Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder is a genuine illness that goes beyond ordinary low mood. It is not a passing state, and it is not something a person can simply decide to shake off.
Fluoxetine Capsules
10mg · 20mg
Fluoxetine capsules for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It increases serotonin in the brain to regulate mood.
Effexor Xr
37.5mg · 75mg · 150mg
Venlafaxine capsules for depression and generalised anxiety. They raise both serotonin and noradrenaline, a broader action than SSRIs.
Trintellix
10mg
Vortioxetine tablets for major depressive disorder. It targets serotonin reuptake and receptors to help balance mood.
Key points
- The distinguishing feature is duration: sadness that persists for weeks or months rather than a few days.
- It carries physical symptoms as well as emotional ones, including exhaustion, poor sleep, loss of appetite and unexplained aches.
- It can affect anyone regardless of age, race, income, culture or education, and genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors all appear to contribute.
- Most people with depression can make a full recovery with the right treatment and support.
Medicines listed for Major Depressive Disorder
The nine products listed here span several classes of antidepressant. Three contain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Escitalopram, Sertraline and fluoxetine. Three contain serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors: duloxetine, venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine. Trintellix contains vortioxetine, a multimodal antidepressant. Seroquel (quetiapine) and Abilify (aripiprazole) are atypical antipsychotics listed for this condition. Forms range from tablets to capsules, and strengths vary across the listings.
Further reading
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Vortioxetine: depression, brain fog and sexual side effects
What vortioxetine studies show about depression, cognitive symptoms and sexual side effects, with South African Brintellix information and practical trade-offs.
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