What are antidepressants? Uses, examples, safety

Written by Kristi C. Torres, Pharm.D.
Licensed Pharmacist
Updated Jun 26, 2025
Fact Checked

Key takeaways

  • Antidepressants are used for depressive disorders, anxiety disorder, OCD, panic disorder, fibromyalgia, hot flashes, migraine prevention, PTSD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and more.

  • Antidepressants work by altering neurotransmitters that affect mood. Each subclass of antidepressants works differently.

  • There are several types of antidepressants, including SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs, TCAs, and MAOIs.

  • Some commonly prescribed antidepressants include Lexapro, trazodone, Zoloft, Wellbutrin XL, and Prozac.

  • Many antidepressants are available as generic drugs, which are more affordable than brand-name medications. Your insurance plan is more likely to cover a generic antidepressant than a brand name.

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List of antidepressants

Drug nameSee SingleCare price
Amitriptyline
amitriptyline-hcl price
Abilify
abilify price
Aripiprazole
aripiprazole price
Wellbutrin XL
wellbutrin-xl price
Bupropion
bupropion-hcl price
Celexa
celexa price
Citalopram
citalopram-hydrobromide price
Pristiq
pristiq price
Desvenlafaxine ER
desvenlafaxine-succinate-er price
Silenor
silenor price
Doxepin
doxepin-hcl price
Cymbalta
cymbalta price
Duloxetine
duloxetine-hcl price
Lexapro
lexapro price
Escitalopram
escitalopram-oxalate price
Prozac
prozac price
Fluoxetine
fluoxetine-hcl price
Paxil
paxil price
Paroxetine
paroxetine-hcl price
Zoloft
zoloft price
Sertraline
sertraline-hcl price
Trazodone
trazodone-hcl price
Effexor XR
effexor-xr price
Venlafaxine
venlafaxine-hcl price
Viibryd
viibryd price
Trintellix
trintellix price
Amoxapine
amoxapine price
Rexulti
rexulti price
Anafranil
anafranil price
Clomipramine
clomipramine-hcl price
Norpramin
norpramin price
Desipramine
desipramine-hcl price
Spravato (56 Mg Dose)
spravato-56-mg-dose price
Spravato (84 MG Dose)
spravato-84-mg-dose price
Marplan
marplan price
Levomefolate Calcium
levomefolate-calcium price
Fetzima
fetzima price
Maprotiline Hcl
maprotiline-hcl price
Remeron
remeron price
Mirtazapine
mirtazapine price
Nefazodone
nefazodone-hcl price
Pamelor
pamelor price
Nortriptyline
nortriptyline-hcl price
Zyprexa
zyprexa price
Olanzapine
olanzapine price
Nardil
nardil price
Protriptyline
protriptyline-hcl price
Seroquel
seroquel price
Parnate
parnate price
Written by Kristi C. Torres, Pharm.D.
Licensed Pharmacist

Kristi C. Torres, Pharm.D., is a 2005 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. Her professional background includes academic teaching roles, district-level management for a nationwide pharmacy chain, and clinic-based pharmacy management. Dr. Torres has a wide range of experience in pharmacy operations and has traveled to many states to open and convert clinic-based pharmacies for one of the largest healthcare systems in the nation.

Currently, she works for Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy in Austin, Texas, serving the intellectual and developmental disability community. There, she leads the order entry team, overseeing orders from across the country.

Dr. Torres began working in pharmacy at the age of 16 in a small East Texas town. She currently resides in Round Rock, Texas, with her daughter and a Shih-Tzu puppy.

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