Seasonal Affective Disorder Medications: 4 Drugs Available for Use
Key takeaways:
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a common type of depression. It’s marked by episodes of depressive symptoms that typically occur in the gloomy fall and winter months.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and bupropion (Wellbutrin XL, Aplenzin) are often recommended to manage SAD. Some people find vitamin D supplementation to be beneficial.
Light therapy and talk therapy are non-medication treatment options for SAD. Your healthcare provider may recommend them by themselves or in combination with an antidepressant.
Table of contents
When the weather gets colder and daylight hours become shorter, you may have noticed a shift in your normal mood and behavior. Informally, this phenomenon has often been dubbed the winter blues. But if you’ve been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you know these seasonal changes can significantly impact your daily routine and outlook on life.
SAD is a type of depression that affects approximately 5% of U.S. adults. It’s marked by episodes of depression that last for weeks to months at a time. These episodes typically occur in the fall and winter months (they can happen in the spring and summer, too). Women, young adults, and those with a history of depression are most vulnerable to SAD. Living in a state with less sunlight and shorter daylight hours also increases your risk of SAD.
There are several treatment options to choose from — including light therapy, talk therapy, and medication. Here, we’ll discuss four types of medications used to manage SAD.
1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most common type of antidepressant for SAD and other types of depression. They increase the level of serotonin in your brain, which may help to improve your mood over time. Commonly prescribed SSRIs include:
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Citalopram (Celexa)
Escitalopram (Lexapro)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
Paroxetine (Paxil)
SSRIs are generally taken once daily, and they’re available in a variety of formulations. They’re also effective for many people, but they don’t kick in right away. It can take some time to feel their effects. The majority of people respond to SSRIs within 4 and 12 weeks; this varies by person.
As with all medications, SSRIs can also cause side effects. Common SSRI side effects include stomach upset, headache, and sexual problems. These typically improve or go away after a few weeks.
2. Wellbutrin XL
The extended release (XL) version of Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) is an antidepressant that’s used to treat depression. It’s also specifically FDA approved to prevent SAD. A type of norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), it seems to work by increasing levels of norepinephrine and dopamine. These are also chemical messengers in the brain that influence mood.
If SSRIs aren’t a good option for you, Wellbutrin XL may be a good alternative to try. The typical starting dosage of Wellbutrin XL is 150 mg by mouth once daily in the morning. Your healthcare provider may raise your dose to 300 mg daily after 7 days. Like SSRIs, Wellbutrin XL takes a few weeks to start working.
Wellbutrin XL has some side effects of its own, but it’s less likely to cause sexual side effects compared to SSRIs and many other antidepressants.
3. Aplenzin
Aplenzin is another antidepressant medication that’s approved to prevent SAD. It’s very similar to Wellbutrin XL, too. While Wellbutrin XL contains bupropion hydrochloride, Aplenzin contains bupropion hydrobromide. And just like Wellbutrin XL, Aplenzin is FDA approved to treat depression and to prevent SAD.
These different salt forms (hydrochloride and hydrobromide) are absorbed by your body slightly differently. Aplenzin is also made by a different manufacturer, and it’s only available as a brand-name medication. Wellbutrin XL comes as a lower-cost generic.
However, in practice, the two medications typically offer similar benefits and side effects. One isn’t widely considered better than the other.
The typical starting dose of Aplenzin for SAD is 174 mg by mouth once daily. Your healthcare provider may increase your dose to 348 mg once daily after 7 days.
4. Vitamin D
Low levels of vitamin D — most likely caused by a lack of sunlight — have been linked to SAD. As a result, some people turn to vitamin D supplementation as another option for managing SAD.
Yet, research studying the relationship between vitamin D levels and SAD has had mixed results.
For instance, one review found that supplementation with vitamin D appeared to have no effect on reducing depressive symptoms. Another review found that supplementation with 2,000 IU of vitamin D contributed to a slight improvement in depression symptoms. But people with SAD specifically didn’t see a significant difference.
With mixed evidence surrounding vitamin D supplementation and SAD, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider for more information. They can tell you more about vitamin D’s potential benefits and risks.
What about other SAD treatments?
Medications aren’t the only way to treat SAD. Light therapy and talk therapy are also effective options for managing SAD. These treatments can be used by themselves, with each other, or in combination with antidepressants.
Light therapy is considered to be a mainstay therapy for managing SAD. It uses special light boxes — or “SAD lamps” — to compensate for a lack of sunlight during the fall and winter months. They’re especially useful if you live in an area that’s dark and gloomy during these seasons. According to research, about 60% of people with SAD who use light therapy tend to see a reduction in SAD symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of talk therapy, may be equally as effective as light therapy for some people — and might even have more long-lasting results. With talk therapy, you can learn to use coping mechanisms to manage difficult situations and come up with ways to promote positive thinking.
If you or a loved one are experiencing signs of seasonal depression, ask your healthcare provider about treatment options like these. And since a specifically-designed lamp is required for light therapy, they could help you choose an appropriate light box.
How do I know which SAD therapy is right for me?
Light therapy, and talk therapy, and medications are all considered first-choice options for people with SAD — either on their own, or in combination with each other. They can all help alleviate SAD symptoms like sadness, lethargy, and irritability. The right treatment for you depends on your unique symptoms, your mental and physical health, and your personal preferences.
Antidepressants can also help prevent SAD. This can come in handy if seasonal depression affects you on a recurrent basis. If you tend to develop symptoms around a certain time every year, your healthcare provider may recommend starting an antidepressant a few weeks in advance to give it time to kick in.
Ultimately, your healthcare provider is your best resource for determining the best treatment option(s) for you. Since everyone’s lived experience with depression is personal, your ideal course of action may be different from what’s outlined above.
Are antidepressants recommended seasonally or year round?
For the most part, antidepressants used to manage SAD are recommended seasonally. Because they can take some time to kick in, your healthcare provider may recommend starting an antidepressant in the fall. Then, you may be told to stop taking your medication in the early spring — especially if your symptoms tend to naturally get better during the warmer months.
Remember that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Some healthcare experts recommend taking antidepressants all year long. It all boils down to your symptoms and experiences.
The bottom line
Several medications can treat SAD. SSRIs are the most popular medications for managing SAD. Wellbutrin XL and Aplenzin are also options to consider, and they’re even FDA approved for the condition. Some people turn to vitamin D supplementation, but there are mixed reviews on its effectiveness.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2020). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Gowda, U., et al. (2015). Vitamin D supplementation to reduce depression in adults: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition.
Mikola, T., et al. (2022). The effect of vitamin D supplementation on depressive symptoms in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2019). Seasonal affective disorder.
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Seasonal affective disorder.
Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (2022). Bupropion [package insert].
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.
