Skip to content

Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder is an episode of persistent low mood or loss of interest accompanied by changes in sleep, energy, thinking or function.

Lexapro

Escitalopram

5 · 10 · 20mg

Lexapro is escitalopram in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg film-coated tablets for major depression, generalised anxiety and panic disorder. An SSRI.

From$0.51/ tabletView

Paxil

Paroxetine

10 · 20 · 30 · 40mg

Paroxetine tablets from 10mg to 40mg, used in the management of major depression, generalised anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. An SSRI.

From$0.65/ tabletView

Wellbutrin SR

Bupropion

150mg

Wellbutrin SR is bupropion 150mg in a modified-release tablet for tobacco dependence and major depression, a weak reuptake inhibitor of two amines.

From$1.12/ tabletView

Cymbalta

Duloxetine

20 · 30 · 40 · 60mg

Duloxetine prolonged-release capsules from 20mg to 60mg, used in the management of depression, generalised anxiety and diabetic neuropathic pain. An SNRI.

From$0.82/ tabletView

Effexor

Venlafaxine

37.5 · 75mg

Venlafaxine 37.5mg and 75mg, as tablets and prolonged-release capsules, used in the management of major depression and generalised anxiety disorder.

From$0.65/ tabletView

Celexa

Citalopram

10 · 20mg

Citalopram 10mg and 20mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of major depressive disorder. An SSRI that raises serotonin at the synapse.

From$0.53/ tabletView

Trintellix

Vortioxetine

5 · 10 · 20mg

Vortioxetine 5mg, 10mg and 20mg tablets, used in the management of major depressive disorder. A multimodal antidepressant, not a plain SSRI.

From$0.91/ tabletView

Anafranil

Clomipramine

10 · 25 · 50mg

Clomipramine 10mg, 25mg and 50mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, phobic states and cataplexy.

From$0.56/ tabletView

Desyrel

Trazodone

25 · 50 · 100mg

Desyrel is trazodone in 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablets for major depressive disorder. A SARI, acting at serotonin receptors as well as on reuptake.

From$0.43/ tabletView

Elavil

Amitriptyline

10 · 25 · 50mg

Amitriptyline 10mg, 25mg and 50mg tablets, used in the management of major depression, neuropathic pain and migraine prophylaxis. A tricyclic.

From$0.37/ tabletView

Pamelor

Nortriptyline

25mg

Pamelor is nortriptyline 25mg hard capsules for major depressive disorder, a tricyclic weighted towards noradrenaline reuptake inhibition.

From$0.40/ tabletView

Remeron

Mirtazapine

7.5 · 15 · 30mg

Mirtazapine 7.5mg, 15mg and 30mg tablets, used in the management of major depressive disorder. A NaSSA that antagonises alpha-2 receptors.

From$0.56/ tabletView

Venlor

Venlafaxine

75mg

Venlor is venlafaxine 75mg tablets for major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder, an SNRI acting on serotonin and noradrenaline.

From$1.00/ tabletView

Luvox

Fluvoxamine

50 · 100mg

Fluvoxamine 50mg and 100mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of obsessive-compulsive disorder and major depression. An SSRI.

From$1.11/ tabletView

Wellbutrin

Bupropion

150 · 300mg

Bupropion 150mg and 300mg modified-release tablets, used in the management of major depression and tobacco dependence. An aminoketone antidepressant.

From$1.06/ tabletView

Paxil CR

Paroxetine

12.5 · 25 · 37.5mg

Paxil CR is paroxetine 12.5mg, 25mg and 37.5mg in a prolonged-release tablet for depression, OCD, panic disorder and social anxiety disorder.

From$1.43/ tabletView

Effexor XR

Venlafaxine

75 · 150mg

Effexor XR is venlafaxine 75mg and 150mg in a prolonged-release capsule for major depression and generalised anxiety disorder. An SNRI taken once a day.

From$0.97/ tabletView

Fludac

Fluoxetine

20mg

Fludac is fluoxetine 20mg hard capsules, used in the management of major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and bulimia nervosa. An SSRI.

From$0.61/ tabletView

Sinequan

Doxepin

10 · 25 · 75mg

Doxepin 10mg, 25mg and 75mg hard capsules, used in the management of major depression and anxiety disorder. A tricyclic acting on both amines.

From$0.47/ tabletView

Tofranil

Imipramine

25 · 50 · 75mg

Imipramine 25mg, 50mg and 75mg tablets, used in the management of major depressive disorder and nocturnal enuresis. A tricyclic antidepressant.

From$0.43/ tabletView

Zoloft

Sertraline

25 · 50 · 100mg

Sertraline 25mg, 50mg and 100mg film-coated tablets, used for major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and PTSD. An SSRI.

From$0.40/ tabletView

Endep

Amitriptyline

10 · 25 · 50 · 75mg

Amitriptyline film-coated tablets from 10mg to 75mg, used in the management of major depressive disorder and neuropathic pain. A tricyclic antidepressant.

From$0.48/ tabletView

Seroquel

Quetiapine

25 · 50 · 100 · 200 · 300mg

Quetiapine film-coated tablets from 25mg to 300mg, used in the management of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. A dibenzothiazepine.

From$0.59/ tabletView

Key points

  • Diagnosis requires a sustained symptom pattern and impairment, not sadness alone, with direct assessment of self-harm risk.
  • Previous mania or hypomania changes the diagnosis and makes antidepressant-only treatment potentially unsafe.
  • Psychological therapy and antidepressant medicine have roles according to severity, preference, prior response and access.

The listings below are not a diagnosis or personal regimen; bipolarity, pregnancy, interactions and overdose risk affect selection.

Building a safe assessment

Clinicians ask about duration, anhedonia, sleep, appetite, concentration, guilt, agitation or slowing and suicidal thinking. Thyroid disease, anaemia, substance use, grief and medicine effects may contribute. Psychosis, catatonia and inability to eat or drink indicate severe illness.

Treatment and follow-up

Structured psychotherapy may be first-line for mild or moderate episodes and combined with medicine in more severe illness. SSRIs and other antidepressants differ in activating, sexual, sleep, cardiovascular and withdrawal effects. Early follow-up checks safety and adherence before benefit is expected.

When to seek urgent care

Get urgent help for thoughts, plans or preparations for self-harm, inability to maintain basic safety or hydration, severe agitation, psychosis, catatonia or sudden dangerous behaviour.

Further reading

Related articles