Drug Treatment of Depression By William Coryell, MD, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Reviewed / Revised Aug 2021 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Serotonin Modulators (5-HT2 Blockers) Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor Heterocyclic Antidepressants Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) Melatonergic Antidepressant Ketamine-like Drugs Drug Choice and Administration of Antidepressants Topic Resources Antidepressants Several drug classes and drugs can be used to treat depression: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Serotonin modulators (5-HT 2 blockers) Serotonin-norepinephrinereuptake inhibitors Norepinephrine-dopaminereuptake inhibitor Heterocyclic antidepressants Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) Melatonergic antidepressant Ketamine-like drugs Choice of drug may be guided by past response to a specific antidepressant.