Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
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:
Milnacipran (Savella™) is an SNRI that is not approved for the treatment of depression (although it may be used off-label for this purpose).
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are a class of older medications used for treating depression. 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. Some 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. Some 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 -- though stimulants are not approved for this use.
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