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Medications for Depression

About Depression:  Feelings of depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. But true clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time.

See also: sub-topics

Drugs Used to Treat Depression

The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition.

Drug name Rx / OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol Reviews Rating Popularity
bupropion C N X 884 reviews
7.0

Generic name: bupropion systemic

Brand names:  Wellbutrin XL, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Budeprion SR, Budeprion XL, Aplenzin, Forfivo XL …show all

Drug class: miscellaneous antidepressants, smoking cessation agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

sertraline C N X 780 reviews
7.0

Generic name: sertraline systemic

Brand name:  Zoloft

Drug class: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

venlafaxine C N X 664 reviews
6.0

Generic name: venlafaxine systemic

Brand names:  Effexor XR, Effexor

Drug class: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

desvenlafaxine C N X 645 reviews
7.0

Generic name: desvenlafaxine systemic

Brand names:  Pristiq, Khedezla

Drug class: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Pristiq C N X 614 reviews
7.0

Generic name: desvenlafaxine systemic

Drug class: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

escitalopram C N X 600 reviews
7.0

Generic name: escitalopram systemic

Brand name:  Lexapro

Drug class: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

citalopram C N X 575 reviews
7.0

Generic name: citalopram systemic

Brand name:  Celexa

Drug class: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

vortioxetine C N X 551 reviews
6.0

Generic name: vortioxetine systemic

Brand name:  Trintellix

Drug class: miscellaneous antidepressants

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph

duloxetine C N X 499 reviews
6.0

Generic name: duloxetine systemic

Brand names:  Cymbalta, Irenka

Drug class: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Lexapro C N X 466 reviews
7.0

Generic name: escitalopram systemic

Drug class: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Cymbalta C N X 457 reviews
6.0

Generic name: duloxetine systemic

Drug class: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

vilazodone C N X 452 reviews
6.0

Generic name: vilazodone systemic

Brand name:  Viibryd

Drug class: miscellaneous antidepressants

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph

fluoxetine C N X 449 reviews
7.0

Generic name: fluoxetine systemic

Brand names:  Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Rapiflux

Drug class: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Viibryd C N X 440 reviews
6.0

Generic name: vilazodone systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous antidepressants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Zoloft C N X 439 reviews
7.0

Generic name: sertraline systemic

Drug class: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Wellbutrin C N X 376 reviews
7.0

Generic name: bupropion systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous antidepressants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Trintellix C N X 374 reviews
6.0

Generic name: vortioxetine systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous antidepressants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

mirtazapine C N X 339 reviews
7.0

Generic name: mirtazapine systemic

Brand names:  Remeron, Remeron SolTab

Drug class: tetracyclic antidepressants

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Celexa C N X 326 reviews
7.0

Generic name: citalopram systemic

Drug class: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Prozac C N X 309 reviews
7.0

Generic name: fluoxetine systemic

Drug class: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Effexor C N X 290 reviews
5.0

Generic name: venlafaxine systemic

Drug class: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

aripiprazole C N X 225 reviews
6.0

Generic name: aripiprazole systemic

Brand names:  Abilify, Abilify MyCite

Drug class: atypical antipsychotics

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Effexor XR C N X 223 reviews
7.0

Generic name: venlafaxine systemic

Drug class: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Abilify C N X 213 reviews
6.0

Generic name: aripiprazole systemic

Drug class: atypical antipsychotics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Wellbutrin XL C N X 213 reviews
7.0

Generic name: bupropion systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous antidepressants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

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Topics under Depression

Alternative treatments for Depression

The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Depression. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Depression.

Learn more about Depression

Micromedex® Care Notes

Symptoms and treatments

Drugs.com Health Center

Legend

Off Label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
Prescription Only / Over the Counter
Rx Prescription Only
OTC Over the Counter
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over the Counter
Pregnancy
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act Schedule
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

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