Zoloft vs Lexapro vs Wellbutrin and Other Antidepressants

What Depression Medication is Best for You?

By Beth Coopman PharmD., pharmacist at Network Health
8/16/2023

You’ve probably heard antidepressant brand names get thrown around interchangeably, and although some types might be very similar, there are actually several classes of antidepressants. Each one has its own benefits, potential side effects and price range.

To put it simply, not all antidepressants are exactly alike. Finding the one that is best for you requires communication with your doctor, and possibly, some trial and error before you find the right one. So before you go to your doctor to ask about whichever brand name is most familiar to you, it’s important to understand the differences between these various antidepressant classes.

A wide range of medication classes may be utilized to help treat depression and prevent its return. Those classes include the following list.

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Phenylpiperazine antidepressants
• Atypical antidepressants

Differences Between Antidepressant Classes – SSRI vs SNRI vs Other Classes

Although your personal doctor and pharmacist will understand the difference between these depression medication classes, we realize you may not. So, without going too far down a medical rabbit hole, let’s take a look at some of the key differences that are likely to be most important to you, including cost, side effects and a brief explanation of how each type of medication works.

Depression Medication Benefits vs Side Effects

*Side effects listed are not exhaustive and individual experiences may differ. For comprehensive information please consult your personal doctor or pharmacist.

How Much Do Antidepressants Cost?

Antidepressants can also vary by price. How much an antidepressant costs is difficult to say, as the price you pay will depend on the dosage, your health insurance plan and other factors. That said, we’ve organized a number of antidepressant options below and rated them by cost to give you some idea of which options are generally most affordable.

SSRIs

SNRIs

Tricyclic antidepressants

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Phenylpiperazine antidepressants

Miscellaneous antidepressants

**$ under $25 for 90 tablets at most pharmacies

$$ between $25-$60 for 90 tablets at most pharmacies

$$$ over $60 at most pharmacies using singlecare.com. Prices are estimates as doses vary. Additionally, medications without a lower cost generic were excluded for the tables.

What to Expect When You Start Taking Antidepressants

Regardless of antidepressant class, when you first start taking medication for depression, it’s important to understand that it may not make a noticeable impact immediately. It could take up to eight weeks to start working. Furthermore, doses may need to be gradually increased to reach the therapeutic dosage, and sometimes trying different antidepressants is needed to find the one that works best for you. That’s why it’s critical to communicate with your personal doctor as you begin taking an antidepressant.

If, after working with your personal doctor to adjust your dose and trying different classes, the antidepressants still aren’t working, then medications like aripiprazole may be added on to antidepressant therapy. Aripiprazole has several FDA approved indications for behavioral health disorders but in this instance, it is approved as add on therapy for those with major depressive disorder.

Finding an individualized treatment regimen that works for you begins with speaking to your personal doctor at the first sign of depression symptoms. You can use the information above to ask them questions and find the best course of action for your health needs.

Whichever type of treatment you and your doctor decide upon, just know that there are others on the same journey as you. You aren’t alone and you don’t have to handle depression alone.