Final answer:
Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of antidepressants that increase serotonin levels in the brain to help treat depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft are types of antidepressant drugs known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, which increases the levels of serotonin in the central nervous system. SSRIs like fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil) are commonly prescribed for depression and are also useful in treating other conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorders. These medicines differ from other classes of antidepressants, such as tricyclics and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, offering fewer anticholinergic side effects and a different mechanism of action. SSRIs have become some of the most widely used antidepressants due to their efficacy and tolerability compared to older classes of medications.