Antidepressant Drugs
Antidepressants are used primarily for the treatment of common mental disorders such as:
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder (depressed phase)
- Mood Disorder with Seasonal Pattern
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Social Phobia
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Attention Deficit Disorder
Many factors influence the treatment of depression. The first episode of acute depression may
require medications that are introduced slowly and gradually and increased to a dosage that
may be higher than a maintenance dose. The medications may than be reduced slowly and
discontinued if patient has responded well to the medication. Many clinicians treat patients with
antidepressants for a six-month to one-year period after the first episode in order to lessen the
possibility of a relapse or reoccurrence.
For individuals who have had multiple episodes of depression, treatment remains long term.
When stabilized, the individual should be treated with the lowest effective dose that manages
the symptoms without producing adverse effects. Those individuals who have a history of
suicide attempts while depressed may also be candidates for long term treatment. The suicide
risk of an individual should also be a consideration when choosing an antidepressant
due to their possible lethal effects. Elderly individuals may need to be treated for a several years
before a trial of gradual discontinuation.
Antidepressant drugs: Brand name (generic name)
- Celexa (citalopram)
- Lexapro (escitalopram)
- Prozac (fluoxetine)
- Luvox (fluvoxamine)
- Zolof (sertraline)
- Paxil (paroxetine)
- Serzone (nefazodone)
- Desyrel (trazodone)
- Cymbalta (duloxetine)
- Effexo (venlafaxine)
- Effexor XR (venlafaxine XR)
- Edronex (reboxetine)
- Remeron (mirtazapine)
- Wellbutrin, Zyban (bupropion)
- Wellbutrin SR (bupropion SR)
- Wellbutrin XL (bupropion XL)
- Elavil (amitriptyline)
- Asendin (amoxapine)
- Anafranil (clomipramine)
- Norpramin (desipramine)
- Sinequan (doxepin)
- Tofranil (imipramine)
- Ludiomil (maprotiline)
- Aventyl (nortriptyline)
- Triptil (protriptyline)
- Surmontil (trimipramine)
- Nardil (phenelzine)
- Parnate (tranylcypromine)
- Manerix (moclobemide)
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