SSRIs are usually the first choice medicine for depression because they generally have fewer side effects than most other types of antidepressant.
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. This is because they're effective and well-tolerated antidepressants with little side effects. With many SSRIs available as generic products, this medication class typically costs less. SNRIs and bupropion are also common choices for similar reasons.
The investigators recommend sertraline as the best choice for an initial antidepressant because it is available in generic form and is therefore lower in cost. They further recommend that sertraline, instead of fluoxetine or placebo, be the new standard against which other antidepressants are compared.
What are the most common antidepressant medications? Sertraline, also known by the brand name Zoloft, used for multiple mental health and mood disorders, is the most prescribed antidepressant dispensed to U.S.
Buspirone. This anti-anxiety medication may treat short- or long-term anxiety symptoms. Buspirone (BuSpar) works much more slowly than benzodiazepines and may not treat all types of anxiety disorder, but it causes fewer side effects and has a lower risk of dependency.
Medication. A doctor may prescribe medication alongside counseling or if other methods do not help. According to the NIMH , drugs, such as antidepressants, can help treat depression. Antidepressants include fluoxetine (Prozac) and citalopram (Celexa).
Taking medicine for your depression can help you get your life back to normal, especially if you also get counselling. But if your symptoms are mild, lifestyle changes and counselling may be all you need. You don't need to be ashamed about taking antidepressants.
The first-line medicine for patients with depression is generally a SSRI, e.g. citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline or fluoxetine (Tables 1 and 2).
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) cover both depression and certain anxiety disorders including GAD and PD. However, TCAs are ineffective in SAD and post traumatic stress disorder where SSRIs are required.
Dysthymic disorder
Dysthymia is long-term depression which lasts at least 2 years. It has similar symptoms to major depression, but they're less severe.
The bottom line. Zoloft is a first-choice treatment option for depression and other mental health conditions. Side effects vary from person to person, but common Zoloft side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and difficulty sleeping.
SSRIs are usually the first choice medicine for depression because they generally have fewer side effects than most other types of antidepressant.
People with a history of addiction may benefit from taking anxiety medications that don't have addictive properties. SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, beta-blockers, pregabalin, gabapentin, hydroxyzine, PanX and diphenhydramine are all options for anxiety that are alternatives to addictive benzodiazepines.
The most prominent of anti-anxiety drugs for the purpose of immediate relief are those known as benzodiazepines; among them are alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
As well as esketamine, Auvelity is another recently approved antidepressant, after receiving FDA approval just last year, and is a combination of dextromethorphan – best known as a cough suppressant – and bupropion – used to treat major depressive disorder and facilitate tobacco cessation.
Doctors widely prescribe some antidepressants for people with anxiety. Examples include amitriptyline (Elavil), mirtazapine (Remeron), and trazodone (Desyrel). Melatonin-like medications: These medications mimic melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates the body's sleep-wake cycle and promotes sleep.
Ketamine. Ketamine is a medication originally used for anesthesia and pain relief, but medical professionals also use it to help people with treatment-resistant depression. Unlike other antidepressants, ketamine can improve depression symptoms in just a few hours.
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.
Prozac (fluoxetine) and Wellbutrin (bupropion) are examples of “energizing” antidepressants; whereas Paxil (paroxetine) and Celexa (citalopram) tend to be more sedating. Initial choices therefore, should be predicated on how the depression presents—as outlined in #2 above.