Mental health

Medicines for Depression

A common condition causing persistent low mood and loss of interest that affects daily life — treated with talking therapies, medicines, or both, matched to its severity.

Education and reference only. This explains which medicines are used and why, in plain language — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always discuss your own treatment with a qualified clinician, and check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.

Written by Meds Global Health Clinical Team · Clinically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Suffyan, MB BS, Founder & Clinical Director · Last reviewed · How we review

Quick answer

What is Depression?

Depression is more than feeling low for a few days. It is a persistent low mood and loss of interest or pleasure, often with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration and self-worth, lasting weeks or longer and interfering with everyday life.

  • How it is treated: For milder depression, guided self-help, talking therapies and lifestyle support are often the starting point, with medicine added if needed or if symptoms are more severe.
  • Self-care: Regular activity, sleep routine, reducing alcohol, social connection and structured problem-solving all support recovery and work alongside therapy and medication.
  • When to seek help: If you have thoughts of harming yourself or that life is not worth living, seek help now — contact your GP urgently, call 111, go to A&E, or call the Samaritans on 116 123.

What it is

Depression is more than feeling low for a few days. It is a persistent low mood and loss of interest or pleasure, often with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration and self-worth, lasting weeks or longer and interfering with everyday life. It is common, treatable, and not a sign of weakness. Severity ranges from mild to severe, and the right treatment depends on that severity, the person's preferences and history, and any risk to their safety. Asking about thoughts of self-harm is a routine and important part of assessment.

How it is treated

For milder depression, guided self-help, talking therapies and lifestyle support are often the starting point, with medicine added if needed or if symptoms are more severe. Antidepressants are a mainstay for moderate-to-severe depression and work best combined with psychological therapy. They take a couple of weeks to begin working and are usually continued for a period after recovery to prevent relapse; they are reviewed regularly and reduced gradually rather than stopped abruptly. Brief questionnaires are often used to gauge severity and track response over time.

For this condition, these medicines

Medicine classes used for Depression

Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.

SSRIs Mental health Usually the first-line antidepressant class; generally well tolerated. SNRIs Mental health An alternative or next step, sometimes used where there is associated pain or when an SSRI has not worked. Mirtazapine Mental health An option where sleep and appetite are badly affected, or as an alternative/add-on. Tricyclic antidepressants Mental health Older, effective antidepressants used in selected cases, with more side effects and caution in overdose.

Symptom checker

Symptoms that can point to Depression

Depression can be one cause of these symptoms. Each guide explains the other possible causes and the red-flag warning signs that mean you should get urgent help:

FatigueA persistent lack of energy or overwhelming tiredness that is not relieved by rest and int…Unintentional weight lossLosing weight without trying should always be assessed by a doctor, as it can be caused by…Low moodLow mood means feeling sad, flat or down for a period of time, which can be a normal react…Memory problemsMemory problems mean finding it harder to remember things or think clearly, which can have…Erectile problemsErectile problems mean difficulty getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex, whic…Weight gainWeight gain is an increase in body weight, which is usually due to diet and activity but c…Excessive daytime sleepinessA persistent struggle to stay awake during the day — nodding off, fighting heavy eyelids o…Difficulty concentrating / brain fogA frustrating sense of being mentally cloudy, forgetful or unable to focus, most often cau…Mood swingsMarked ups and downs in mood that can be a normal response to stress, sleep loss or hormon…Unwanted intrusive thoughtsUnwanted, distressing thoughts, images or urges that pop into the mind against your wishes…Binge eating and loss of control with foodRecurring episodes of eating a large amount of food with a sense of being unable to stop, …

Clinical formulas & tools

Calculators used in Depression

Risk scores and formulas that inform assessment and treatment decisions in this condition:

PHQ-9 (Depression)Severity of depressive symptoms.PHQ-2 (Depression Screen)Two-item depression screen.GAD-7 (Anxiety)Severity of generalised anxiety symptoms.GAD-2 (Anxiety Screen)Two-item anxiety screen.EPDS (Postnatal Depression)Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

By active ingredient

Specific medicines used for Depression

Dose-free guides to individual active ingredients used in depression — what each is, how it works, how to take it, and its advantages and disadvantages:

SertralineA commonly first-chosen SSRI antidepressant for depression and anxiety, taken once a day.…CitalopramA commonly used SSRI antidepressant for depression and anxiety, taken once daily as a long…FluoxetineA long-acting SSRI antidepressant for depression and anxiety, and the SSRI most used in yo…VenlafaxineAn SNRI antidepressant for depression and anxiety that lifts mood by boosting two brain ch…DuloxetineAn SNRI used for depression and anxiety, and also widely used for nerve pain such as diabe…EscitalopramA widely used SSRI for depression and anxiety, closely related to citalopram and generally…ParoxetineAn SSRI for depression and anxiety, effective but known for more troublesome discontinuati…NortriptylineA tricyclic antidepressant used for depression and, at lower intensity, for nerve pain and…ClomipramineA tricyclic antidepressant used for depression and particularly for obsessive-compulsive d…ImipramineOne of the original tricyclic antidepressants, used for depression and also for night-time…DosulepinAn older tricyclic antidepressant that is effective but particularly dangerous in overdose…DoxepinAn older, sedating tricyclic antidepressant for depression; it takes weeks to work, causes…LofepramineA tricyclic antidepressant for depression that tends to be better tolerated and safer in o…FluvoxamineAn SSRI antidepressant used for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, notable for …TrimipramineA sedating tricyclic antidepressant used for depression, particularly where sleep is distu…VortioxetineAn antidepressant used for major depression, sometimes chosen when other antidepressants h…AgomelatineAn antidepressant for major depression that works on the body clock and may help sleep, bu…TrazodoneA sedating antidepressant often chosen when low mood comes with poor sleep or anxiety.…PhenelzineAn older, effective antidepressant that needs a special low-tyramine diet to avoid dangero…MoclobemideA newer, reversible MAOI with far less dietary risk than older MAOIs, used for depression …TranylcypromineAn older MAOI antidepressant, somewhat stimulating, that needs a strict low-tyramine diet …IsocarboxazidAn older MAOI antidepressant reserved for resistant depression, needing a strict low-tyram…ReboxetineAn antidepressant that works on noradrenaline, used to treat depression.…MaprotilineAn older, sedating antidepressant used for depression, related to the tricyclics.…BrexanoloneA continuous drip given in hospital to treat severe postnatal (postpartum) depression over…EsketamineA nasal-spray medicine for treatment-resistant depression, given under supervision in a cl…ZuranoloneA medicine taken by mouth as a short course to treat postnatal (postpartum) depression.…DesvenlafaxineAn SNRI antidepressant, the active form of venlafaxine, used to treat depression.…Lithium carbonateA mood stabiliser used to treat and prevent the mood swings of bipolar disorder, needing r…DesipramineAn older tricyclic antidepressant used mainly to treat depression.…VilazodoneAn antidepressant used to treat depression, working on the brain chemical serotonin in two…BrexpiprazoleA newer antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and as an add-on in depression that has not r…MilnacipranAn SNRI used mainly to ease the pain of fibromyalgia, and as an antidepressant in some cou…AmoxapineAn older tricyclic-related antidepressant used for depression, now rarely used in the UK.…GepironeA newer antidepressant, related to buspirone, used to treat depression; it is of limited a…LevomilnacipranAn SNRI antidepressant used to treat depression; it is largely a US product and not widely…NefazodoneAn older antidepressant, now rarely used, because of a risk of rare but serious liver prob…NialamideAn old MAOI antidepressant, now withdrawn, known for dangerous food and medicine interacti…ProtriptylineAn older tricyclic antidepressant, more activating than most, used to treat depression.…MirtazapineAn antidepressant that also aids sleep and appetite — often chosen when poor sleep, anxiet…

Beyond medication

Lifestyle and self-care

Regular activity, sleep routine, reducing alcohol, social connection and structured problem-solving all support recovery and work alongside therapy and medication.

When to get help

When to see a doctor

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or that life is not worth living, seek help now — contact your GP urgently, call 111, go to A&E, or call the Samaritans on 116 123. You do not have to wait for an appointment.

999Emergency — call 999 or go to A&E
111Urgent advice — call NHS 111 or use 111 online
GPNon-urgent — see your GP or pharmacist

Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.

Answers

Depression: frequently asked questions

What medicines are used for depression?

SSRIs are usually first-line. Other options include SNRIs, mirtazapine and, in selected cases, tricyclic antidepressants. The choice depends on your symptoms, any previous response, other conditions and side-effect considerations.

How long do antidepressants take to work?

They typically take around two to four weeks to start helping, and the full benefit can take longer. It is important not to stop early just because you feel no immediate change — and to review with your prescriber if there is no improvement after a few weeks.

Are antidepressants addictive?

They are not addictive in the way that, for example, some sedatives can be, but stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal-type symptoms. They are reduced gradually under guidance rather than stopped abruptly.

Do I need therapy as well as medication?

For moderate-to-severe depression, combining a talking therapy with medication generally works better than either alone. For milder depression, therapy or guided self-help may be enough on its own.

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Sources

Where this is drawn from

  • NICE NG222: Depression in adults: treatment and management.
  • NICE CKS: Clinical depression.

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