Four new antidepressants have been recently marketed in Australia. They are the selective reversible monoamine oxidase A inhibitor, moclobemide, and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), fluoxetine, paroxetine and sertraline.
SSRIs are the most widely prescribed type of antidepressants. They're usually preferred over other antidepressants, as they cause fewer side effects.
SSRIs are usually the first choice medicine for depression because they generally have fewer side effects than most other types of antidepressant.
Prozac (Fluoxetine)
Prozac gives people more energy than other antidepressants. That being said, it can be helpful for those with low energy. Fluoxetine treats many mental health issues, including depression, OCD, and panic disorder.
Spravato is for patients who have tried but do not respond to at least two antidepressants. While all the other antidepressants on the market take two to three weeks to take effect, esketamine and ketamine work in a matter of hours.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the drug that doctors most commonly prescribe to treat depression and anxiety disorders.
Takeaway. The FDA has recently approved brexanolone (Zulresso) and esketamine (Spravato) to treat depression. These new approaches for treating depression appear to offer some worthwhile advantages compared to SSRIs and SNRIs, including acting in hours as opposed to days or weeks.
Antidepressants for anger
SSRIs that have been shown to help with anger include citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), among others. Sertraline seems to have the most supporting data.
Australia's biggest research trial using psychedelics to treat depression to commence in 2023. The psilocybin drug candidate, WP002, is formulated as a rapid release tablet by Woke Pharmaceuticals.
SSRIs are among the most frequently sold drugs in Australia. Sertraline (sold under the brand name Zoloft) and escitalopram (Cipralex and Lexapro) are both among Australia's 10 most commonly prescribed medications.
SSRIs are considered first-choice medications for treating depression. These medications are believed to work by raising the amount of serotonin — a hormone that helps regulate mood — in the brain.
Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, and Lexapro, are just a few brands of serotonin that we prescribe for those who suffer from depression, and/or anxiety disorder. There is evidence that these drugs can also improve premenopausal symptoms, even a role in the treatment of obesity and parkinson's disease.
A second therapeutic candidate, LYT-310 (oral cannabidiol), is expected to enter the clinic in Q4 of 2023. A second therapeutic candidate, LYT-310 (oral cannabidiol), is expected to enter the clinic in Q4 of 2023.
Benzodiazepines (also known as tranquilizers) are the most widely prescribed type of medication for anxiety. Drugs such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam) work quickly, typically bringing relief within 30 minutes to an hour.
Benzodiazepines most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders are clonazepam (Rivotril)*, alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan). Also used are bromazepam (Lectopam), oxazepam (Serax), chlordiazepoxide (once marketed as Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene) and diazepam (Valium).
These antidepressants generally cause fewer bothersome side effects and are less likely to cause problems at higher therapeutic doses than other types of antidepressants. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro).