List Of SSRI Medications

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most popular antidepressants. They reduce symptoms of depression by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that helps brain cells communicate.

Common side effects of SSRIs include drowsiness, dry mouth, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. 

List Of SSRI Medications 

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the following SSRIs:

Citalopram 

Citalopram is prescribed under the brand name Celexa. It’s available as a tablet or liquid.

Although it’s commonly prescribed to treat depression, citalopram can also help treat other mental health conditions, including:

• alcohol use disorder (a disorder that makes you feel unable to control your alcohol use)
• social anxiety disorder (a disorder that causes intense anxiety in social situations)
• panic disorder (a disorder that causes panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of extreme anxiety) 
• premenstrual dysphoric disorder (a disorder that causes symptoms like anxiety, irritability, and depression shortly before one’s menstrual period starts)

Escitalopram

Escitalopram is prescribed under the brand name Lexapro. It’s available as a tablet or liquid.

The drug is approved to treat depression in people aged 12 or older. It can also treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which causes frequent, severe anxiety that interferes with daily life.

Fluoxetine 

Perhaps the most common SSRI, fluoxetine is prescribed under the brand names Prozac, Rapiflux, Sarafem, and Selfemera. It’s available as a tablet, capsule, or liquid.  

The drug is approved to treat the following health conditions:

• depression
• obsessive-compulsive disorder (a disorder that causes recurring, unwanted thoughts and repeated urges to complete certain actions)
• panic attacks
• some eating disorders 
• premenstrual dysphoric disorder 

Fluoexetine also appears in the drug Symbyax, which is a combination of fluoxetine and an antipsychotic called olanzapine. 

Symbyax can treat depression in people who don’t respond well to other antidepressants or who have bipolar I disorder. This disorder causes alternating episodes of depression and mania (a mental state characterized by symptoms like increased energy, euphoria, and irritability). 

Fluvoxamine 

Fluvoxamine is prescribed under the brand names Luvox (an immediate-release tablet) and Luvox CR (an extended-release capsule).

It’s used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. 

Paroxetine 

Paroxetine is prescribed under the brand names Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva, and Brisdelle. It’s available as a tablet, capsule, or liquid.

Along with depression, paroxetine can help treat:

• panic disorder
• social anxiety disorder
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• generalized anxiety disorder
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• bipolar disorder
• premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• hot flashes in women experiencing menopause
• chronic headaches
• tingling in the hands and feet caused by diabetes
• sexual problems in men

Sertraline

Sertraline is prescribed under the brand name Zoloft. It’s available as a tablet or liquid. 

It’s used to treat the following health conditions:

• depression
• panic attacks
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• posttraumatic stress disorder
• premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• headaches
• sexual problems

Vilazodone

Vilazodone is prescribed under the brand name Viibryd. It’s available as a tablet.

Currently, the drug has only been approved to treat depression. However, some health care providers also use it to treat anxiety.

Vortioxetine 

Vortioxetine is prescribed under the brand names Trintellix and Brintellix. It’s available as a tablet.

Like vilazodone, vortioxetine is only approved to treat depression, but some doctors use it to treat anxiety. 

Risks Of SSRIs

SSRIs are generally considered safe. However, if you use an SSRI alongside another substance that increases serotonin (such as another antidepressant or the herb St. John’s wort), you may experience serotonin syndrome. This condition causes symptoms such as:

• confusion
• irritability
• insomnia 
• headache
• diarrhea
• sweating
• shivering
• increased heart rate and blood pressure

If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, seek medical help right away. When left untreated, serotonin syndrome can cause life-threatening symptoms like severe seizures and loss of consciousness.

Discontinuation Syndrome

In addition, although SSRIs are usually not addictive, you can become physically dependent on them. That means that if you stop using an SSRI too suddenly, you may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• headache
• anxiety
• irritability 
• dizziness
• sleepiness 
• nausea

List Of Medications Similar To SSRIs

There are many antidepressant medications that act similarly to SSRIs. These medications include:

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

As with SSRIs, SNRIs increase serotonin levels. They also increase norepinephrine, a brain chemical associated with energy and alertness. 

Common SNRIs include:

• desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
• duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
• milnacipran (Savella)
• venlafaxine (Effexor)

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Like SNRIs, TCAs increase levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine. They include:

• amitriptyline
• amoxapine
• desipramine (Norpramin)
• doxepin
• imipramine (Tofranil)
• maprotiline
• nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• protriptyline (Vivactil)
• trimipramine (Surmontil)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

MAOIs are the oldest types of antidepressants. They increase serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine (a brain chemical associated with pleasure). While they’re still effective, newer antidepressants tend to cause fewer side effects. 

Common MAOIs include:

• isocarboxazid (Marplan)
• phenelzine (Nardil)
• selegiline (Emsam)
• tranylcypromine (Parnate)

Atypical Antidepressants

Atypical antidepressants are antidepressants that don’t fit into other antidepressant classes. They include:

• bupropion (Wellbutrin), which is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) 
• mirtazapine (Remeron), which is a tetracyclic antidepressant 
• nefazodone (Serzone), which is a serotonin modulator 
• trazodone (Oleptro), which is a serotonin receptor antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI)

If you’re struggling to quit an SSRI or another drug, please contact an Ark Behavioral Health specialist. We offer supervised medical detox to help you stop using substances with minimal withdrawal symptoms.