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)
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex)
- Paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- Sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral)
Zimelidine (Normud, Zelmid) and indalpine (Upstene) were also formerly used as antidepressants, but were withdrawn from the market.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
- Milnacipran (Ixel, Savella)
- Tofenacin (Elamol, Tofacine)
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)
Serotonin modulators and stimulators (SMSs)
- Vilazodone (Viibryd)
- Vortioxetine (Trintellix)
These drugs act as serotonin reuptake inhibitors and agonize/antagonize various serotonin receptors.
Serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs)
- Etoperidone (Axiomin, Etonin)
- Nefazodone (Nefadar, Serzone) â€" withdrawn/discontinued in some countries
- Trazodone (Desyrel)
These drugs act as antagonists of various serotonin receptors and as monoamine reuptake inhibitors to a lesser extent.
Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs)
- Reboxetine (Edronax)
- Viloxazine (Vivalan)
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is also sometimes used as an antidepressant, but is not specifically approved for this purpose.
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)
- Pipofezine (Azafen/Azaphen)
- Protriptyline (Vivactil)
- Trimipramine (Surmontil)
Butriptyline (Evadyne), demexiptiline (Deparon, Tinoran), 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.
The following are also TCAs, but are atypical pharmacologically:
- Opipramol (Insidon) â€" sigma (σ1 and σ2) receptor agonist
- Tianeptine (Stablon) â€" atypical μ-opioid receptor agonist
Amineptine (Survector, Maneon) is another atypical TCA, acting as a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), but was withdrawn from the market.
Tiazesim (Altinil) is technically not a TCA, but it is a heterocyclic antidepressant that is very closely related, and similarly to various TCAs, it is no longer marketed.
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.
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
- Bifemelane (Alnert, Celeport) â€" RIMA, irreversible inhibitor of MAO-B, and weak NRI
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin) â€" NRI and non-competitive antagonist of various neuronal nACh receptors
- Ketamine (Ketalar) â€" non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist â€" not specifically approved for depression (used off-label)[1]
- Tandospirone (Sediel) â€" 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist
- Teniloxazine (Lucelan, Metatone) â€" NRI and 5-HT2A receptor antagonist
Discontinued/withdrawn from the market
- α-Methyltryptamine [αMT] (Indopan) â€" multiple serotonin receptor agonist, serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA), and weak RIMA
- Etryptamine [α-Ethyltryptamine (αET)] (Monase) â€" multiple 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 serotonin-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SDRI) and 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor antagonist
- Nomifensine (Merital, Alival) â€" NDRI
- 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 (exact mechanism of action unknown) â€" not specifically approved for depression (used off-label)
- Thyroxine (T4) â€" thyroid hormone (THR agonist) â€" not specifically approved for depression (used off-label)
- Triiodothyronine (T3) â€" thyroid hormone (THR agonist) â€" not specifically approved for depression (used off-label)
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
- 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