What type of antidepressants includes drugs like duloxetine and nefazodone?

The category that includes drugs like duloxetine and nefazodone is classified as 2nd Generation Antidepressants. This classification represents a group of medications that were developed after the first generation of antidepressants (which primarily included tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors) and aims to provide improved efficacy and safety profiles, as well as reduced side effects.

Duloxetine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that is effective in treating major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders, while nefazodone is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI). Both of these drugs function through mechanisms that differ from first-generation antidepressants, as they target neurotransmitter systems in a more nuanced manner.

The other categories, including 1st Generation Antidepressants, primarily refer to earlier treatments that often had more side effects and less favorable pharmacokinetics. Third Generation Antidepressants encompass newer therapies that may have more advanced mechanisms or target specific aspects of neurotransmission beyond what is seen in second-generation drugs. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) specifically focus on increasing serotonin levels and are a subgroup of the second-generation antidepressants but do not include all drugs like the