Alphabetical Brand Drug/Generic Equivalent List on Website Brand Name* FDA-Approved Generic Drug Name Commonly Used For**. **This list indicates the common uses for which the drug is prescribed. Some medicines are prescribed for more than one condition. Please discuss all treatments with your doctor.
Depression is a mental health issue that starts most often in early adulthood. It’s also more common in women. However, anyone at any age may deal with depression. Depression affects your brain, so drugs that work in your brain may prove beneficial.
Common antidepressants may help ease your symptoms, but there are many other options as well. Each drug used to treat depression works by balancing certain chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters. These drugs work in slightly different ways to ease your depression symptoms. Many common drugs fall into the following drug classes: • selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) • serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) • tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) • tetracyclic antidepressant • dopamine reuptake blocker • 5-HT1A receptor antagonist • 5-HT2 receptor antagonists • 5-HT3 receptor antagonist • monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) • noradrenergic antagonist Atypical antidepressants, which don’t fall into these drug classes, and natural treatments such as St. John’s wort are also available. Read on to learn more about how all of these drugs work and their potential side effects.
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. An imbalance of may play a role in depression. These drugs fight depression symptoms by decreasing serotonin reuptake in your brain. This effect leaves more serotonin available to work in your brain. SSRIs include: • sertraline (Zoloft) • fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) • citalopram (Celexa) • escitalopram (Lexapro) • paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva, Brisdelle) • fluvoxamine (Luvox) Common side effects of SSRIs include: • nausea • trouble sleeping • nervousness • tremors • sexual problems.
Help improve serotonin and norepinephrine levels in your brain. This may reduce depression symptoms. These drugs include: • desvenlafaxine (Pristiq, Khedezla) • duloxetine (Cymbalta) • levomilnacipran (Fetzima) • venlafaxine (Effexor XR) In addition to treating depression, duloxetine may also relieve pain. This is important because chronic pain can lead to depression or make it worse. In some cases, people with depression become more aware of aches and pains. A drug that treats both depression and pain, such as duloxetine, can be helpful to these people.