What are the 10 most common antidepressants?
In this article we will describe what are the 10 most common antidepressants.
Diagram explaining the mode of action of antidepressants.
So. What are the 10 most common antidepressants?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
These are the most prescribed type of antidepressant. Fluoxetine is the best known SSRI.
Other SSRIs include: citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, and sertraline. They are a strong and important group of drugs. They include:
- Sertraline – the most commonly prescribed antidepressant for adults in the UK
- Citalopram
- Fluoxetine – the most commonly prescribed antidepressant for children
- Escitalopram – an enantiomer of citalopram (mirror image at a molecular level).
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
These are similar to SSRIs. Common ones include:
- Venlafaxine – the most commonly prescribed non-SSRI antidepressant. It is used as a second line treatment
- Duloxetine – also useful for chronic pain.
Other types of antidepressant
- Buproprion – an aminoketone antidepressant. This works differently than SSRIs or SNRIs. It also treats seasonal affective disorder and helps people stop smoking. It is more frequently prescribed in the USA.
- Mirtazapine – a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA). It can also aid sleep
- Trazodone – a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI). This is also helpful for sleep and agitation in older patients
- Amitritpyline – a tricylic antidepressant. It is one of the older types of antidepressant, less often used now due to its side effect profile. It is however effective and can be safer in pregnancy. It is also commonly prescribed for chronic pain.
There are other antidepressants that are prescribed less frequently, including: paroxetine, selegiline and vortioxetine. These are not often prescribed because of the benefits and safety of the medications listed above. However, they work better for some people and in particular specialist cases.
Summary
We have described what are the top 10 most common antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant in the UK.
When choosing an antidepressant your doctor will discuss your history and symptoms, and past and present medication. So the right antidepressant can be prescribed to suit your presentation and needs.
Other resource
Reviewed by Dr Brad Neal, Registrar in Psychiatry
Last Reviewed on 9 March 2024