The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are probably the treatment of choice in treating depression and a gamut of comorbid anxiety disorders. The most used SSRI is escitalopram.
SSRIs and SNRIs are often the first-line treatment for anxiety. Common SSRI brands are Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, and Zoloft. Common SNRI brands are Pristiq, Cymbalta, and Effexor XR. Pros: They are effective for a lot of people and they have a solid safety profile.
You should only take 2 different types of antidepressants, such as an SSRI and a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), if a doctor advises you to. This is because taking certain combinations of antidepressants can make you feel very ill and can be life-threatening.
What are the most common antidepressants? Sertraline hydrochloride, used for multiple mental health and mood disorders, is the most prescribed antidepressant on the list with more than 18 million prescriptions in 2021.
Exercise. Research suggests that regular exercise may be a more effective treatment for mild depression than antidepressants. Exercise helps boost levels of chemicals called serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which can lift your mood.
The two main treatments for anxiety disorders are psychotherapy and medications. You may benefit most from a combination of the two. It may take some trial and error to discover which treatments work best for you.
Mirtazapine may be more calming than other antidepressants for some people. Mirtazapine can also help appetite and sometimes is used off label exclusively for severe appetite and or weight loss.
Esketamine is in a new class of antidepressants, based on the pain medication and general anesthetic ketamine, a drug that has been used clinically for decades. It's the first ketamine-based antidepressant for people experiencing treatment resistant depression (TRD).
Some of the most commonly used include: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine HRI (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).
The first-line medicine for patients with depression is generally a SSRI, e.g. citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline or fluoxetine (Tables 1 and 2).
Prozac is good for anxiety and depression because it is an SSRI antidepressant medication that works by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin by your brain's neurotransmitter receptors. Serotonin is a chemical in your brain responsible for sleep, appetite, and mood regulation.
Lexapro (escitalopram) is good for treating depression and anxiety. It's generally well-tolerated and has fewer drug interactions than other antidepressants.
As of this writing, some of the anxiety medications with the fewest reported side effects and least risk of side effects include: Most Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium) Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Citalopram (Celexa - SSRI)
Buspar® (Buspirone)
This non-addictive anxiety medication is similar to an SSRI in that it increases chemical messengers involving serotonin. Buspar only targets one subtype of the serotonin receptor, so it affects just one specific area of your brain.
Take your time.
You may be tempted to stop taking antidepressants as soon as your symptoms ease, but depression can return if you quit too soon. Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off it.
Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives. But anxiety disorders are treatable and a number of effective treatments are available.
Weight gain is a possible side effect of nearly all antidepressants. However, each person responds to antidepressants differently. Some people gain weight when taking a certain antidepressant, while others don't.
Vitamin B-3 and Vitamin B-9 can help people with depression because B vitamins help the brain manage moods. Vitamin D, melatonin and St. John's Wort are recommended for seasonal depression. Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and vitamin C may also help with depression.
New stressors. A new stressful situation at home or work can result in a mood response for which the antidepressant can't compensate. Other medications. Interactions between antidepressants and medications for other health conditions can affect how well an antidepressant works.
If an antidepressant alone doesn't improve your symptoms, your doctor might prescribe a different type of medication to take with it. Combining other medications with an antidepressant sometimes works better than the antidepressant by itself. These other therapies are often called augmentation treatments.
SSRIs are the most widely prescribed type of antidepressants. They're usually preferred over other antidepressants, as they cause fewer side effects. An overdose is also less likely to be serious. Fluoxetine is probably the best known SSRI (sold under the brand name Prozac).