ABSTRACT
All depressive symptoms are more or less equally responsive to available antidepressants; however, there are significant and substantial differences in side effect profiles that primarily determine the choice of an antidepressant for a particular patient. In an outpatient psychiatric and primary care practice, antidepressants are some of the most commonly prescribed medications. Lithium is protective in patients who have a history of mania or hypomania who present with a depressive episode. These individuals are at higher risk of a switch to mania as a result of antidepressant treatment. Buspirone added to an antidepressant regimen has the potential to augment antidepressant effects, especially if depression is accompanied by prominent anxiety symptoms. Fenfluramine is an appetite suppressant with serotonin release and reuptake blocking properties. It is a central nervous system depressant in therapeutic doses. The Physicians’ Desk Reference should be consulted for further pharmacological information.
