Depression isn’t the same for everyone — multiple types exist, and people experience this treatable illness in varying degrees of severity.

For some people with depression, nonpharmacological interventions such as psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and natural remedies may be enough to lift the cloud and improve symptoms.

But for many other people, these steps aren’t enough, and medication is needed.

Numerous depression-fighting medications are available today. If you’re struggling with depression, talk to your primary care doctor or a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, to learn whether antidepressant medication may be right for you.

How Many People Take Antidepressants?

According to a September 2020 report by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), more than 13 percent of U.S. adults take antidepressants, drugs that work by acting on specific brain chemicals that are involved in regulating mood.

Overall, antidepressant use increased from 10.6 percent to nearly 14 percent in the decade between 2009 to 2010 and 2017 to 2018.

Women with depression are nearly twice as likely as men to be taking these medications, the NCHS found, with 17.7 percent of women using antidepressants compared with 8.4 percent of men. During the same decade, antidepressant use increased among women but not men.

Another study by the NCHS, published in May 2019, found that antidepressants are the most commonly used prescription drug type for adults between ages 20 and 59 (followed by pain medicines and drugs to lower high cholesterol).

In addition to depression, antidepressants are sometimes used for other health conditions, such as anxiety, pain, and insomnia. Although antidepressants have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), doctors sometimes prescribe them off-label to alleviate ADHD symptoms in children and adults.

Are Antidepressants Safe?

Most antidepressants are generally safe, but some people — especially children, teenagers, and young adults under age 25 — may experience an increase in suicidal thoughts, especially during the first few months of treatment or when their dosage goes up or down.

If this happens to you or someone you know, immediately contact a doctor or seek emergency help by contacting the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988) or, if the risk is imminent, call 911.

Once you’ve begun taking antidepressants, don’t stop without your doctor’s assistance; discontinuing the medication too soon means your depressive symptoms might come back. When the time is right, your doctor can help you gradually taper your usage. While antidepressants aren’t generally addictive, stopping them abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms.

SSRIs: The Most Frequently Prescribed Antidepressants

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressant class. Although it’s not clear how SSRIs treat depression, these drugs are known to inhibit the uptake of serotonin (a kind of chemical messenger called a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood). This means they prevent the body from breaking down serotonin, which in turn helps increase levels of this neurotransmitter in the body.

These SSRIs are approved by the FDA to treat depression:

The most common side effects of SSRIs include:

Nausea and vomiting
Dry mouth
Weight gain or loss due to appetite changes
Diarrhea
Drowsiness
Sexual problems
Headache or dizziness
Drowsiness or insomnia
Agitation, restlessness, or nervousness

SNRIs Work by Blocking Reuptake of Two Brain Chemicals

Another class of antidepressants, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), block the reabsorption of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, making them more available to your brain.

Commonly used SNRIs include:

The most common side effects of SNRIs include:

Nausea
Dry mouth
Dizziness
Headache
Excessive sweating

Other possible side effects of SNRIs are:

Constipation
Insomnia
Loss of appetite
Sexual dysfunction
Tiredness

Cyclic Antidepressants: Prone to Causing Side Effects

Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants are older drugs that work by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine through a different mechanism than SNRIs.

These drugs are not widely used today because they can cause a range of side effects, some of which may be serious, such as disorientation or confusion, but they are sometimes prescribed when other antidepressants don’t work.

Examples of FDA-approved tricyclics are:

The tetracyclic maprotiline (Ludiomil) is also approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression.

Common side effects of cyclics include:

Drowsiness
Blurred vision
Constipation
Dry mouth
Drop in blood pressure that can cause lightheadedness when going from a seated position to a standing position
Urine retention

MAOIs: The Oldest Antidepressants

The oldest class of antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), works by blocking the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which breaks down various neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Examples of MAOIs include:

Selegiline (Emsam), a skin patch that may cause fewer side effects than MAOIs taken by mouth
Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
Phenelzine (Nardil)
Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

Although MAOIs can sometimes help people with depression that does not respond to other antidepressants, they are not widely used today because of their potential side effects and interactions with certain foods and beverages as well as other drugs.

For example, for people taking MAOIs, ingesting large amounts of the compound tyramine (found in aged cheeses, cured meats, draft beer, sauerkraut, and fermented soy products like miso, tofu, and soy sauce) could cause your blood pressure to rise to a dangerously high level.

You may also experience serious reactions if you take an MAOI with various medications, including:

Other prescription antidepressants
Prescription pain relievers
Cold and allergy drugs
Herbal supplements

On rare occasions, MAOIs and other serotonin-containing drugs can cause a potentially life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. You may be at risk if you take too much of a serotonin-containing antidepressant or if you combine an MAOI with another prescription antidepressant, certain pain or headache medications, or St. John’s wort (an herbal supplement sometimes used as a home remedy for depression).

Atypical Antidepressants

Medications that don’t fit into the classes listed above may also treat depression by altering levels of different neurotransmitters in the brain.

A well-known medication called bupropion (Wellbutrin) targets norepinephrine and dopamine, and is categorized as a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor. This antidepressant causes fewer sexual side effects than many other antidepressants.

Other so-called atypical medications include:

New Breakthrough Drugs for Depression

In 2019, the FDA approved two novel medications for depression:

Esketamine (Spravato), a nasal spray, is a new option for people with depression that hasn’t improved with other antidepressants. It is derived from ketamine, a widely used anesthetic (and party drug), and is only administered at certified treatment centers because of the possibility of abuse and addiction. While traditional antidepressants can take weeks to kick in, esketamine acts quickly, usually within hours.
Brexanolone (Zulresso) is the first medication specifically for women with postpartum depression. It is administered as an intravenous infusion in a healthcare setting for two and a half days (60 hours) continuously, and it usually works within a few days. It is chemically similar to a hormone called endogenous allopregnanolone, which decreases in women’s bodies after giving birth and is believed to be associated with postpartum depression.

In August 2022, the FDA granted approval to dextromethorphan-bupropion (Auvelity), an N-methyl D-aspartate receptor antagonist, for major depressive disorder. The drug offers faster relief of depressive symptoms than other antidepressants, often working within a week of consistent use, whereas most other antidepressants take at least six weeks to work.

Additional reporting by Pamela Kaufman.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

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What to Know About the New Postpartum Depression Drug. Cleveland Clinic. April 3, 2019.