Presented by BetterHelp.
Before we start, it should be made clear that this article is not a substitute for the advice of a medical professional. As a rule, you should never take any medication before discussing it with your doctor or another licensed professional.
Anxiety has become one of the most widespread mental health disorders all around the world. Between climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, economic difficulties, social media, and other potential stressors, it really shouldn’t come as any great surprise.
If you’re reading this article, you may be curious yourself about how you might live a less anxious existence. After all, who doesn’t want to feel happier and less worried on a day-to-day basis?
As such, you may also be wondering whether medication could be a promising pathway to living an anxiety-free life.
Well, the bad news is that the answer is a bit complicated. The good news, however, is that medication has been shown to help with anxiety. And we’re not talking about just any medication, but specifically antidepressants.
So, read on to learn more about depression, anxiety, and how antidepressant medication (specifically SSRIs) may help provide relief for anxiety disorders.
Anxiety and Depression
First, let’s consider the differences and similarities of anxiety and depression.
An important first point to make is that anxiety and depression are not mutually exclusive. In other words, it’s possible to have both anxiety and depression at the same time. In fact, this is the case for many people.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have both, and it’s why it’s important for people to be educated about these two common mental health issues.
Typical signs of generalized anxiety disorder include the following:
- Persistent, severe worrying (often beyond what the situation calls for)
- Overthinking
- Negative thinking
- Obsessive thinking
- Inability to relax
- Restlessness
- Feelings of agitation
Meanwhile, classic symptoms of depression include the following:
- Feelings of apathy and hopelessness
- Insomnia
- Lack of enjoyment in things that were formerly enjoyable
- A change in appetite
- Fatigue
From this brief snapshot, we can see that anxiety and depression don’t necessarily share symptoms but that they may be complementary. After all, constantly having negative thoughts or concerns is likely to lead toward feeling depressed.
To be sure, however, you should always consult your doctor or licensed mental health professional. Trying to diagnose yourself, while it may be helpful for informing yourself on the subject, is best left to the experts.
What is Anxiety?
Now, let’s look specifically at anxiety, as a better understanding of it will help us see how antidepressants may be effective in treating it.
To a certain degree, anxiety is a completely normal response inherent to us as a species. Whenever faced with stressful situations, we naturally go into a response known as “fight or flight.” What this signifies is that our bodies and brains immediately react and compel us to either prepare ourselves to confront the situation head-on or run away from the situation.
What an anxiety disorder does is basically keep us in a constant state of this mode, which you can imagine—or know firsthand—to be a very unpleasant way of living.
But is medication and, more specifically, antidepressant medication, the answer?
Antidepressant Medication for Anxiety
To reiterate, it’s essential that you have the opinion of a medical expert (like a doctor or psychiatrist) before beginning to take any medication for your anxiety.
It is true that many people are currently prescribed antidepressant medication for their anxiety.
While this medication may be helpful, there are always some side effects with any drug. To learn more about medication and how it might help your anxiety, you can also turn to helpful online resources such as BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/medication/
Now, let’s look at different possibilities when it comes to taking SSRIs for anxiety.
Fluoxetine
While SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) were first created by pharmaceutical companies for the treatment of depression, a number of studies have since shown that they may also be an effective treatment for anxiety disorders.
As an SSRI, Fluoxetine may be beneficial for anxiety by limiting the common symptoms of depression, but patients may experience certain undesirable side effects, particularly insomnia.
Paroxetine
Another SSRI, Paroxetine may be prescribed by your doctor or psychiatrist as part of a treatment regimen for anxiety. Compared to Fluoxetine and other SSRIs, Paroxetine may be the first choice when it comes to anxiety disorders that involve social anxiety and, in particular, obsessive-compulsive disorder (or OCD).
While Paroxetine may prove beneficial for depression or anxiety, it does have side effects, like all SSRIs, including sleepiness, nausea, and weight gain.
Sertraline
Often given in a lower dose form, Sertraline is yet another SSRI that may help with anxiety symptoms. The lower dose quantity is given for anxiety whereas a higher dose quantity would be used to treat depression (as that is the original idea behind SSRIs).
Sertraline may help some patients with their anxiety, but it might also produce certain negative side effects, including digestive issues and sleeplessness (insomnia).
Citalopram
The fourth and final SSRI on our list is Citalopram. Generally speaking, it’s similar to the above medications in that it’s an SSRI originally designed to treat depression.
While some patients have seen benefits such as reduced anxiety, Citalopram, like the above, has its own share of side effects, including stomach upset and digestive issues.
Conclusion
There are many options that have been and are currently being explored by doctors and psychiatrists when it comes to medication treatments for anxiety.
Anxiety is a complex mental health disorder, so it is always important to proceed carefully and to follow medical advice rather than take whatever you might be able to get your hands on.
And while medication may be effective against anxiety, in most cases it should only be one part of a more comprehensive, or holistic, treatment. For example, the medication could be accompanied by guided meditations, yoga, exercise, a healthier diet, and more.
As one of the most common mental health disorders all over the world, it’s no surprise that many people are seeking help for anxiety. Antidepressant medication may help, but it can also cause unpleasant and possibly severe side effects. Be sure to maintain communication with your doctor or psychiatrist regarding your treatment.
Also Read: 9 Organic Remedies to Keep Anxiety at Bay
