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 Handout:
Antidepressant
Medications (65k PDF)
| Name |
Tablets |
Half-Life |
Initial
Dose |
Titrate
Dose to |
Common Side Effects |
Stipulations |
Citalopram
(Celexa™) |
20,40
mg |
33-37
hrs |
10-20
mg/day |
30-40 mg/day |
Nausea, diarrhea, nervousness, constipation, insomnia,
drowsiness, anxiety, anorexia, sweating, sexual dysfunction, precipitation
of mania or hypomania, anticholinergic effects (mainly dry mouth and
constipation) |
Use cautiously in patients with a history of seizures
or psychosis; refer to drug-drug interactions |
Fluoxetine
(Prozac®) |
10,20
mg |
48-72 hrs
(96-384 hrs with advanced liver disease) |
10-20
mg/day |
20-40
mg/day |
Same as citalopram |
Use cautiously in patients with a history
of seizures or psychosis; refer to drug-drug interactions |
Paroxetine
(Paxil®) |
10,20,30,
40 mg |
21 hrs |
10-20
mg/day |
20-40
mg/day |
Same as citalopram |
Caution recommended for patients with a history of seizures
or psychosis; refer to drug-drug interactions |
Sertraline
(Zoloft®) |
50,100
mg |
26 hrs
(62-104 hrs with liver disease) |
25-50
mg/day |
50-200
mg/day |
Same as citalopram |
Caution recommended for patients with a history
of seizures or psychosis; refer to drug-drug interactions |
Venlafaxine
XR
(Effexor®XR) |
37.5-75,
150 mg |
5-11 hrs
(9-13 hrs with advanced liver disease) |
37.5-75 mg/day |
225
mg/day,
max |
Sweating, hypertension, nausea, sedation, sexual side effects |
Monitor blood pressure |
Bupropion
SR
(Wellbutrin SR®) |
100,150
mg |
20 hrs
(29-32 hrs with advanced liver disease) |
100 mg
twice daily |
150 mg
twice daily |
Agitation and insomnia, does NOT appear to
cause sexual dysfunction |
Avoid use in patients at risk for
seizure disorder if possible; helps people stop smoking |
Mirtazapine
(Remeron®) |
15,30,45
mg |
20-40 hrs |
15
mg |
30-45
mg |
May cause drowsiness at lower doses |
Can affect white blood cell counts (although rarely);
use cautiously in patients receiving hepatitis C therapy |
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Syllabus
Pre-Assessment
Getting Started Tutorial 
Antidepressant Medications
Patient Education
Prescription & Follow-up
Managing Suicide Risk
Antidepressant Adjustment
Summary 
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