Additions and corrections. Nefazodone is a relatively new antidepressant with a chemical structure that is somewhat similar to that of the phenylpiperazine antidepressant, trazodone. The antidepressant action of nefazodone is thought to be dependent on its ability to block postsynaptic serotonin type-2 receptors and inhibit presynaptic serotonin reuptake.
Nefazodone also blocks norepinephrine reuptake.
Nefazodone does not have a chemical structure similar to the SSRIs, tricyclic anti- depressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, bupropion, or venlafaxine. One possibly important way in which nefazodone differs from other SSRIs is that while use of SSRIs is often associated with sexual dysfunction, and sleep disturbances, these side effects have been reported infrequently in people taking nefazodone. Data on about 250 patients who took nefazodone for 12 or more months, did not reveal any problems with administration for that length of time. As yet, there is no data on the effectiveness of nefazodone when used to treat patients whose depressions were so severe as to make hospitalization necessary 4. It is expected that priapism will be reported shortly as inappropriate erections and priapism are often associated.