Important Disclaimer:
Best Antidepressant
BRAND NAME
GENERIC NAME
PROBLEMS ON STOPPING
WEIGHT INCREASE
SEXUAL PROBLEMS
DAYTIME DROWSINESS
DRY MOUTH
EXCESSIVE PERSPIRATION
PERSONAL IMPRESSIONS BY DR DAVID
HORGAN (DEPRESSION.COM.AU, DAVIDHORGAN.COM)
Valdoxan
Agomelatine
_
_
_
_
_
_
The fewest side_effects. Safe
with other drugs. Liver issues
(usually mild) in 1_2%.
Zoloft
Sertraline
+
30%
+
_
_
+
Less risk of weight gain than other SSRIs. More nausea and
diarrhoea
Lexapro
Escitalopram
+
30%
+
_
_
+
Popular with psychiatrists
Aropax
Paroxetine
+
75%
+
?
_
+
Strongly anti_anxiety and ant_panic. Most weight gain of
SSRIs. Avoid in pregnancy
Luvox
Fluvoxamine
+
30%
+
+
_
+
Needs to be taken at night as it is mildly sedative. Reputed
to be good for OCD
Prozac
Fluoxetine
_
30%
+
_
_
+
No problem if taken intermittently. Slower to start working
perhaps. 5 weeks to clear.
Cipramil
Citalopram
+
30%
+
_
_
+
Do not exceed 40 mg due to cardiac arrest risk
Pristiq
Desvenlafaxine
+
30%
+
_
_
+
High doses often needed in my experience
Cymbalta
Duloxetine
+
40%
+
_
_
+
Can be taken morning or night. Fast acting in my experience
Efexor
Venlafaxine
+
30%
+
_
?
+
Powerful. Withdrawals can be severe.
Brintellix
Vortioxetine
_
20%
?
_
_
?
Much less nausea if
taken at bedtime initially. Sexual problems at higher doses.
Zyban
Bupropion
_
_
_
_
_
_
Risk of epileptic seizures above recommended doses.
Avanza
Mirtazepine
_
90%
_
+
_
_
Powerful. Highly sedative with high weight gain. Seems safe
with other antidepressants.
Edronax
Reboxetine
_
_
_
_
+
_
Energising so take morning and lunch. Effectiveness? Agitation and irritability risk.
Tofranil
Imipramine
_
40%
?
?
+
?
Old but powerful. Helps anxiety and depression. May be
sedative or energising
Anafranil
Clomipramine
_
80%
?
?
+
+
Very powerful. Causes shaking in higher doses.
Prothiaden
Dothiepin
_
60%
?
?
+
?
Sedation and weight gain are moderate
Tryptanol
Amitriptyline
_
90%
?
+
+
?
Highly sedative. Marked weight gain
Allegron
Nortriptyline
_
90%
?
+
+
?
Take at night as it is highly sedative
Sinequan
Doxepin
_
90%
?
+
+
?
Sedative. High doses often needed as blood levels are low.
Tolvon
Mianserin
_
90%
_
+
_
_
Sedative. Marked weight gain. Safest tricyclic type.
Aurorix
Moclobemide
_
_
_
_
_
_
Weak. May cause low blood pressure, especially in warm
weather.
Parnate
Tranylcypromine
_
_
_
_
_
_
DANGEROUS (stroke!)
unless strict diet and precautions. Rare reports spontaneous
Nardil
Phenelzine
_
_
_
_
_
_
DANGEROUS (stroke!)
unless strict diet and precautions. Rare reports spontaneous
Any antidepressant has the same unpredictable chance of producing the following results:-
So, in the inevitable sequence of trial and error, please remember a few points
Disclosure: I have received lecturing fees, consultancy fees and travel grants from multiple different pharmaceutical companies…David Horgan