When treating depression, several drugs are available. Some of the most commonly used include: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a class of drugs that are typically used as antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders. The exact mechanism of action of SSRIs is unknown. They are believed to increase the extracellular level of the neurotransmitter ser…
Escitalopram
Escitalopram, sold under the brand names Cipralex and Lexapro among others, is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class. Escitalopram is mainly used to treat major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. It is taken by mouth.
Paroxetine Mesylate
Paroxetine is used to treat depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.
Sertraline
Sertraline is used to treat depression, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, and a severe form of premenstrual syndrome.
Full Answer
What are the most common medications for depression?
When treating depression, several drugs are available. Some of the most commonly used include: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate(Lexapro), fluoxetine(Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine HRI(Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).
Can antidepressants help with other conditions besides depression?
On the other hand, certain antidepressants may help treat other physical or mental health conditions along with depression. For example, venlafaxine (Effexor XR) may relieve symptoms of anxiety disorders and bupropion may help you stop smoking.
What should I know about depression medicine before taking it?
Like all drugs, depression medicine may cause side effects. Do not stop taking your medicine without first talking to your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider about any problems you are having, including thoughts about suicide.
What is the best class of antidepressants?
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. This is because they are effective for treating depression, generally well-tolerated, inexpensive, and safe to use long term. SNRIs and bupropion are also common choices for similar reasons.
What is the most common drug used to treat depression?
SSRIs are the most widely prescribed type of antidepressants. They're usually preferred over other antidepressants, as they cause fewer side effects. An overdose is also less likely to be serious. Fluoxetine is probably the best known SSRI (sold under the brand name Prozac).
What is the generic name for antidepressants?
fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) citalopram (Celexa) escitalopram (Lexapro) paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva, Brisdelle)
What are the top 3 antidepressants?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most prescribed type of antidepressant and include: Fluoxetine. Citalopram. Sertraline.
What are the 3 types of antidepressants?
Types of antidepressantsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Doctors often start by prescribing an SSRI . ... Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). ... Atypical antidepressants. ... Tricyclic antidepressants. ... Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). ... Other medications.
Finding The Right Antidepressant
There are a number of antidepressants available that work in slightly different ways and have different side effects. When prescribing an antidepre...
Antidepressants and Risk of Suicide
Most antidepressants are generally safe, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all antidepressants carry black box warnings, the...
Making Antidepressants Work For You
To get the best results from an antidepressant: 1. Be patient. Once you and your doctor have selected an antidepressant, you may start to see impro...
How to take care of a baby when you are depressed?
Depression can make it hard for a woman to take care of herself and her baby. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about your feelings. Also, try to get some help from your family, friends, or a support group. Ask a relative to watch your baby for a few hours. Join a group for new mothers.
Why do women get depressed when pregnant?
No one knows the exact cause of depression during or after pregnancy. It may have something to do with: Stress and sleep problems.
What is the drug NMDA?
N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) Antagonist. Neuroactive Steroid Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)-A Receptor Positive Modulator. Read the following information to find out some general facts about the different kinds of medicine for depression. Like all drugs, depression medicine may cause side effects.
How long does it take to feel sad after depression?
These feelings can get in the way of everyday life. Talk to your healthcare provider about your feelings if you have noticed these signs for at least 2 weeks or immediately if you have any dangerous thoughts or behaviors.
Is Prozac safe for kids?
Prozac (fluoxetine) is the only medicine that is approved by FDA for use in children with depression. Prozac (fluoxetine) and Lexapro (escitalopram) are the only FDA-approved medicines for teens with depression. Talk to your healthcare provider about important warnings for children and teens who take medicine for depression.
Do antidepressants kill themselves?
Some children and teens who take antidepressants may be more likely to think about hurting or killing themselves when starting treatment or when dose is changed. Call a healthcare provider or 911 if the person: Tries to hurt or kill himself/herself. Talks about specific ways they plan to hurt or kill himself/herself.
Does the FDA run pregnancy studies?
Pregnancy registries can help women and their doctors learn more about how depression medicines affect women during pregnancy. The FDA does not run pregnancy studies, but it keeps a list of registries. Check to see if there is a registry for your depression medicine or other medicines at: www.fda.gov/pregnancyregistries.
Drugs used to treat Major Depressive Disorder
The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
What type of antidepressant is used for depression?
Many types of antidepressant medications are available to treat depression, including: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Doctors often start by prescribing an SSRI.
What are some examples of antidepressants?
More commonly prescribed antidepressants in this category include trazodone, mirtazapine (Remeron), vortioxetine (Trintellix), vilazodone (Viibryd) and bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, others).
What to do if antidepressant doesn't work?
If you have bothersome side effects or no significant improvement in your symptoms after several weeks, talk to your doctor about changing the dose, trying a different antidepressant (switching), or adding a second antidepressant or another medication (augmentation).
How to deal with depression with antidepressants?
Talk to your doctor or therapist about coping with depression symptoms as you wait for the antidepressant to take effect. Take your antidepressant consistently and at the correct dose. If your medication doesn't seem to be working or is causing bothersome side effects, call your doctor before making any changes.
How long does it take for an antidepressant to work?
Once you and your doctor have selected an antidepressant, you may start to see improvement in a few weeks, but it may take six or more weeks for it to be fully effective.
Can antidepressants cause dry mouth?
Possible side effects. Side effects of antidepressants vary from one medication to another and from person to person. Bothersome side effects, such as dry mouth, weight gain or sexual side effects, can make it difficult to stick with treatment. Discuss possible major side effects with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do antidepressants work?
There are a number of antidepressants available that work in slightly different ways and have different side effects. When prescribing an antidepressant that's likely to work well for you, your doctor may consider: Your particular symptoms. Symptoms of depression can vary, and one antidepressant may relieve certain symptoms better than another.
What is the best medication for anxiety?
Other anti-anxiety drugs include the benzodiazepines, such as as alprazolam ( Xanax ), diazepam ( Valium ), buspirone (Buspar), and lorazepam ( Ativan ).
Can you stop taking antidepressants?
If you decide to stop taking your antidepressants, it is important that you gradually reduce the dose over a period of time recommended by your doctor.
Who is at a greater risk for depression?
Depression can happen to anyone, but some groups have different risks than others. There are known healthcare disparities that historically underrepresented communities face — having less access to mental health services is one of them.
What are the best antidepressants?
Over the years, studies have compared various antidepressants. After reviewing the available research, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) concluded that no one antidepressant was more effective at treating depression than others.
What are the different types of antidepressants?
Below, we’ll briefly discuss some well-known antidepressants and which classes they belong to.
How does a healthcare provider decide which antidepressant is best for you?
If you have successfully taken an antidepressant in the past, this is always a good place to start. You are more likely to experience benefits from a medication that has worked before. But if you’ve never taken medication for depression before, healthcare providers often look at the likelihood of side effects when choosing a medication.
Which class of antidepressant is the most commonly prescribed?
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. This is because they are effective for treating depression, generally well-tolerated, inexpensive, and safe to use long term. SNRIs and bupropion are also common choices for similar reasons.
Which antidepressant works the fastest?
Unfortunately, all antidepressants take a few weeks to kick in. How fast an antidepressant starts working varies widely from person to person. Generally speaking, you can expect to experience some effects between 4 and 6 weeks after starting your medication.
Which antidepressant is the hardest to come off of?
One downside of SSRIs and SNRIs is that they can be difficult to come off of. This is because these medications can cause withdrawal symptoms if your dose is lowered too quickly. Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions about how you should lower your dose.
What are the two main types of depression medications?
Doctors follow expert guidelines when diagnosing and managing depression. There are two main types of drugs doctors prescribe to treat depression: Antidepressants. These drugs work by balancing brain chemicals that are involved in depression. There are various classes of antidepressants;
How long does it take for an antidepressant to work?
Many people see improvement in some symptoms soon after starting an antidepressant. However, it can take a few weeks to see the full effects of these medications. It is important to give antidepressants some time to work. If you do not see progress after four weeks, talk with your doctor.
How long does it take for side effects to go away from antidepressants?
It may be necessary to adjust the dose or switch medicines. Like symptoms, side effects from antidepressants may improve or go away within a few weeks of starting. However, you should contact your doctor for severe side effects or side effects that continue after 2 to 4 weeks.
What is add on therapy?
Add-on therapy. These drugs augment treatment with antidepressants. There are a few types of add-on therapy medicines. This includes a second antidepressant, thyroid hormone, and other medicines with effects on mood and anxiety. Many people see improvement in some symptoms soon after starting an antidepressant.
How does depression develop?
Experts do not fully understand how depression develops. Genes, brain chemicals, stress, and other environmental factors likely play a role. Depression treatment has two main components. The first one is talk therapy—or psychotherapy. It promotes healthier ways to think, behave and cope. The second part is using medications to manage symptoms.
What is the most common mood disorder in the United States?
259. Depression—or major depressive disorder—is a mood disorder. It is one of the most common mood disorders in the United States. Symptoms can be disabling and include long-term feelings of sadness, guilt or despair. People with depression may lose interest in daily activities. They can experience anxiety, sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts.
Is Cymbalta a SNRI?
Citalopram comes as a tablet and a liquid you take once a day. Duloxetine (Cymbalta) is an SNRI ( serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). SRNIs increase both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Like SSRIs, this class usually has milder side effects.