An Overview of New Antidepressants
The response to
antidepressants varies greatly from person to person, more so than other types of medications. One antidepressant may be very effective and well-tolerated by one person but may be ineffective and poorly tolerated by another. For some people, the first antidepressant they try will work great; for others, finding the right antidepressant can be very challenging. Fortunately, there are many different
types of antidepressants, with new antidepressants becoming available all the time.
Generally, newer antidepressants (such as
SSRIs,
SNRIs, and various other types) offer some advantages over older antidepressants (such as
tricyclic antidepressants or MAOIs). Often, new antidepressants are better tolerated. However, for some people, the older antidepressants work fine and are generally much less costly than the new antidepressants.
Sometimes, new antidepressants are simply "copycat" medications, often long-acting versions of currently available antidepressants (or versions that are chemically very similar though slightly different). While these versions usually offer some benefit (such as more convenient dosing), you and your healthcare provider must decide whether the benefit is worth the additional cost of such new antidepressants. Remember, even if you have insurance to cover your medications, you should still consider the cost, since you will pay indirectly (through the increased cost of insurance and healthcare in general).
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print