RxNews

I. Key Points

Pharmaceutical Market Changes  

The antidepressant market has substantially changed over the last several years.

• More antidepressants are available generically, including:
• citalopram (Celexa®)
• fluoxetine (Prozac®)
• fluvoxamine (Luvox®)
• paroxetine (Paxil®)
• sertraline (Zoloft®)
• bupropion SR/XL (Wellbutrin SR®, Wellbutrin XL® 300mg)
• mirtazapine (Remeron)


• Preferred brand antidepressants include:
• Effexor XR®


• Non-preferred/non-formulary antidepressants are:
• Cymbalta®
• Lexapro®    “Enantiomer of generically-available citalopram (Celexa)”
• Patent extenders of brand antidepressants:  Paxil CR®, Prozac Weekly®

Generics First Antidepressant Program Summary

• RegenceRx performed an extensive analysis of the scientific data and relative costs for the antidepressant class.


• Besides treatment in depression, some antidepressants are also indicated for other conditions, including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and panic disorder, social phobia, bulimia nervosa, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • For the majority of patients with these conditions, a generic SSRI provides effective treatment.
  • For these conditions – fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline (all available generically) are the most studied, have established efficacy in these conditions, and offer the best values for treatment.


• There’s no evidence indicating that any antidepressant is more effective than another when comparable doses are used.