Treating Major Depressive Disorder: 8 Options if SSRIs Don’t Bring Relief
SSRIs are the most common antidepressant, but if those don’t work, your provider has alternative options.
Medications like antidepressants can provide relief for people living with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other types of depression. The most common type of antidepressant is an SSRI, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
If someone doesn’t find relief from an SSRI, there are many other medication options for depression, according to Jacques Ambrose, MD, MPH, FAPA, Psychiatrist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
- Jacques Ambrose, MD, MPH, FAPAJacques Ambrose, MD, MPH, FAPA, is a Psychiatrist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
References
Chu, A., et al. (2023). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. StatPearls.
Gunay, A., et al. (2022). The novel rapid-acting neurosteroid-based antidepressant generation. Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research.
Kellner, C. (2023). Patient education: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (beyond the basics). UpToDate.
Laban, T. S., et al. (2022). Monoamine oxidase inhibitors. StatPearls.
Rush, A. J. (2023). Patient education: Depression treatment options for adults (beyond the basics). UpToDate.
Rush, A. J. (2023). Unipolar major depression in adults: Choosing initial treatment. UpToDate.
Sansone, R. A., et al. (2014). Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: A pharmacological comparison. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience.
Scheffler, Z. M. et al. (2023). Antidepressants. StatPearls.
Yavi, M., et al. (2022). Ketamine treatment for depression: A review. Discover Mental Health.
For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
