Fighting depression often involves both psychotherapy and various medications to control or alleviate symptoms. Such medications have been available to the general public since the late 1950s and early 1960s. In the decades that have followed, new forms of medicines have been developed and introduced. Each classification of antidepressants that is released tends to have fewer side effects than previous drugs.
MAOIs
The earliest form of antidepressants still available---but often used only when other medications fail to achieve the desired effects, the Mayo Clinic reports---are monoamine oxidase inhibitors. These have some of the most severe side effects of any antidepressants, which is why they are not usually the first line of attack in treating the mental illness. MAOIs include such medicines as Nardil and Parnate, known generically as phenelzine and tranylcypromine, respectively. Common serious side effects include reflexes that are overactive such as sudden jerkiness in your feet, hands, arms and legs, dizziness, cold sweats and mental confusion, among others.
Tricyclics
Tricyclic antidepressants also have been around for many years. In many cases, they may be prescribed if newer types of medications do not work well enough. These include the brand-name drugs Surmontil, Pamelor and Norpramin, known generically as trimipramine, nortriptyline and desipramine, respectively. Common nonserious side effects of nortriptyline include nausea, impotence in men, excitement, nightmares and drowsiness, among others, Drugs.com states. Serious side effects have been reported but not classified as to how common they are, the Mayo Clinic reports.
SSRIs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, tend to be the first types of antidepressants your doctor may prescribe to decrease your depression symptoms. This is the case because they have less severe side effects than older medications. The first of these drugs to be marketed in the United States after U.S. Food & Drug Administration approval was fluoxetine, sold as Prozac beginning in 1987. Others include Lexapro, Zoloft and Celexa, generically called escitalopram, sertraline and citalopram, respectively. The most common serious side effects of these types of medications include restlessness, a skin rash and a decrease in sexual ability and desire.
NDRIs
NDRIs, or norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, are noted for not causing side effects of a sexual nature, the Mayo Clinic reports. The most well known of these medications is Wellbutrin, called generically bupropion. It also is marketed as Zyban, Aplenzin and Budeprion, among other names. The most common serious side effects include agitation and anxiety.
SNRIs
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are new forms of antidepressants, known generically as desvenlafaxine, duloxetine and venlafaxine. These are sold as Pristiq, Cymbalta and Effexor, respectively. The most common serious side effects for venlafaxine include headaches, hypertension and blurry vision.
Atypical Antidepressants
The Mayo Clinic reports that these kinds of drugs help reduce depression symptoms but are not classifiable with other such medicines. Two of them, mirtazapine and trazodone, marketed as Remeron and Desyrel, respectively, are used for depression. These are used to elevate your mood, the Mayo Clinic states. The most common side effect of these drugs is drowsiness, RxList.com reports.
