prescribed antidepressants. They are very similar to the older and more commonly used SSRIs. There is some evidence that SNRIs are more effective in treating severe depression [1]. They can also be used to treat chronic pain [2] and ADHD [3].
When it comes to anxiety and less severe depression: SNRIs are more helpful for some people, whereas SSRIs or other antidepressants are more helpful for other people. Like any type of medication, they can also have side-effects. The only way to know for sure what works best for you is to try them.
Like other antidepressants, SNRIs work by restoring the balance of the chemicals in your brain (called neurotransmisores). SNRIs work by boosting two neurotransmitters:
- Serotonina, which affects your mood, energy level, appetite, and sleep
- Norepinefrina, which affects your energy level, focus and attention. Related to adrenaline and has similar effects
The difference between SNRIs and SSRIs is that SSRIs only affect serotonin.
How do I take an SNRI?
SNRIs must be taken every day. It usually takes several weeks before you feel the full effect. Taking a single pill won’t stop a panic attack, for example—but taking it daily may decrease your chances of having a panic attack in the future [4].
You might be tempted to stop taking them as soon as you feel better, thinking that you’ve been cured. Unfortunately, antidepressants are not a cure for depression—they are a way of managing it, not a way of making it go away forever. If you stop taking your antidepressant as soon as you feel better, you will likely go back to being depressed.
Si decides dejar de tomar un antidepresivo, lo mejor es que hables primero con tu médico. Él te ayudará a reducir la dosis gradualmente, lo que disminuirá retirada síntomas. (A menudo, esto se puede lograr cortando las pastillas por la mitad durante unas semanas y, luego, en cuartos durante unas semanas más). También pueden ayudarle a encontrar una alternativa que tenga menos efectos secundarios o sea más eficaz.
Examples of SNRIs
Even though all SNRIs work in similar ways, they each have slightly different effects. So if one doesn’t work for you, another might. If you’ve tried multiple SNRIs and none of them work well—or they all give you side effects—it’s a good idea to ask your doctor about taking a different type of antidepressant.
| Nombre genérico | Marca(s) comercial(es) |
|---|---|
| Desvenlafaxina | Pristiq |
| Duloxetina | Cymbalta |
| Levomilnaciprán | Fetzima |
| Milnaciprán | Savella |
| Venlafaxina | Effexor |
Side effects of SNRIs
Common [5]:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Dolor de cabeza, boca seca o sudoración.
Less Common [5][6]:
- Dormir más o menos de lo habitual.
- Weight gain
- Bajo deseo sexual o problemas para lograr una erección u orgasmo.
- Increased blood pressure
- Thase. (2008). Are SNRIs more effective than SSRIs? A review of the current state of the controversy. Psychopharmacology Bulletin 42(2), pp. 58-85. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18668017/
- Stahl et al. (2005). IRSN: farmacología, eficacia clínica y tolerabilidad en comparación con otras clases de antidepresivos. CNS Spectrums, 10(9), pp. 732-747. Obtenido de https://doi.org/10.1017/S1092852900019726
- Antshel et al. (2011). Avances en la comprensión y el tratamiento del TDAH. BMC Medicina 9, p. 72. Obtenido de https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-9-72
- Guilherme Graeff y Zangrossi. (2010). El doble papel de la serotonina en la defensa y el modo de acción de los antidepresivos en la ansiedad generalizada y los trastornos de pánico. Agentes del sistema nervioso central en química médica 10(3) pp. 207-217. Obtenido de https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cnsamc/2010/00000010/00000003/art00002
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). “Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/antidepressants/art-20044970
- Sentarsieri & Schwartz. (2015). Antidepressant efficacy and side-effect burden: a quick guide for clinicians. Drugs in Context 4, pp. 212290. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.7573%2Fdic.212290
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