%0 Journal Article
%T Trends and Advances in Separation and Detection of SSRIs and SNRIs in Biological Matrices
%A Ruchita Das
%A Y. K. Agrawal
%J Chromatography Research International
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/139459
%X Nowadays antidepressant drugs like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) represent the first choice in the treatment of moderate to severe depressive illness, various phobias, and personality disorders. In spite of the therapeutic aspects, they often produce very severe and toxic effects in deliberate and accidental cases of poisoning. These are also considered as date-rape drugs used for drugged victims for raping or robbing. Therefore, in recent years, their analyses in different biological matrices for clinical and toxicological analysis purposes has been a target worthy of interest. Thus, the review focuses on recent advancements of various separation techniques like chromatography and electrophoresis that are concernd with the determination of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor drugs and their metabolites in various biological matrices. In addition to this, a critical discussion on analytical approaches has also been incorporated, suggesting their applicability and limitations for further implementations. Thus, this paper will definitely help in the selection and development of proper analytical methodologies to achieve satisfactory results, better scientific understanding, and test interpretation. 1. Introduction Depression is a common and widespread mental disorder affecting millions of people worldwide [1]. It often leads to severe, chronic, and life-threatening illness, affecting the economic and social behaviour of an individual drastically [2, 3]. Even more than 20% of the adult population of the world suffers from depression which may lead to suicidal behaviour [3, 4]. To control such psychic conditions, antidepressant drugs are administered which usually produce effects by blocking the neuronal uptake of biogenic amines [5, 6]. Antidepressants are characterized as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd or the so-called new generation, depending on when they were developed [1]. The new generation antidepressant drugs are the most widespread class of drug and are in fact becoming the drugs of first choice for the treatment of depression, because they are considered to be more potent than other antidepressant groups [5, 7]. The highly prescribed classes of this category are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (fluoxetine (FLX), citalopram (CIT), paroxetine (PAR), sertraline (SER), and fluvoxamine (FLV)) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) (venlafaxine (VLF), milnacipran (MCP), and duloxetine (DLX)) (Figure 1) [8].
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/cri/2013/139459/