Antidepressants Pearls: Must Know Facts

May 13, 2012
By Harvinder Singh, M.D
Psychiatry Resident.

The following information regarding antidepressants is collected from various sources. Please feel free to add your comments and correct me if I am wrong.

Antidepressant most likely to cause discontinuation syndrome:
Paroxetine
Venlafaxine

Antidepressant least likely to cause discontinuation syndrome:
Fluoxetine (for long half life)

Antidepressant most lethal in overdose:
TCAs

Antidepressant most likely to lead to weight gain:
Mitrazapine
TCAs

Antidepressant with safest drug interaction profile:
Citalopram, Escitalopram
Venlafaxine
Mitrazapine

Antidepressant least likely to produce sexual side effects:
Bupropion (decreases or reverses SSRI induced sexual dysfunction)
Mitrazapine

Antidepressant which are generally sedating:
Trazadone
Mitrazapine
Paroxetine
Citalopram (at high doses)
Fluvoxamine

Antidepressant which are generally activation (esp. for psychomotor retardation) :
Fluoxetine
Sertraline
Venlafaxine
Bupropion
Duloxetine

Longest acting Antidepressant:
Fluoxetine

Most anticholinergic Antidepressant:
Paroxetine

Antidepressant with more GI side effects:
Sertraline

Antidepressant that lowers seizure threshold, do not use in pt with h/o eating disorder :
Bupropion

Antidepressant with risk of HTN :
Venlafaxine

Antidepressant that can increase intra-ocular pressure (potentiate glaucoma) :
Venlafaxine
Duloxetine

Antidepressant known to cause nightmares :
Venlafaxine
Mitrazapine

Only SSRI approved for use in children (Depression & OCD) :
Fluoxetine
Also read: http://bit.ly/JTuhXE

Venlafaxine Vs Duloxetine :