{"id":48149,"date":"2022-01-20T09:30:55","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T14:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=48149"},"modified":"2025-09-03T11:50:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T15:50:07","slug":"best-antidepressant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/best-antidepressant\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the best antidepressant for me?"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to a recent <\/span>SingleCare Survey<\/span><\/a>, 62% of American adults are concerned about their mental health, and 43% are taking medication for a condition like depression or anxiety. There are several types of depression, but major depressive disorder is among the most common.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A major depressive episode is defined as having persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in usual activities, changes to appetite and sleep patterns, loss of energy, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal ideation for at least two weeks, per the American Psychiatric Association.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the fact that so many adults, across all age groups, live with depression each year, there are still many hurdles to receiving proper treatment. One is finding the right antidepressant medication to treat your individualized symptoms: with seven classes of antidepressants and roughly two dozen common medications available, identifying the right drug for you can seem as hard as finding a needle in a haystack.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thankfully, there are ways to narrow down your options with your healthcare provider to make the search less intimidating. Here are some strategies for honing in on the best antidepressant to meet your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>See our best drug prices<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Types of antidepressants<\/h2>\n

When you hear the word antidepressant, your mind might immediately jump to drugs like <\/span>Prozac and Zoloft<\/span><\/a>. That makes sense; those drugs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and are some of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the U.S.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>SSRIs vs. SNRIs: What\u2019s the difference?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

But SSRIs aren\u2019t the only type of antidepressant out there\u2014and not everyone with depression needs to increase their levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter (a.k.a chemical messenger) <\/span>responsible for feelings of well-being<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAntidepressants target the neurotransmitters in your brain, increasing or decreasing activity in the brain circuits related to mood regulation,\u201d says adult and geriatric psychiatrist <\/span>David A. Merrill<\/span><\/a>, MD, Ph.D., director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute\u2019s Pacific Brain Health Center at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in California.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The neurotransmitters most commonly affected by antidepressants include serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine; different classes of antidepressants work on these different neurotransmitter systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are seven types of antidepressants:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors<\/b><\/a> (SSRIs), including <\/span>Prozac<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>fluoxetine<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>Paxil<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>paroxetine<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>Lexapro<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>escitalopram<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>Celexa<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>citalopram<\/span><\/a>), and <\/span>Zoloft<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>sertraline<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors<\/b><\/a> (SNRIs), including <\/span>Cymbalta<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>duloxetine<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>Pristiq<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>desvenlafaxine<\/span><\/a>), and <\/span>Effexor XR<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>venlafaxine<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Atypical antidepressants<\/b><\/a>, including <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>bupropion<\/span><\/a>), Desyrel (<\/span>trazodone<\/span><\/a>), and <\/span>Remeron<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>mirtazapine<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Tricyclic antidepressants<\/b><\/a> (TCAs), including <\/span>amitriptyline<\/span><\/a>, Tofranil (<\/span>imipramine<\/span><\/a>), and <\/span>Pamelor<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>nortriptyline<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors<\/b><\/a> (MAOIs), including <\/span>Marplan<\/span><\/a> (isocarboxazid) and <\/span>Nardil<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>phenelzine<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors<\/b> (NDRIs), including dexmethylphenidate, and Wellbutrin (bupropion)<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors<\/b><\/a> (SARIs), including Oleptro (<\/span>trazodone<\/span><\/a>), and Brintellix (<\/span>vortioxetine<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Although all of these antidepressants are prescribed by healthcare providers to treat different types of patients and different types of depression, SSRIs are used the most often as a first-line treatment, says Dr. Merrill, with some SSRIs prescribed far more frequently than others.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cWithin the SSRIs, the most commonly used is Prozac because it has a lot of evidence [to support its use],\u201d he explains, adding that Zoloft and Lexapro are also broadly prescribed.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Save on common antidepressants<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

    What\u2019s the best antidepressant?<\/h2>\n

    Let\u2019s be clear: The best antidepressant for you is the one that you and your healthcare provider agree provides the most symptom relief with the least amount of <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a>. Only you, in conjunction with your healthcare team, can decide what specific drug that is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    However, there are some antidepressants prescribed more often than others to people within certain population groups\u2014and certain factors, like age, gender, pregnancy, and overall health, can determine which group you fall into (and which different antidepressants might be worth trying first).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Here are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for the following groups of people:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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    Compare antidepressants<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

    Use<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nAntidepressants<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nConsiderations<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nCoupons<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Best antidepressant for anxiety<\/span><\/td>\nProzac (fluoxetine)<\/span><\/td>\nThese SSRIs have a low side effect profile and are generally well-tolerated and commonly recommended for treating anxiety<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Zoloft (sertraline)<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Lexapro (escitalopram)<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon\u00a0<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Best antidepressant for anxiety and depression<\/span><\/td>\nEffexor (venlafaxine)<\/span><\/td>\nEffexor is commonly prescribed when anxiety and depression occur together<\/a><\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Best antidepressant for energy and motivation<\/span><\/td>\nWellbutrin (bupropion)<\/span><\/td>\nThe serotonin-norepinephrine combination works well for increasing energy<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Best antidepressant for men<\/span><\/td>\nElavil (amitriptyline)<\/span><\/td>\nElavil and Wellbutrin are known to cause <\/span>less sexual dysfunction<\/span><\/a> than other antidepressants<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Wellbutrin (bupropion)<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Best antidepressant for women<\/span><\/td>\nZoloft (sertraline)<\/span><\/td>\nZoloft and Effexor work well for anxiety and depression<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Effexor (venlafaxine)<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Best antidepressant for pregnant women<\/span><\/td>\nZoloft (sertraline)<\/span><\/td>\nZoloft (and most SSRIs) are considered <\/span>generally safe<\/span><\/a> to use during pregnancy<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Best antidepressant for teens and young adults<\/span><\/td>\nProzac (fluoxetine)<\/span><\/td>\nProzac can be used in kids <\/span>older than 8<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Lexapro (escitalopram)<\/span><\/td>\nLexapro is approved for kids older than 12<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Best antidepressant for children<\/span><\/td>\nProzac (fluoxetine)<\/span><\/td>\nProzac is typically considered a <\/span>frontline medication<\/span><\/a> because of long-term history of safety<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Zoloft (sertraline)<\/span><\/td>\nZoloft is approved for kids as young as 6<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Best antidepressant for weight loss<\/span><\/td>\nWellbutrin (bupropion)<\/span><\/td>\nWellbutrin is less likely to cause weight gain than other antidepressants<\/span><\/td>\nGet coupon<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    The best antidepressants were chosen through a combination of expert interviews and popular data. SingleCare doesn’t endorse any particular drug over another.<\/span><\/i><\/small><\/p>\n

    What\u2019s the most effective antidepressant?<\/h2>\n

    There\u2019s no single best antidepressant. Because everyone has a unique body chemistry, all antidepressants will work differently across the population of users. But some antidepressants have been shown to work more reliably and effectively for large groups of patients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    A <\/span>2018 study<\/span><\/a> in The Lancet asserts that, based on extensive reviews of published studies, the antidepressants Lexapro, Paxil, Zoloft, and Remeron performed better than many other antidepressants, including popular drugs like Prozac, Luvox, and Desyrel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    It should be noted, though, that the study wasn\u2019t able to look at how well these antidepressants work alongside other treatments, like therapy, or the side effects they may cause. (In other words, a drug that technically works to treat your depression may still not be feasible for you if it causes disruptive or serious side effects.)<\/span><\/p>\n

    It\u2019s also important to note that most antidepressants take a long time to show their full effectiveness. \u201cDespite brain changes happening quickly, the mood changes can take a couple of months with most of the broadly prescribed antidepressants,\u201d says Dr. Merrill, adding that it can take anywhere from six to eight weeks, or even 12 weeks for older adults.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    While two or three months is a long time to wait to see if your antidepressant is truly helping you, it may not be necessary to wait <\/span>quite <\/span><\/i>so long if you aren\u2019t feeling any improvement at all. \u201cMany times, if patients are going to benefit [from a specific drug], they\u2019ll start feeling improvement within two weeks; if you\u2019re not, it might be worth considering moving on more rapidly, depending on how severe your depression is,\u201d Dr. Merrill says.<\/span><\/p>\n

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