Medication		Starting dosage	Typical effective dosage	Maximum dosage	Cost* (brand prices in parentheses)
SSRI and SNRI antidepressants (first-line agents)
Citalopram (Celexa)		20 mg per day	20 to 40 mg per day	40 mg per day [ corrected]	$4 ($160)
Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)		50 mg per day	50 mg per day	100 mg per day	NA ($195)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)		30 to 60 mg per day	60 mg per day	120 mg per day	NA ($240)
Escitalopram (Lexapro)		10 mg per day	10 to 20 mg per day	20 mg per day	$15 ($175)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)		20 mg per day	20 to 40 mg per day	80 mg per day	$4 ($230 to $455)
Paroxetine (Paxil)		20 mg per day	20 to 50 mg per day	50 mg per day	$4 to $20 ($145 to $285)
Sertraline (Zoloft)		50 mg per day	50 to 200 mg per day	200 mg per day	$10 to $20 ($65 to $330)
Venlafaxine		37.5 to 75 mg twice per day	50 to 150 mg twice per day	300 mg per day	$35 to $55
Non-SSRI/SNRI antidepressants
Amitriptyline		25 to 100 mg before bedtime	50 to 300 mg before bedtime	300 mg per day	$4 to $15
Clomipramine (Anafranil)		25 mg before bedtime	25 to 250 mg before bedtime	250 mg per day	$15 to $65 ($440 to $2,200)
Desipramine (Norpramin)		25 mg per day	100 to 300 mg per day	300 mg per day	$55 to $200 ($155 to $450)
Doxepin		25 mg before bedtime	75 to 300 mg before bedtime	300 mg per day	$15 to $30
Imipramine (Tofranil)		25 mg before bedtime	50 to 300 mg before bedtime	300 mg per day	$15 to $60 ($220 to $1,325)
Mirtazapine (Remeron)		15 mg before bedtime	15 to 45 mg before bedtime	45 mg per day	$15 ($150)
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)		25 mg before bedtime	50 to 150 mg before bedtime	150 mg per day	$15 to $20 ($770 to $1,600)
Phenelzine (Nardil)		15 mg three times per day	15 to 30 mg three times per day	90 mg per day	$60 to $100 ($115 to $230)
Trazodone		25 to 50 mg before bedtime	25 to 150 mg before bedtime	175 mg per day	$4 to $10
Augmenting agents
Antiadrenergic agents
	Clonidine (Catapres)	0.1 mg twice per day	0.2 to 1.2 mg per day	2.4 mg per day	$4 to $20 ($90 to $430)
	Guanfacine (Tenex)	1 mg before bedtime	1 to 2 mg before bedtime	3 mg per day	$4 to $10 ($70 to $120)
	Prazosin (Minipress)	2 mg before bedtime	2 to 20 mg before bedtime	40 mg per day	$10 to $50 ($50 to $330)
	Propranolol	20 to 40 mg twice per day	160 to 480 mg per day	640 mg per day	$4 to $10
Mood stabilizers/anticonvulsants
	Carbamazepine (Tegretol)	200 mg per day	Blood levels 4 to 12 mcg per mL	Blood levels > 12 mcg per mL	Varies
	Gabapentin (Neurontin)	300 mg before bedtime	300 to 600 mg three times per day	3,600 mg per day	$15 to $20 ($240 to $475)
	Lamotrigine (Lamictal)	25 to 50 mg per day	50 to 250 mg twice per day	500 mg per day	$10 to $15 ($240 to $565)
	Lithium	300 to 600 mg twice per day	300 to 600 mg three times per day	Blood levels > 1.2 mEq per L	$4 to $25
	Topiramate (Topamax)	25 to 50 mg per day	100 to 400 mg per day	400 mg per day	$15 to $25 ($320 to $740)
	Valproate (Depacon)	300 to 600 mg twice per day	Blood levels 50 to 100 mcg per mL	Blood levels > 100 mcg per mL	Varies
Other agents
	Buspirone (Buspar)	7.5 mg twice per day	30 mg per day	60 mg per day	$30 ($150)
	Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)	25 mg before bedtime	25 to 50 mg before bedtime	50 mg per day	$5
	Zaleplon (Sonata)	5 mg before bedtime	5 to 10 mg before bedtime	20 mg per day	$20 ($170)
	Zolpidem (Ambien)	5 mg before bedtime	5 to 10 mg before bedtime	10 mg per day	$10 ($280)