Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) (venlafaxine, duloxetine) are recommended as the first-line agents for peripheral neuropathic pain, especially for painful polyneuropathy, the other first-line options being gabapentinoids and topical lidocaine. Tricyclic antidepressants became a mainstay in the management of neuropathic pain before their mechanisms were elucidated and before the advent of systematic ways to evaluate their efficacy. Venlafaxine and duloxetine should be used with caution in patients with a history of mania, seizures, or bleeding tendency. Due to risk of excessive serotoninergic effect, they should be used with caution in patients receiving concomitant selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or tramadol treatment. When selecting the treatment for an individual patient, comorbid conditions and their medications need to be taken into account. More detailed information of the effects of pharmacological agents on various symptoms of neuropathic pain and sensory profiles may guide drug selection in the future.

This chapter summarizes the available evidence for the pharmacological management of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) were the first medications to be widely studied as a treatment for SAD. Six double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have consistently demonstrated the efficacy of phenelzine in the treatment of SAD, resulting in symptomatic and functional improvement. Compared with non-reversible MAOIs, reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase-A (RIMAs) have a significantly lower risk of potentiating the dangerous pressor effect of tyramine, which allows for relaxation or total elimination of dietary restrictions. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) have been studied widely because of their efficacy, safety, and tolerability compared with earlier medications. The evidence from the reviewed clinical trials and meta-analyses suggests that a number of medications are efficacious in the treat.