Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are usually very effective at treating
depression and usually do not have many serious side effects. They work by increasing the level of serotonin available for cells in the brain. These
antidepressant medications include:
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are a class of older medications used for treating depression. However, there are many serious food and drug interactions with MAOIs. Because of this, MAOIs are usually used only if other medications for depression have not been effective. Examples of MAOI
types of depression medication include:
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants are another older class of antidepressants. Due to certain side effects, they are generally not recommended for elderly people. Tricyclic types of depression medicine include:
Miscellaneous Antidepressants
There are several other antidepressants available, including:
Sometimes, stimulant medications such as
methylphenidate (
Ritalin®) are used to treat depression when other medications have not helped, although stimulants are not approved for this use.
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