Selection of antidepressant drugs in general practice

Depression is a common psychiatric illness and since majority of patients suffering from depression are first seen and treated by general practitioners, it is important for them to identify and treat depressive illness more effectively. Fortunately, depression is a treatable condition. Identifying the optimal antidepressant agent requires careful consideration of the patient's age, health status, and history of response to antidepressants. Other considerations include adverse effect profile, cost of drug therapy and convenient dosage schedule. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are well tolerated and are considered by many to be the agents of choice in primary care treatment of depression because of their favourable adverse effect profile. Heterocyclic antidepressants are preferred in elderly patients and patients with medical problems. Tricyclic antidepressants can also be of great help specially to younger group of patients and patients who have failed to respond to other antidepressants.