If you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, your healthcare provider may recommend one of several medications, including anti-anxiety medications, beta-blockers and, for certain types of anxiety, antidepressants.
Although antidepressants are typically viewed as treatments for depression, several modern antidepressants are approved to treat anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder.
Below, we’ve explained how antidepressants may help to treat anxiety, as well as the specific antidepressants your healthcare provider may prescribe if you have an anxiety disorder.
We’ve also discussed how long it usually takes for anxiety to improve, the side effects you may experience while using antidepressants to treat anxiety and more.
Stopping antidepressants suddenly can cause antidepressant discontinuation syndrome and withdrawal symptoms.
Two types of antidepressants are typically used to treat anxiety disorders — selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
SSRIs and SNRIs function by changing the levels of certain neurotransmitters in your brain and body. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that are used by your body to communicate between nerve cells and regulate your mood, behavior and other bodily functions.
More specifically, SSRIs work by increasing the amount of serotonin that’s present in your brain.
Serotonin is sometimes referred to as a “happy hormone” or “happy chemical.” This is because it plays a key role in regulating your mood and feelings of well-being. It also assists in reducing feelings of depression and regulating your levels of anxiety.
Research has shown that low levels of serotonin are linked to depression, anxiety disorders and suicidal behavior. If you are feeling any of these consult a healthcare provider immediately.
SNRIs work by increasing the amounts of serotonin and norepinephrine that are present in your brain.
Like serotonin, norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that’s responsible for regulating mood and behavior. More specifically, it’s responsible for everything from helping you focus, to assisting in the management of your sleep-wake cycle, your response to stress and your memory.
By increasing levels of these neurotransmitters, SSRI and SNRI antidepressants may help to improve mood and provide relief from anxiety.
Currently, the FDA has approved several antidepressants to treat anxiety disorders. Most of the antidepressants approved to treat anxiety disorders are SSRIs and SNRIs, although some older antidepressants are also approved for certain anxiety disorders.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) approved by the FDA to treat anxiety disorders include:
Some other SSRIs, such as citalopram (sold as Celexa®), aren’t approved by the FDA to treat anxiety disorders, but may be prescribed off-label by your healthcare provider to treat anxiety disorders if deemed safe and appropriate.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) approved by the FDA to treat anxiety disorders include:
In addition to SSRIs and SNRIs, some older or atypical antidepressants may be used to treat anxiety disorders. Some of these medications are approved by the FDA to treat anxiety, while others may be prescribed off-label:
Due to the higher risk of side effects and drug interactions with older antidepressants, these medications generally aren’t used as first-line treatments for depression or anxiety.
In addition to antidepressants, several other types of medications are used as treatments for anxiety disorders. Other medications used to treat anxiety include:
In addition to medication, anxiety disorders are often treated using psychotherapy. Therapeutic options such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can often help people develop new ways of thinking and behaving that assist in reducing anxiety.
Although most new antidepressants, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, are well tolerated, you may experience side effects while using antidepressants to treat anxiety. Common side effects of SSRIs and SNRIs include:
Some SSRIS and SNRIs are associated with sexual side effects, including erectile dysfunction in men. Sexual side effects can often be treated by changing medications, adjusting dosage or using erectile dysfunction (ED) medications such as Viagra® (sildenafil) or Cialis® (tadalafil).
In some cases, SSRIs and SNRIs can cause severe side effects, including serotonin syndrome and an increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior. We’ve explained these in more detail in our full guide to SSRIs.
If you’re prescribed an older type of antidepressant, such as a tricyclic antidepressant or MAOI, you may experience more side effects. These medications may also cause a range of drug and food interactions, as we’ve explained in our full guide to MAOIs.
If you experience any side effects after you start using an antidepressant, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider. If your side effects don’t disappear on their own over time, your healthcare provider may recommend adjusting your dosage or switching to a different medication.
Anxiety disorders are extremely common, with data from the National Institute of Mental Health indicating that an estimated 31.1 percent of American adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in life.
Our guide to coping with anxiety goes into more detail about the treatments that are available for anxiety disorders, from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to meditation and more.
The effects of antidepressants aren’t immediate. Typically, it takes about two to four weeks (or, in some cases, as long as six weeks) for most SSRIs and SNRIs prescribed to treat anxiety to produce a noticeable effect.
Some side effects of antidepressants, such as jitteriness or anxiety symptoms, may be stronger during the first two weeks of treatment.
If you don’t experience any improvements after using an SSRI or SNRI for six weeks or longer, do not make any changes to your dosage or stop using your medication. Instead, talk to your healthcare provider — if appropriate, they may recommend a different type of medication.
Yes. Some antidepressants, such as doxepin, are prescribed to treat sleeping issues such as insomnia. Other antidepressants used to treat sleep-related issues include trazodone, which may be prescribed off-label for this purpose.
If you have insomnia or other difficulties sleeping in addition to anxiety, make sure that you tell your healthcare provider before discussing the use of medication.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.