This is a complete list of clinically approved prescription antidepressants throughout the world, as well as clinically approved prescription drugs used to augment antidepressants, by pharmacological and/or structural classification. Chemical/generic names are listed first, with brand names in parentheses. All drugs listed are approved specifically for major depressive disorder unless noted otherwise.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs and New Antidepressants - Review of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other newer antidepressants.
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex)
- Paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox, Faverin)
- Sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral)
Indalpine (Upstene) and zimelidine (Normud, Zelmid) were also formerly used as antidepressants, but were withdrawn from the market.
Serotoninâ€"norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
- Milnacipran (Ixel, Savella)
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)
Serotonin modulators and stimulators (SMS)
- Vilazodone (Viibryd)
- Vortioxetine (Trintellix)
Serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs)
- Nefazodone (Dutonin, Nefadar, Serzone) â€" withdrawn/discontinued in most countries
- Trazodone (Desyrel)
Etoperidone may also have been formerly used as an antidepressant, but has been discontinued.
Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs)
- Reboxetine (Edronax)
- Teniloxazine (Lucelan, Metatone) â€" also a 5-HT2A receptor antagonist
- Viloxazine (Vivalan)
Although marketed as an antidepressant, a meta-analysis found that reboxetine was ineffective and potentially harmful.
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is also sometimes used as an antidepressant, but is not specifically approved for this purpose.
Norepinephrineâ€"dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin) â€" weak NDRI, although its dopaminergic actions are controversial; may act as a norepinephrineâ€"dopamine releasing agent (NDRA) alternatively or additionally; also a non-competitive antagonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Amineptine (Survector, Maneon) and nomifensine (Merital, Alival) were also formerly marketed, but have since been withdrawn due to toxicity.
Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) is also sometimes used as an antidepressant, but is not specifically approved for this purpose.
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), an NDRA, was found to be ineffective as an adjunctive antidepressant in phase III clinical trials.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
- Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep)
- Amitriptylinoxide (Amioxid, Ambivalon, Equilibrin)
- Clomipramine (Anafranil)
- Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane)
- Dibenzepin (Noveril, Victoril)
- Dimetacrine (Istonil)
- Dosulepin (Prothiaden)
- Doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan)
- Imipramine (Tofranil)
- Lofepramine (Lomont, Gamanil)
- Melitracen (Dixeran, Melixeran, Trausabun)
- Nitroxazepine (Sintamil)
- Nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl)
- Noxiptiline (Agedal, Elronon, Nogedal)
- Opipramol (Insidon)
- Pipofezine (Azafen/Azaphen)
- Protriptyline (Vivactil)
- Trimipramine (Surmontil)
Butriptyline (Evadyne), demexiptiline (Deparon, Tinoran), fluacizine (Phtorazisin), imipraminoxide (Imiprex, Elepsin), iprindole (Prondol, Galatur, Tetran), metapramine (Timaxel), propizepine (Depressin, Vagran), and quinupramine (Kinupril, Kevopril) were also formerly marketed, but have since been discontinued.
Tiazesim (Altinil) and tofenacin (Elamol, Tofacine) are technically not TCAs, but are heterocyclic antidepressants that are very closely related, and similarly to various TCAs, are no longer marketed.
Amineptine (Survector, Maneon) and tianeptine (Stablon, Coaxil) are technically TCAs but are atypical, and are grouped elsewhere.
Tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCAs)
- Amoxapine (Asendin)
- Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
- Mianserin (Bolvidon, Norval, Tolvon)
- Mirtazapine (Remeron)
- Setiptiline (Tecipul)
Mianserin, mirtazapine, and setiptiline are also sometimes described as noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs).
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Irreversible
Non-selective
- Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
- Phenelzine (Nardil)
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
Many others, including benmoxin (Neuralex), iproclozide (Sursum), iproniazid (Marsilid), mebanazine (Actomol), nialamide (Niamid), octamoxin (Ximaol), pheniprazine (Catron), phenoxypropazine (Drazine), pivhydrazine (Tersavid), and safrazine (Safra) were used as antidepressants in the past, but have since been discontinued.
Selective for MAO-B
- Selegiline (Eldepryl, Zelapar, Emsam)
Reversible
Non-selective
Caroxazone (Surodil, Timostenil) was formerly used as an antidepressant, but has been discontinued.
Selective for MAO-A
- Metralindole (Inkazan)
- Moclobemide (Aurorix, Manerix)
- Pirlindole (Pirazidol)
- Toloxatone (Humoryl)
These drugs are sometimes described as reversible inhibitors of MAO-A (RIMAs).
Eprobemide (Befol) and minaprine (Brantur, Cantor) were also formerly used as antidepressants, but have been discontinued.
Mixed
Non-selective
- Bifemelane (Alnert, Celeport) â€" RIMA, irreversible inhibitor of MAO-B, and weak NRI
Atypical antipsychotics
- Amisulpride (Solian) â€" specifically approved, in low doses, as a monotherapy for dysthymia
- Lurasidone (Latuda) â€" specifically approved as a monotherapy for depressive episodes in bipolar disorder
- Quetiapine (Seroquel) â€" specifically approved as a monotherapy for depressive episodes in bipolar disorder
Others
Marketed
- Agomelatine (Valdoxan) â€" 5-HT2C receptor antagonist and MT1 and MT2 receptor agonist
- Ketamine (Ketalar) â€" non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist â€" not specifically approved for depression (used off-label)
- Tandospirone (Sediel) â€" 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist
- Tianeptine (Stablon, Coaxil) â€" weak and atypical μ-opioid receptor agonist
- Minocycline â€" Microglia inhibitor (Tetracycline antibiotics) â€" the overall antidepressant effect size of compared to placebo was -0.78 (95% CI: -0.4 to -1.33, P=0.005) in Meta-analysis. â€" not specifically approved for depression (used off-label).
Discontinued/withdrawn
- α-Methyltryptamine [αMT] (Indopan) â€" non-selective serotonin receptor agonist, serotoninâ€"norepinephrineâ€"dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA), and weak RIMA
- Etryptamine [α-Ethyltryptamine (αET)] (Monase) â€" non-selective serotonin receptor agonist, SNDRA, and weak RIMA
- Indeloxazine (Elen, Noin) â€" serotonin releasing agent (SRA), NRI, and NMDA receptor antagonist
- Medifoxamine (Clédial, Gerdaxyl) â€" weak serotoninâ€"dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SDRI) and 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor antagonist
- Oxaflozane (Conflictan) â€" 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2C receptor agonist
- Pivagabine (Tonerg) â€" unknown/unclear mechanism of action
Over-the-counter
The following antidepressants are available both with a prescription and over-the-counter:
- Ademetionine [S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe)] (Heptral, Transmetil, Samyl) â€" cofactor in monoamine neurotransmitter biosynthesis
- Hypericum perforatum [St. John's Wort (SJW)] (Jarsin, Kira, Movina) â€" TRPC6 activator, and various other actions
- Oxitriptan [5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)] (Cincofarm, Levothym, Triptum) â€" precursor in serotonin biosynthesis
- Rubidium chloride [RbCl] (Rubinorm) â€" unknown/unclear mechanism of action
- Tryptophan (Tryptan, Optimax, Aminomine) â€" precursor in serotonin biosynthesis
Adjunctive treatments
Atypical antipsychotics
- Aripiprazole (Abilify) â€" specifically approved as an adjunct for major depressive disorder
- Brexpiprazole (Rexulti) â€" specifically approved as an adjunct for major depressive disorder
- Lurasidone (Latuda) â€" specifically approved for depressive episodes in bipolar disorder
- Olanzapine (Zyprexa) â€" specifically approved as an adjunct for major depressive disorder
- Quetiapine (Seroquel) â€" approved as an adjunct for both major depressive disorder and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder
- Risperidone (Risperdal) â€" not specifically approved as an adjunct for major depressive disorder (used off-label)
Others
- Buspirone (Buspar) â€" 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist â€" not specifically approved for depression (used off-label)
- Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) â€" mood stabilizer (mechanism of action unknown/unclear) â€" not specifically approved for depression (used off-label)
- Thyroxine (T4) â€" thyroid hormone (thyroid hormone receptor agonist) â€" not specifically approved for depression (used off-label)
- Triiodothyronine (T3) â€" thyroid hormone (thyroid hormone receptor agonist) â€" not specifically approved for depression (used off-label)
Pindolol (Visken), a beta blocker and to a lesser extent 5-HT1A receptor weak partial agonist or functional antagonist, has sometimes been used off-label as an augmentation therapy for SSRIs, but a systematic review and meta-analysis found that it was ineffective.
Combination products
- Amitriptyline/perphenazine (Etafron) â€" TCA and typical antipsychotic combination
- Flupentixol/melitracen (Deanxit) â€" TCA and typical antipsychotic combination
- Olanzapine/fluoxetine (Symbyax) â€" SSRI and atypical antipsychotic combination â€" specifically approved as a monotherapy for depressive episodes in bipolar disorder and treatment-resistant depression
- Tranylcypromine/trifluoperazine (Parstelin, Parmodalin, Jatrosom N, Stelapar) â€" MAOI and typical antipsychotic combination
See also
- List of investigational antidepressants
- List of psychiatric medications by condition treated