Depression
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Emsam Alternatives (Cont.)

Other Depression Medications

Fortunately, there are many medications available to treat depression. These medications can include:
 
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 can include:
 
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
These antidepressants are very similar to SSRIs, except that they also affect norepinephrine (another chemical in the brain). Some examples of SNRIs used to treat depression include:
 
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
In addition to Emsam, some other MAOIs used to treat depression 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 can 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 -- though stimulants are not approved for this use.
 
(Emsam Alternatives Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;