Medication

The type of medication you’re prescribed depends on your symptoms, health history, and how your body responds to certain substances.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety by improving how brain chemicals that affect mood send and receive messages between brain cells. They are generally safe, effective, and well-studied. 

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs are the most common antidepressants in the U.S. used to treat depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other common mental health conditions. They tend to have fewer and milder side effects than older medications. 

You may begin to notice an improvement in mood after about one month of taking an SSRI, although full results may take longer. Common examples of SSRIs include: 

• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)

Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

SNRIs are often prescribed for more severe depression or when symptoms occur alongside chronic pain. Common examples of SNRIs include: 

• Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq, Khedezla)
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

TCAs can be effective, but often come with more side effects than newer medications. Doctors usually prescribe TCAs when other treatments haven’t worked. Common examples of TCAs include: 

• Desipramine (Norpramin)
• Imipramine (Tofranil)
• Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• Protriptyline (Vivactil)
• Trimipramine (Surmontil)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

MAOIs were the first antidepressants developed. They may work well for some people, but you must follow a careful diet to avoid harmful interactions. Common examples of MAOIs include: 

• Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
• Phenelzine (Nardil)
• Selegiline (Emsam)
• Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

Mood stabilizers

Mood stabilizers help prevent mood swings and reduce symptoms of depression and mania, especially in bipolar disorder. The two main types are lithium and anticonvulsants. When you take a mood stabilizer, your provider will schedule regular blood tests to monitor your kidney and thyroid health.

Lithium

For more than 50 years, lithium has been a safe and effective treatment for manic episodes with elevated or euphoric mood. It may also reduce depressive episodes.

Common side effects of lithium include:

• Dry mouth or thirst, leading to more frequent urination
• In rare cases, kidney or thyroid issues may occur with long-term use
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea if doses increase too quickly
• Slight hand tremors

Anticonvulsants

Originally developed to treat seizures, some anticonvulsants have been found to stabilize mood, too. Common examples of anticonvulsants include: 

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• Valproic Acid (Depakote)

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotic medications were first designed to treat psychosis, but are now also used for mood disorders, even when psychosis isn’t a symptom. In lower doses, they can improve mood; in higher doses, they treat symptoms like hallucinations or delusions (seeing, hearing, or believing things that aren’t real).

Side effects may include weight gain, tremors, or changes in metabolism. Common examples of antipsychotics include: 

• Aripiprazole (Abilify)
• Cariprazine (Vraylar)
• Lumateperone (Caplyta) 
• Quetiapine (Seroquel) 

Esketamine & ketamine

Esketamine (Spravato) is an FDA-approved nasal spray for people with treatment-resistant depression (depression that hasn’t improved with other medications). Studies show a similar medication, ketamine, may provide rapid relief for some people, although it has not yet been approved by the FDA for treating mood disorders. Both medications provide a potentially faster way to find relief compared to traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks to work.

Always discuss the risks and benefits with your health care provider before starting a treatment like ketamine therapy.

Before starting a new medication, ask your provider these questions to understand what to expect:

• Which symptoms will this medication help improve, and when can I expect to see results?
• What side effects might I experience, and how can I manage them?
• Are there any foods, drinks, or other medications I should avoid?
• What should I do if I miss a dose or want to stop taking the medication?
• Who should I contact if I experience severe side effects or have concerns?

Always inform your provider about any medications, supplements, and vitamins you take to prevent potential interactions. Never stop taking medication without consulting your provider first.