Costs for commonly-prescribed antidepressants vary from $32 to more than $200 per month. This report shows how you can save $100 a month ($1,200 a year) or more if you have to take an antidepressant.

Antidepressants can improve the symptoms of depression, but they can also have serious side effects. You may not need one. A thumbnail guide:

• If you are feeling "down" or "blue" — for example, in the wake of a stressful life event such as the death of a loved one, divorce or job loss — you may have mild depression. That's especially likely if you are still able to work and function and have no history of depression. Your symptoms may resolve on their own, aided by family support, professional counseling, or psychotherapy — and without the need of an antidepressant.
• If you are not functioning well, and your symptoms (see page 6 of the full report) have lasted three weeks or longer, you are more likely to be a candidate for taking an antidepressant. That is especially true if there is no apparent reason for you to be in the doldrums, or if you have had repeated episodes of depression.

Use the information in this report to enhance your understanding of whether an antidepressant might be right for you, and if so, which one. Then talk with your doctor or a mental health professional. Bear in mind that individual needs vary and people respond to antidepressants quite differently. Some people have to try two or three before one works.

Your doctor may not be aware of price differences between medicines, and be cautious if he or she offers you a free sample of an antidepressant that's the only one on hand in the office. It may not be the right drug for you.

Taking effectiveness, safety, side effects and cost into account, we have chosen three Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs as initial options to consider for depression:

• Generic fluoxetine at a dose of 10 mg or 20 mg taken once a day, at a cost of $32 to $37 a month.
• Generic citalopram at a dose of 20mg or 40mg once a day at a cost of $50 to $52 per month.
• Generic bupropion at a dose of 75mg to 100mg taken three times a day at a cost of $60 to $71 per month.

These medicines are substantially less expensive than most other antidepressants, and are as effective as any of them. If you have drug coverage, talk with you doctor about finding the antidepressant that has the lowest out-of-pocket cost under your insurance plan.

Other important considerations:

• Talk with your doctor about starting with a low dose to minimize side effects. If the drug doesn't help within 8 to 12 weeks, talk with your doctor about a higher dose or switching to another antidepressant.
• Tell your doctor about other mood, emotional or mental symptoms, such an anxiety or panic attacks. These are important in deciding which antidepressant is right for you.
• If you have taken an antidepressant before and it worked, you may want to stick with that one, or its generic equivalent.
• Tell your doctor whether the differences in side effects among the antidepressants are important to you. (See page 10 of the full report.)
• If you have frequent thoughts about suicide in the first few weeks of taking an antidepressant, contact your doctor or therapist to discuss this.