What is a Tricyclic Antidepressant?
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are medications developed to treat depression. They are now less frequently used, but were in heavy use during the 1950s and later. The advent of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs and SNRIs), decreased use of the tricyclic antidepressants because many acted in similar manner, especially the SNRIs, and have fewer side effects. There are still some reasons why TCAs might be used, and these do not always relate to the treatment of depression.
