Test Your Knowledge

All antidepressants are about equally effective against depression, though different patients may respond better to one medication than another. The choice of which antidepressant to try first is based on a number of factors, including the patient’s symptoms, the side effects of a particular drug and any other disorders the patient may have.

Antidepressants may also be combined with other medications to treat depression-related symptoms. For example, depression with symptoms of psychosis (e.g., hallucinations, delusions) is generally treated with both an antidepressant and an antipsychotic.

In addition to treating depression, antidepressants have many other potential therapeutic uses. Some have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and others have off-label uses, which means that although they are not specifically approved for a particular condition, they are widely accepted to be effective and often prescribed for that condition.

Other conditions that may be treated with antidepressants include:

• Dysthymia. A chronic form of depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed to treat this condition.
  
  
• Bipolar disorder. Mood disorder characterized by alternating patterns of mania and depression. Antidepressants may be used after or at the same time as treatment with a mood stabilizer.
  
  
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). A Mood disorder marked by recurrent episodes of depression that happen during certain seasons of the year, particularly late fall and winter. The norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) bupropion (Wellbutrin XL) was recently approved by the FDA to help prevent major depressive episodes in individuals with a history of this condition.
  
  
• Anxiety disorders. There are a variety of anxiety disorders that are treated with antidepressants, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder. These conditions may be treated with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and SSRIs.
  
  
• Bulimia. An eating disorder that is characterized by patterns of binge eating and purging. This condition may be treated with TCAs, SSRIs and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
  
  
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) bupropion may be used to treat ADHD, which is characterized by inattentiveness and hyperactivity.
  
  
• Autism. This developmental disorder, which is characterized by problems with communication and behavior, may be treated with SSRIs.
  
  
• Borderline personality disorder. This personality disorder, characterized by impulsive behavior and unhealthy thought processes, may be treated with SSRIs.
  
  
• Enuresis. TCAs may be prescribed for this condition which involves involuntary urination.
  
  
• Chronic pain disorders. Many chronic pain disorders (e.g., nerve pain, fibromyalgia, migraine heachaches) may be treated with TCAs and other Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.