Skip to main content

Medications for Postpartum Depression

Other names: Depression, Postnatal; Depression, Postpartum; PDD; PND; Postnatal Depression

Postpartum depression is severe depression in a woman after she has given birth. It may occur soon after delivery or up to a year later. Most of the time, it occurs sometime in the first 4 weeks after delivery.

Drugs used to treat Postpartum Depression

The medications listed below are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Zoloft 8.5 57 reviews for Zoloft to treat Postpartum Depression Rx C N X
Generic name:
sertraline systemic
Drug class:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
sertraline 8.3 81 reviews for sertraline to treat Postpartum Depression Rx C N X
Generic name:
sertraline systemic
Brand name:
Zoloft
Drug class:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Celexa 7.4 16 reviews for Celexa to treat Postpartum Depression Rx C N X
Generic name:
citalopram systemic
Drug class:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Prozac 9.8 4 reviews for Prozac to treat Postpartum Depression Rx C N X
Generic name:
fluoxetine systemic
Drug class:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
citalopram 7.1 31 reviews for citalopram to treat Postpartum Depression Rx C N X
Generic name:
citalopram systemic
Brand name:
Celexa
Drug class:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
fluoxetine 9.8 5 reviews for fluoxetine to treat Postpartum Depression Rx C N X
Generic name:
fluoxetine systemic
Brand name:
Prozac
Drug class:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Effexor XR 7.3 15 reviews for Effexor XR to treat Postpartum Depression Rx C N X
Generic name:
venlafaxine systemic
Drug class:
serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
venlafaxine 7.1 24 reviews for venlafaxine to treat Postpartum Depression Rx C N X
Generic name:
venlafaxine systemic
Brand names:
Effexor XR, Effexor
Drug class:
serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Paxil 5.9 8 reviews for Paxil to treat Postpartum Depression Rx D N X
Generic name:
paroxetine systemic
Drug class:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Effexor 4.0 3 reviews for Effexor to treat Postpartum Depression Rx C N X
Generic name:
venlafaxine systemic
Drug class:
serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
paroxetine 5.9 8 reviews for paroxetine to treat Postpartum Depression Rx D N X
Generic name:
paroxetine systemic
Brand names:
Paxil, Paxil CR
Drug class:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
brexanolone Rate Add review Rx 4 X
Generic name:
brexanolone systemic
Brand name:
Zulresso
Drug class:
miscellaneous antidepressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Paxil CR Rate Add review Rx D N X
Generic name:
paroxetine systemic
Drug class:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Zulresso Rate Add review Rx 4 X
Generic name:
brexanolone systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous antidepressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Zurzuvae Rate Add review Rx 4 X
Generic name:
zuranolone systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous antidepressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
zuranolone Rate Add review Rx 4 X
Generic name:
zuranolone systemic
Brand name:
Zurzuvae
Drug class:
miscellaneous antidepressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Learn more about Postpartum Depression

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.