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Grow in the Know / Mental Health / Zoloft vs Lexapro vs Wellbutrin and Other Antidepressants

Zoloft vs Lexapro vs Wellbutrin and Other Antidepressants

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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.

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

Antidepressant Class

Main Mechanism of Action

Side effects*

SSRIs

Increases serotonin levels in the brain

Nausea, insomnia, sexual dysfunction

SNRIs

Increases serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain

Nausea, drowsiness, elevated blood pressure

TCAs

Increases serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain

Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision

MAOIs

Blocks the enzyme that breaks down serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine

Dietary restrictions (tyramine), drug interactions, potential hypertensive (high blood pressure) crisis

Phenylpiperazine

Various mechanisms of action through serotonin, alpha adrenergic, histamine and dopamine receptors

Drowsiness, dizziness, gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea)

Atypical Antidepressants

Various mechanisms of action, such as dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition

Differ based on specific atypical antidepressant

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

a chart showing the differences between antidepressants, the way they work and their side effects

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

Brand Name

Generic Name

Cost**

Zoloft

Sertraline

$

Paxil

Paroxetine

$

Prozac

Fluoxetine

$

Celexa

Citalopram

$

Lexapro

Escitalopram

$

Luvox

Fluvoxamine

$$

 

SNRIs

Brand Name

Generic Name

Cost**

Effexor

Venlafaxine

$

Cymbalta

Duloxetine

$

Pristiq

Desvenlafaxine

$$

 

Tricyclic antidepressants

Brand Name

Generic Name

Cost**

Elavil

Amitriptyline

$

Tofranil

Imipramine

$

Pamelor

Nortriptyline

$

Norpramin

Desipramine

$$

Sinequan

Doxepin

$$

 

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Brand Name

Generic Name

Cost**

Nardil

Phenelzine

$$$

Parnate

Tranylcypromine

$$$

Eldepryl

Selegiline

$$

 

Phenylpiperazine antidepressants

Brand Name

Generic Name

Cost**

Desyrel

Trazodone

$

Serzone

Nefazodone

$$$

 

Miscellaneous antidepressants

Brand Name

Generic Name

Cost**

Remeron

Mirtazapine

$

Wellbutrin

Bupropion

$

Viibryd

Vilazodone

$$$

**$ 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.

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