SSRIs considered to have the best safety profile in the elderly are citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline. [16] These have the lowest potential for drug-drug interactions based on their cytochrome P-450 interactions.

What is the best anti anxiety medication for elderly?

Buspirone is an anti-anxiety drug that has been shown to be effective for older adults. Benzodiazepines, another anti-anxiety drug, are effective but should be prescribed carefully to older adults because of risk of memory impairment, unsteadiness, and falls.

Should elderly take antidepressants?

Studies have found that while antidepressants can be helpful in older adults, they may not always be as effective as in younger patients. Also, the risk of side effects or potential reactions with other medicines must be carefully considered.

Is Zoloft safe for seniors?

Sertraline is generally well tolerated in elderly patients with major depressive disorder and lacks the marked anticholinergic effects that characterise the adverse event profiles of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).

Which classification of medications is most commonly used to treat late life depression?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were launched in the mid to late 1980s. This generation of antidepressants is now the most common class used for depression. Examples include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), and sertraline (Zoloft).

Is Paxil good for the elderly?

The pharmacology of paroxetine (a short half-life and lack of active metabolites) suggests that it is a particularly useful medication for the depressed elderly. References NIH Concensus Development Panel on Depression in Late Life: Diagnosis and treatment of depression in late life.

Is Wellbutrin safe for the elderly?

PARIS, FRANCE — September 20, 2006 — Once-daily use of an extended-release formulation of bupropion (Wellbutrin XL(R)) is both efficacious and safe in elderly patients with major depressive disorder, according to a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, flexible-dose, placebo-controlled trial.

Which antidepressant should be avoided in elderly?

Tricyclic antidepressants, especially amitriptyline and dothiepin,¹⁶ are known to pose a high risk of death in overdosage. These drugs should therefore be avoided in older people whose medication is not supervised and who are at risk of taking an overdose.

What is the safest antidepressant?

Among the newer antidepressants, bupropion and venlafaxine were associated with the highest case fatality rates. In addition, among SSRIs, citalopram and fluvoxamine appeared to be related to higher mortality rates in overdose, whereas fluoxetine and sertraline were the safest [188].

Why is Paxil not recommended for seniors?

Paroxetine has strong anticholinergic and sedative properties, which can lead to negative effects on cognition. Anticholinergic medications such as paroxetine are often considered potentially inappropriate for the elderly patients with dementia and cognitive impairment.

Is Lexapro better than Zoloft?

A 2014 study published in International Clinical Psychopharmacology suggested that Lexapro may be more effective and better tolerated than Zoloft or Paxil. Lexapro has different binding site interactions which may lead to better efficacy and tolerability.

Is Zoloft linked to dementia?

According to the University of Regina research, popular SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressant medications, such as Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, Zoloft, etc., are associated with a twofold increase in the odds of developing some form of cognitive impairment, such as dementia, including Alzheimer’s.

What antidepressant has the fewest side effects?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications generally cause fewer bothersome side effects and are less likely to cause problems at higher therapeutic doses than other types of antidepressants are.

What is a happy pill for depression?

“Happy pills” — in particular the anxiolytic drugs Miltown and Valium and the antidepressant Prozac — have been spectacularly successful “products” over the last 5 decades, largely because they have widespread off label use. Miltown, launched in the 1950s, was the first “blockbuster” psychotropic drug in the US.

What are the top 5 antidepressants?

When the researchers checked which depression drugs were tolerated the best, these topped the list:

• Celexa (citalopram)
• Lexapro (escitalopram)
• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Trintellix (vortioxetine)
• Zoloft (sertraline)

What is the #1 antidepressant?

Zoloft is the most commonly prescribed antidepressant; nearly 17% of those surveyed in the 2017 antidepressant use study reported that they had taken this medication. 3. Paxil (paroxetine): You might be more likely to have sexual side effects if you choose Paxil over other antidepressants.