Antidepressants are a class of medications used primarily to treat depression. Antidepressants include subgroups of tricyclic antidepressants such as desipramine, nortriptyline, amitriptyline, imipramine, doxepin, and clomipramine; SSRIs, including fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, and escitalopram; SNRIs such as venlafaxine (duloxetine is most common) and other (e.g., bupropion, trazodone, mertazapine, mianserin*). Antidepressants as coanalgesics in combination with medications for pain have been examined for effectiveness in pain management in patients with cancer (Schwartz, Lander, & Chochinov, 2002).

* Not available in the United States

Schwartz, L., Lander, M., & Chochinov, H.M. (2002). Current management of depression in cancer patients. Oncology, 16, 1102–1115.