Antidepressants and mood stabilizers

Rapastinel

Rapastinel (GLYX-13), a tetrapeptide NMDA receptor positive allosteric modulator developed by Allergan as a rapid antidepressant for major depressive disorder; positive phase 2 results and FDA breakthrough designation, but phase 3 failure and discontinued development.

Ropanicant

Ropanicant (SUVN-911), an oral alpha4 beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist from Suven Life Sciences, is an investigational antidepressant for major depressive disorder with positive Phase 2b topline results in June 2026 and a Phase 3 study planned for 2027.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants, including fluoxetine, sertraline, and escitalopram, that block the serotonin transporter SERT; first approved with fluoxetine (Prozac) in December 1987.

Selegiline

Selegiline (L-deprenyl, Jumex, EMSAM) is the first selective irreversible MAO-B inhibitor, developed by Joseph Knoll; used for Parkinson's disease and, as a transdermal patch, major depressive disorder.

Serdexmethylphenidate

Serdexmethylphenidate (SDX), a prodrug of dexmethylphenidate, is the main component of Azstarys, a once-daily Schedule II capsule approved by FDA on March 2, 2021 for ADHD in patients 6 and older.

Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), including venlafaxine, duloxetine, desvenlafaxine, milnacipran, and levomilnacipran, are antidepressants blocking serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake; used for depression, anxiety, and nerve pain.

Sertraline

Sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral) is an SSRI antidepressant by Pfizer, US-approved for depression in 1991 and later OCD, panic disorder, and PTSD; Cochrane evidence shows a trend favoring it over other antidepressants.

Shenge Bushen capsules

Shenge Bushen capsules (参葛补肾胶囊) are a Category 1.1 innovative traditional Chinese medicine approved by China's NMPA in 2022 for mild to moderate depression with Qi-Yin and kidney Qi deficiency, made from Radix Pseudostellariae, kudzu root, and Epimedium.

Shenyu Ningshen Tablets

Shenyu Ningshen Tablets (参郁宁神片) is a class 1.1 innovative Chinese patent medicine approved in China in 2023 for mild-to-moderate depression with qi and yin deficiency.

Tianeptine

Tianeptine (Stablon, Coaxil, Tianaa) is an atypical tricyclic antidepressant and mu-opioid receptor agonist, approved in Europe, Asia, and Latin America but unapproved in the US, where it is abused as "gas station heroin" and proposed for Schedule I.

Toloxatone

Toloxatone (Humoryl) is a reversible, selective MAO-A inhibitor (RIMA) oxazolidinone antidepressant launched in France in 1984; dosed 200 mg three times daily, with weak MAO-A inhibition, low tyramine potentiation, and fulminant hepatitis as a listed risk.

Toludesvenlafaxine

Toludesvenlafaxine, also known as ansofaxine (LY03005), is a triple reuptake inhibitor antidepressant developed by Luye Pharma that inhibits serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine reuptake, approved in China for major depressive disorder.

Trazodone

Trazodone (Desyrel, Oleptro) is a triazolopyridine serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI) antidepressant, FDA-approved for major depressive disorder in 1981 and widely used off label at low doses for insomnia despite guideline recommendations against that use.

Trimipramine

Trimipramine (Surmontil) is a sedating tricyclic antidepressant for depression, atypical in that its effect is not explained by monoamine reuptake inhibition; dosed 50-300 mg/day orally.

Valproate

Valproate (valproic acid, sodium valproate, divalproex) is an anticonvulsant used for seizures, bipolar mania, and migraine prevention; discovered serendipitously in 1963, restricted for teratogenicity.

Venlafaxine

Venlafaxine (Effexor) is an SNRI antidepressant approved in the US in 1993 for major depression, later for anxiety disorders; dose-dependent norepinephrine effects, blood pressure elevation above 225 mg/day, and modestly greater efficacy than SSRIs.

Vilazodone

Vilazodone (Viibryd), an SSRI and 5-HT1A partial agonist (SPARI) antidepressant approved by the FDA in 2011 for major depressive disorder in adults; dosed 20-40 mg with food, noted for lower sexual side effects and gastrointestinal adverse events.

Viloxazine

Viloxazine (Qelbree) is a nonstimulant norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and serotonin receptor modulator approved by the FDA in 2021 for ADHD ages 6-17 and in 2022 for adults; formerly the European antidepressant Vivalan, withdrawn in the early 2000s for business reasons.

Vortioxetine

Vortioxetine (Trintellix, Brintellix) is a multimodal antidepressant approved by the FDA in 2013 for major depressive disorder in adults, combining SERT inhibition with 5-HT1A/1B/3/7/1D receptor modulation and studied for cognitive effects.

Xingpi Jieyu tablets

Xingpi Jieyu tablets (醒脾解郁片), formerly Yushuda tablets, are a Class 1.1 traditional Chinese medicine for mild and moderate depression of the damp-turbidity-obstructing-spleen pattern, approved by China's NMPA in September 2026 and made by Sinopharm Tongjitang (Guizhou).