developed at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia for designing photochromic analogs of tricyclic drugs via (1) isosteric replacement of the two-atom bridge between the aromatic systems with an azo group and (2) opening of the central ring. The authors named the strategy "crypto-azologization". Society and culture Recreational use A very small number of cases involving non-medical use of antidepressants have been reported over the past 30 years. According to the US government classification of psychiatric medications, TCAs are "non-abusable" and generally have low misuse potential. Nonetheless, due to their atypical mechanism of action, amineptine and tianeptine (dopamine reuptake inhibition and μ-opioid receptor agonism, respectively) are the two TCAs with the highest addiction and misuse potential. Several cases of the misuse of amitriptyline alone or together with methadone or in other drug dependent patients and of dosulepin with alcohol or in methadone patients have been reported. List of TCAs Those that preferentially inhibit the reuptake of serotonin (by at least 10-fold over norepinephrine) include: Butriptyline† (Evadyne) (relatively weak serotonin reuptake inhibitor) Clomipramine (Anafranil) Imipramine (Tofranil, Janimine, Praminil) Trimipramine (Surmontil) (relatively weak serotonin reuptake inhibitor) Those that preferentially inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine (by at least 10-fold over serotonin) include: Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane) Dibenzepin‡ (Noveril, Victoril) Lofepramine§ (Lomont, Gamanil) Maprotiline (Ludiomil) – can be classed with the TCAs though more frequently classed with the TeCAs Nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl, Norpress) Protriptyline (Vivactil) Whereas either fairly balanced reuptake inhibitors of serotonin and norepinephrine or unspecified inhibitors include: Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep) Amitriptylinoxide (Amioxid, Ambivalon, Equilibrin) Amoxapine (Asendin) – can be classed with the TeCAs but more frequently classed with the TCAs Demexiptiline† (Deparon, Tinoran) Dimetacrine† (Istonil, Istonyl, Miroistonil) Dosulepin§ (Prothiaden) Doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan) Fluacizine† (Phtorazisin) Imipraminoxide† (Imiprex, Elepsin) Melitracen§ (Deanxit, Dixeran, Melixeran, Trausabun) Metapramine† (Timaxel) Nitroxazepine‡ (Sintamil) Noxiptiline‡ (Agedal, Elronon, Nogedal) Pipofezine‡ (Azafen/Azaphen) Propizepine† (Depressin, Vagran) Quinupramine† (Kevopril, Kinupril, Adeprim, Quinuprine) And the following are TCAs that act via main mechanisms other than serotonin or norepinephrine reuptake inhibition: Amineptine‡ (Survector, Maneon, Directim) – norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor Iprindole† (Prondol, Galatur, Tetran) – 5-HT2 receptor antagonist Opipramol‡ (Insidon, Pramolan, Ensidon, Oprimol) – σ receptor agonist Tianeptine § (Stablon, Coaxil, Tatinol) – atypical μ-opioid receptor agonist Legend: References Further reading External links Chemical classes of psychoactive drugs