Originally developed for the treatment of depressive conditions,
antidepressants have also been found effective against anxiety disorders.
They need several weeks to take effect, so patience is key to making the
treatment plan work.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are some of the
newest antidepressants to be introduced, and also have fewer side effects
than previous antidepressants. They work directly on the brain, by
controlling the amount of serotonin, a chemical messenger. They can cause
nausea and jitteriness at first, but these symptoms usually pass with
time. Sexual dysfunction can also occur, but adjusting the dosage or
switching to another SSRI will usually correct any adverse effects. There
are several types of SSRIs, including fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine
and citalopram, which are used for panic disorder, social anxiety,
obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. A related
drug, venlafaxine, is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder. SSRIs
are started at low doses and gradually increased.
Other antidepressants called tricyclics have been in use longer than
SSRIs and have been studied more extensively in relation to anxiety. They
are generally as effective as SSRIs, except for obsessive compulsive
disorder, but have more side effects, including dizziness, dry mouth,
drowsiness and weight gain. For this reason, many patients and doctors
prefer the newer antidepressants.
The oldest group of antidepressant medications are called monoamine
oxidase inhibitors, or MOAIs. Phenelzine is the most commonly used MOAI,
prescribed for panic disorder and social anxiety disorder. Two other
MOAIs, tranylcypromine and isoprocarboxazid, are also used. MOAIs can
interact with food, beverages and other medications, so patients are placed
on a restrictive diet and medications are closely monitored to prevent
complications.