Group Main Use | Medication Brand/Generic |
Form | Dose Schedule | Dose Range | Most Common Side Effects for Group | Pros for Group | Cautions for Group |
SRI Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (depression, anxiety,OCD, panic) |
Prozac (fluoxetine) |
capsule 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 90 mg/weekly tablet,
scored liquid |
usually a.m. | Child:
5-20 mg Adoles: 10-40 mg Adults: 20-80 mg |
Increased
energy which may be pleasant or feel like anxiety, agitation or
irritabliity. Zoloft and Paxil may sedate (rarely Prozac), Luvox most
likely to sedate. Celexa and Lexapro are the most neutral, regarding energy. Decreased appetite, sometimes with nausea. Less if taken with food. With time, weight may increase. 25-40% experience decreased sex drive or response. Less common for group: increased urinary frequency, dry mouth or sweating, vivid dreams. |
Once
a day. Very good safety profile. No labs, no EKG typically needed. No, or few, heart side-effects. Few significant interactions except increases tricyclic antidepressant blood levels. Zoloft and Celexa lowest interactions. Excellent for mild, moderate and severe depressions and anxiety disorders including panic, mixed, obsessive compulsive, post traumatic stress and atypical types. May help temper and impulsivity. Very low risk in overdose. Reportedly, low risk in pregnancy and breast feeding. SRI side effects (as with most meds) often lessen with time. All SRI's are available as generic and are very inexpensive. Prozac available in once a week form. All SRI help PMS and perimenopausal symptoms. Lexapro is a refined isomer version of Celexa. |
Any
SRI, especially Prozac, may agitate or disinhibit if excess energy occurs. Switch to evening if sedation occurs. Takes 1-3 weeks to begin to help and 1-3 months for maximum effect. Avoid combination or overlap with MAOI as with all antidepressants. Discontinuation syndrome (nausea, dizziness, "flu-ish," "out of sorts") may occur if stopped suddenly without taper or skip one or several days. Not dangerous, but unpleasant. More likely with Paxil or Effexor, not with Prozac because it lasts longest. Can occur with any SRI, SNRI, or TCA. FDA
Caution: advise monitor for rare increased suicidal thoughts or behavior
especially in kids when first starting medicine (age 24 and under).. |
Zoloft (sertraline) |
tablet,
scored 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg liquid 20mg/cc (100mg=5cc) |
usually
a.m.; evening if sedation |
Child:
25-50 mg Adoles: 50-200 mg Adult: 50-200 mg |
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Paxil (paroxetine) Paxil CR |
tablet,
scored 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg liquid |
usually
a.m.,evening if sedation |
Child:
5-30 mg Adoles: 10-40 mg Adult: 10-60 mg |
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Luvox (fluvoxamine) Luvox CR |
tablet,
scored 25, 50, 100 mg Extended release capsules 100, 150 mg |
often
twice a day evening if sedation once a day |
Child:
25-200 mg Adoles: 50-200 mg Adult: 100-300 mg 100-300 mg |
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Celexa (citalopram)
|
tablet,
scored 10, 20, 40mg liquid 10mg/5cc tablet, scored 5, 10, 20 mg liquid 5mg/5ml |
usually
evening if sedation morning or evening |
Child:
5-20mg Adoles: 10-40mg Adult: 10-40mg Child: 5-10mg Adoles: 10-20mg Adult: 10-30mg |
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Viibryd (depression) |
vilazodone | Tablets 10, 20, 40mg |
Usually evenings or AM with food | Adoles:
10-20mg Adult: 10-40mg |
diarrhea, nausea, similar to SRI, sedation | Has SRI and 5HT-1A actions.
Thus may have slightly broader action. Brand only |
Unclear, if any better than other SRI options. Newer and thus shorter track record |
Trintellix (depression) |
Trintellix vortioxetine |
Tablets 5, 10, 15, 20mg |
Usually once a day start 5-10 mg | Adult: 10-20mg | Nausea, GI, similar to SRI | Has SRI, 5HT-1A and
additional serotonin actions. Thus slightly broader actions. Brand only. Was known as Brintellix. |
Unclear, if any better than other SRI options. Newest and thus less experience. |
All these medications should be taken 7 days a week to be effective.
Simultaneous use of alcohol or cigarettes and especially street drugs should
be avoided. All antidepressants may increase mania risk in persons with
Bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder. All medications should be avoided if
possible in pregnancy. This chart is intended to be a summary guide, not a
full and complete list.