Depression

Highlights

Treatment Guidelines for Second-Generation Antidepressants

In 2008, the American College of Physicians (ACP) released practice guidelines for using second-generation antidepressants to treat major depression in adults.

These medications include selective serotonin-reputake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro) and other newer antidepressants such as buproprion (Wellbutrin), duloxetine (Cymbalta), mirtazapine (Remeron), and venlafaxine (Effexor). Studies indicate that these drugs do not differ much in effectiveness, although they may differ in terms of side effects.

The ACP recommends that doctors:

Drug Treatment Guidelines for Pregnant Women

In 2008, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released clinical practice guidelines on the use of psychiatric medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding. ACOG recommends that:




Highlights
Introduction
Causes
Risk Factors
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Drug Treatment Guidelines
Medications
Psychotherapy
Other Treatments
Lifestyle Changes
Resources
References

Review Date: 1/22/2009
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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