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Choosing an Antidepressant

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See Antidepressant Medication Table (Adults)


  • Has the patient had a particular response to a certain antidepressant in the past?
    • Consider using that antidepressant

  • Has there been a family history of response to a certain antidepressant?
    • Consider using that antidepressant

  • Is the patient on multiple medications? Consider…
    • Citalopram (Celexa)
    • Escitalopram (Cipralex)
    • Venlafaxine (Effexor)
    • Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
    • Mirtazapine (Remeron)

  • Is there chronic pain? Consider…
    • Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
    • Venlafaxine (Effexor)

  • Is there cardiovascular illness? Consider…
    • Sertraline (Zoloft)

  • Is there poor sleep, poor appetite, weight loss? Consider…
    • Mirtazapine (Remeron)

  • Is the patient a smoker who wants to stop smoking, and/or wants to minimize the risk of sexual side effects? Consider…
    • Bupropion (Wellbutrin)

  • Is the patient a child/youth (age < 18)? Consider…
    • Fluoxetine (Prozac)

  • Is the patient in the perinatal period? Consider…
    • Sertraline (Zoloft)
    • For more information, visit MotherToBaby

  • Is cost an issue? If so, then consider these less costly medications…
    • Citalopram (Celexa)
    • Escitalopram (Cipralex)
    • Sertraline (Zoloft)
    • Mirtazapine (Remeron)
    • Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
    • Venlafaxine (Effexor)

  • Patient preference


Otherwise, choose…
  • Any SSRI or SNRI



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