Other antidepressants
Other antidepressant drugs | Preparations | Comments |
Agomelatine | 25mg tablets | Named patient request ONLY. Prescribing to remain with HPFT – not to be transferred to primary care. Risk of dose related hepatotoxicity and liver failure see MHRA Agomelatine (Valdoxan): risk of liver toxicity |
Duloxetine hydrochloride | 30mg and 60mg capsules | Second line SNRI only after venlafaxine. |
Flupentixol dihydrochloride | 500micrograms and 1mg tablets | Not appropriate choice as sole treatment of depression. |
Mirtazapine | 15mg, 30mg and 45mg tablets and orodispersible tablets 5mg/ml oral solution |
Oral solution should only be used when orodispersible tablets are unsuitable. |
Reboxetine | 4mg tablets | |
Venlafaxine | 37.5mg and 75mg tablets 37.5mg, 75mg, 150mg and 225mg MR capsules |
Immediate-release venlafaxine (BD dosage) is considerably less expensive than once daily (MR) formulations. The MR formulation should only be used if the immediate-release formulation is not tolerated or if concordance with a twice daily regimen is difficult. Existing patients on MR preparations must not be switched to IR tablets without involvement/agreement of psychiatrist. |
Vortioxetine | 5mg, 10mg and 20mg tablets |
GPs can initiate once specialist advice has been sought from a HPFT Consultant Psychiatrist. NICE recommends that vortioxetine is an option for treating major depression in adults who have responded inadequately to two antidepressamts within the current episode of depression. See Guidelines in Choice and Selection of antidepressants for the management of depression. |
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Back to 4.3.1 Tricyclic and related anti-depressant drugs
Continue to 3.6 Psychoses and schizophrenia