Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnxiety and Depression MedicationsSSRIsSNRIsTCAsMAOIsBenzodiazepinesBeta-BlockersAtypical AntidepressantsOther InterventionsNutrition ConsiderationsFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Anxiety and Depression Medications

SSRIs

SNRIs

TCAs

MAOIs

Benzodiazepines

Beta-Blockers

Atypical Antidepressants

Other Interventions

Nutrition Considerations

Frequently Asked Questions

Anxietyanddepressionare common but serious mental health issues that can cause a dramatic decrease in functioning and quality of life. In the United States, about 1 in 5 people experience anxiety, and 1 in 10 have depression.

Symptoms of anxiety include the following:

Symptoms of depression include the following:

Bothgeneticand environmental factors can contribute toanxiety and depression. Some of the causes of these disorders overlap, including the following:

Here’s what you need to know about treatment options for anxiety and depression.

What to Do If You’re Feeling Depressed or AnxiousIf you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety or depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.If you have suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call911.

What to Do If You’re Feeling Depressed or Anxious

If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety or depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.If you have suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call911.

If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety or depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

If you have suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call911.

What Medications Are Available for Anxiety and Depression?

The right medicine for you depends on your symptoms, other medications you take, and how severe your anxiety or depression is.

Antianxiety Medications

Often, healthcare providers select a medication with side effects that can improve your symptoms.For example, an antidepressant that causes weight gain may be a good choice for someone with depression who is also experiencing reduced appetite and weight loss.

Antidepressants

Here’s a summary of the most common medications for anxiety and depression.

Heart Palpitations From Anxiety: How Do You Stop Them?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)increase serotonin levels. They are typically the first choice for people with the following conditions:

Side Effects

The most significant side effects of SSRIs are:

Examples of Rumination and Effects on Thinking

Dosage

Typical doses of common SSRIs, which, unless otherwise specified, treat both anxiety and depression, include:

Young Asian female using laptop to speak with her healthcare provider while sitting on sofa in living room at home.MTStock Studio / Getty Images

Young Asian female using laptop to speak with her healthcare provider while sitting on sofa in living room at home.

MTStock Studio / Getty Images

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)increase levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine. They are typically prescribed first for people with the following conditions:

Antidepressant effects of SNRIs may be seen earlier than with SSRIs.

Adverse effects of SNRIs include the following:

Typical doses of SNRIs to treat depression or anxiety are:

Cymbalta vs. Lexapro for Depression: Which Is Better?

Cymbalta RecallStarting in October 2024, over 200,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over concerns about the presence of nitrosamines, which can increase the risk of cancer.If you take duloxetine, check your medication packaging to see if it was part of the affected lots or call your pharmacist to find out. You should also contact your prescriber, as abruptly stopping a medication like duloxetinecan be dangerous.The recalled lots have expiration dates from November 2024 to December 2025. You can check the lot numbers in the FDA enforcement reports released inOctoberandDecember.

Cymbalta Recall

Starting in October 2024, over 200,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over concerns about the presence of nitrosamines, which can increase the risk of cancer.If you take duloxetine, check your medication packaging to see if it was part of the affected lots or call your pharmacist to find out. You should also contact your prescriber, as abruptly stopping a medication like duloxetinecan be dangerous.The recalled lots have expiration dates from November 2024 to December 2025. You can check the lot numbers in the FDA enforcement reports released inOctoberandDecember.

Starting in October 2024, over 200,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over concerns about the presence of nitrosamines, which can increase the risk of cancer.If you take duloxetine, check your medication packaging to see if it was part of the affected lots or call your pharmacist to find out. You should also contact your prescriber, as abruptly stopping a medication like duloxetinecan be dangerous.

The recalled lots have expiration dates from November 2024 to December 2025. You can check the lot numbers in the FDA enforcement reports released inOctoberandDecember.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Like SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine.They are most helpful for people with the following conditions:

TCAs should be used with caution in people who have heart disease.

Side effects of TCAs include the following:

TCAs are particularly dangerous in overdose situations.If you or a loved one has taken too much of a TCA, seek medical help immediately.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

Some serious side effects and interactions with other medicines limit their use. Although they aren’t used often, MAOIs can be good choices fortreatment-resistant depression(when other medications have failed).

MAOIs may cause the following side effects:

Serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening. The following symptoms characterize serotonin syndrome:

MAOIs are the main drug class associated with serotonin syndrome, so if you take one of these medications, watch for any of these effects.These are signs of an emergency, so go to your nearest emergency room or call 911 if you experience any of them.

Typical doses of MAOIs for depression or anxiety are:

Benzodiazepines(sometimes referred to as benzos) are controlled substances that are also used for seizures andmuscle spasms. They increase the effects of GABA and can help treat anxiety but not depression.

Benzos have a rapid onset of action (they start acting quickly). They are typically used only as needed or as a bridge until antidepressants like SSRIs or SNRIs kick in.

Side effects associated with benzos include:

Benzodiazepines are not used for depression, but may be used to treat anxiety at the following doses:

Beta-blockersare traditional heart medications. One of them,propranolol, is sometimes used off-label forperformance anxiety(stage fright)or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In low doses, propranolol can counteract the adrenaline rush that causes symptoms of stage fright, such as shaking and high heart rate.Overall, though, there’s not much evidence to support using beta-blockers like propranolol for anxiety,and they are not appropriate treatments for depression.

Side effects of propranolol include the following:

Propranolol at doses of 60 to 120 mg daily is used off-label for anxiety.

Because medicines in this “catch-all” class aren’t structurally related, side effects vary. Significant side effects associated with atypical antidepressants include:

Here are the typical doses used for these atypical antidepressants.

Depending on the severity of your anxiety or depression, other interventions may be helpful alone or in conjunction with medications. These interventions include:

Discussing your mood and any symptoms you may have with your healthcare provider before self-treating is essential. This will ensure that you are getting all the help you need.

Herbal supplements that have been studied for anxiety and depression include the following:

Saint-John’s-wort interacts with many medications. Before trying these or any other supplements, discuss them with your healthcare provider to ensure they don’t interact with any other medications you may be taking. These are not safe choices for everyone.

Supplements that increase serotonin levels shouldn’t be taken with SSRIs or SNRIs due to the risk of serotonin syndrome. A few of these supplements include the following:

Summary

Anxiety and depression are mental health disorders typically requiring treatments like antidepressants or psychotherapy.

Medications used for anxiety and depression are associated with side effects like sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and headaches. And they may take two to three weeks to see the effects.If you are experiencing side effects or not seeing improvement from your treatment, discuss this with your healthcare provider. Never stop taking antidepressants abruptly, as this could cause your symptoms to worsen.

Additional interventions that help depression or anxiety include CBT and meditation. The combination of antidepressants, psychotherapy, exercise, and good nutrition can be even more effective than medication alone.

Frequently Asked QuestionsSSRIs are the most effective medicines for treating both anxiety and depression and usually are the first prescribed.They are even more effective when combined with therapy.Many anxiety disorders, including GAD, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, are first treated with SSRIs or SNRIs.A review of 41 clinical trials showed that Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Lexapro (escitalopram) are the most effective medicines for adults with GAD.Because SSRIs and SNRIs may take a few weeks to reach full effect, sometimes benzodiazepines are also given until the antidepressants kick in.All antidepressants have side effects. That said, newer classes of medicines like SSRIs and SNRIs have less severe side effects than older ones like TCAs and benzos.There are many ways to manage stress, including getting enough sleep, asking for help, eating well, exercising, practicing meditation or yoga, and getting cognitive behavioral therapy.Sometimes, stress can be overwhelming and challenging to manage on your own. Try to seek medical help if you feel overwhelmed or hopeless. You are not alone.Contact theSAMHSA National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area if you are struggling with anxiety.

SSRIs are the most effective medicines for treating both anxiety and depression and usually are the first prescribed.They are even more effective when combined with therapy.

Many anxiety disorders, including GAD, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, are first treated with SSRIs or SNRIs.A review of 41 clinical trials showed that Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Lexapro (escitalopram) are the most effective medicines for adults with GAD.Because SSRIs and SNRIs may take a few weeks to reach full effect, sometimes benzodiazepines are also given until the antidepressants kick in.

Many anxiety disorders, including GAD, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, are first treated with SSRIs or SNRIs.

A review of 41 clinical trials showed that Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Lexapro (escitalopram) are the most effective medicines for adults with GAD.

Because SSRIs and SNRIs may take a few weeks to reach full effect, sometimes benzodiazepines are also given until the antidepressants kick in.

All antidepressants have side effects. That said, newer classes of medicines like SSRIs and SNRIs have less severe side effects than older ones like TCAs and benzos.

There are many ways to manage stress, including getting enough sleep, asking for help, eating well, exercising, practicing meditation or yoga, and getting cognitive behavioral therapy.Sometimes, stress can be overwhelming and challenging to manage on your own. Try to seek medical help if you feel overwhelmed or hopeless. You are not alone.Contact theSAMHSA National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area if you are struggling with anxiety.

There are many ways to manage stress, including getting enough sleep, asking for help, eating well, exercising, practicing meditation or yoga, and getting cognitive behavioral therapy.

Sometimes, stress can be overwhelming and challenging to manage on your own. Try to seek medical help if you feel overwhelmed or hopeless. You are not alone.

Contact theSAMHSA National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area if you are struggling with anxiety.

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