Antidepressants in a nutshell
Prozac
  • 20 mg qd
  • Generic cost $0.5/pill
  • SSRI, long half life
Lexapro
  • 10 mg qd, then 20 mg qd
  • Cost $2/pill
  • SSRI
Wellbutrin
  • Wellbutrin XL 24 hour 150 mg qd, up to 300 mg qd. cost $3/pill
  • Generic Bupropion HCl 12 hour tablets 150MG. cost $1/pill
  • Dopamine reuptake inhibitor
  • May cause agitation, insomnia. Avoid if history of psychosis.
  • Also used for smoking cessation.
  • May increase risk for seizure, especially dose >450mg/day
Effexor XR
  • 75 mg qd, up to 225 mg qd
  • About $3/capsule
  • May help anxiety
  • Inhibits reuptake of Serotonin, Norepinephrine; to a lesser extent dopamine.
  • At doses > 200 mg per day, may increase blood pressure
  • Discontinuation syndrome may occur with abrupt discontinuation
Nirtazapine (Remeron)
  • 15 mg hs, up to 45 mg hs
  • Generic available, about $1 per pill
  • Antagonizes 5HT2, 5HT3 and adrenergic alpha2 receptors
  • May cause sedation, weight gain.
  • No anticholinergic, adrenergic, and serotonin-related side effects
  • Does not cause sexual dysfunction, orthostatic hypotension.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
Psychiatric disorder info center

arrow_up.gif (599 bytes)