Medications for depression in people with multiple sclerosis

Content provided by Healthwise

Medications for depression in people with multiple sclerosis

Depression is the most common mental health problem in people who have multiple sclerosis (MS). It may result from having a chronic disease or may be a side effect of certain MS medications, such as interferon betas. Depression may be treated with:

• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane), or imipramine (Tofranil).
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral). These medications may also make the person more alert and help reduce fatigue.

There are a variety of antidepressant medications in addition to those listed above. Your health professional can help identify ones appropriate for your situation, based on your symptoms, other medications you are taking, and other health problems you may have.

FDA Advisory. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory on antidepressant medicines and the risk of suicide. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines. Instead, a person taking antidepressants should be watched for warning signs of suicide. This is especially important at the beginning of treatment or when the doses are changed.

Credits

Last updated:	March 23, 2006
Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Barrie J. Hurwitz, MD - Neurology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman