Types of antidepressants

Antidepressants can be grouped according to how they work. The different types are:

• SSRIs: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
• SNRIs: serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors
• Noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors
• TCAs: tricyclic antidepressants
• RIMAs: reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A
• Tetracyclic antidepressants
• Tetracyclic analogues of mianserin (sometimes called noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant [NaSSA])
• MAOIs: Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• Melatonergic antidepressants
  

The individual medicines and brand names, are shown in the table below. Follow the links from the active ingredient to the individual medicine’s page, or the brand name to see the consumer medicine information (CMI). If the brand name of your medicine is not shown below, use the medicine name finder to see the active ingredient.

The different types of antidepressants are about as effective as each other, but the type and severity of side effects can be quite different between them and between individual medicines of the same type. See How do the side effects of different antidepressants compare?

For more information

• Treatment for depression
  
• Antidepressants
  
• Psychological therapies
  
• What to do next if you feel depressed