Topic summary
Atypical antidepressant
An atypical antidepressant is any antidepressantmedication that acts in a manner that is different from that of most other antidepressants.
Atypical antidepressants include:
- agomelatine
- Baclofen
- bupropion
- dextromethorphan/bupropion
- esketamine
- Gabapentin
- gepirone
- iprindole
- opipramol
- tianeptine
- maprotiline
- mianserin
- mirtazapine
- Topiramate
- trazodone
- nefazodone
The agents vilazodone and vortioxetine are partly atypical.
Typical antidepressants include the SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, and MAOIs, which act mainly by increasing the levels of the monoamine neurotransmittersserotonin and/or norepinephrine. Among TCAs, trimipramine is an atypical agent in that it appears not to do this. In August 2020, esketamine (JNJ-54135419) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression with the added indication for the short-term treatment of suicidal thoughts.
Buprenorphine/samidorphan (ALKS-5461) is an antidepressant with a novel mechanism of action which was formerly under development and considered an atypical antidepressant. They act faster than available antidepressants.