Nowadays, the young generation is becoming a victim of stress and depression due to their busy, mismanaged, and hectic lifestyle. Job insecurity, anxiety, financial issues, and overthinking are a few major concerns of the current generation that leads them to depression. However, taking antidepressants, to tackle your depression, can get you back to your normal life especially when the medication is done with proper counselling. You may not need to take antidepressants in case you have mild symptoms of depression, you just need to change your lifestyle and counselling. This article will offer brief information regarding the best antidepressant for anxiety and depression.

What are Antidepressants?

Today, antidepressants are being used to treat depression and anxiety despite the fact that they do not cure it but just reduce the signs and symptoms. Besides treating clinical depression, antidepressants are also used to cure obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and generalized anxiety disorder. Sometimes, they are also suggested to control long-term pain. Your health expert will suggest you the antidepressant which suits well to your needs so you can live a stress-free life again.

When you take the antidepressant for the first time, it may work well. However, if it fails to cope with your condition, causes side effects, and doesn’t bring relief to your symptoms, you should talk to your doctor. Your doctor or pharmacist may suggest you an alternative one. Sometimes, antidepressants are also suggested as combination therapy to make them work well. The main purpose of antidepressants is to relieve the symptoms of depression as well as to prevent it from coming back

Anxiety vs. Depression: Which Issue Do I Have?

Due to overlapping symptoms, some people consider depression and anxiety the same mental health issues but they differ in reality. There is a need to understand the symptoms associated with each disorder to get the proper treatment method.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety can be characterized as a thought of persistent worry or fear about future events or a general belief that something wrong could possibly occur in the future. Generally, antidepressants including Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and Lexapro are suggested to treat anxiety issues. Moreover, due to SRRIs’ proven effectiveness, anxiety disorders e.g. panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health issues can be treated effectively.

best antidepressant for anxiety and depression

What is Depression?

On the other hand, depression can be defined as feelings of sadness or hopelessness that trigger negative and sometimes suicidal thoughts in individuals. Sometimes, after experiencing a series of anxiety attacks, an individual develops feelings of hopelessness, making it difficult to differentiate between two mental health issues. Whenever the situation or symptoms you may be feeling, always consult your doctor before taking any antidepressants.

Which is the best Antidepressant for Anxiety and Depression?

You can’t decide for yourself which antidepressant is best to tackle anxiety and depression issues. There are so many medications around to treat depression and the selection of the best one is a lengthy and long process. The selection depends on medical history, symptoms, and other factors that vary from person to person. According to consumer reviews, five antidepressants are found more effective to treat anxiety and depression as per their worth it scores.

These include:

  1. Effexor (venlafaxine)
  2. Cymbalta (duloxetine)
  3. Prozac (fluoxetine)
  4. Zoloft (sertraline)
  5. Celexa (citalopram)

However, these reviews and surveys cannot be used to judge the effectiveness of a medication. Data and information collected from clinical trials can be called reliable ways to evaluate the efficiency of medication. Here is a brief overview of these five best antidepressants based on consumer reviews.

Effexor (Venlafaxine):

The ‘worth it’ score of this medication according to consumer review is 62%. ‘Worth can be defined as a rating that people give to any medication. 100 is the best score while Zero is the lowest and worst ‘worth it scores. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs in short, are a group of medications to which this Effexor belongs to. Effexor increases the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin chemicals in your brain to cure anxiety and depression.

best antidepressant for anxiety and depression

Venlafaxine is effective to cure panic attacks, anxiety, social phobia, and depression. This medication is also effective to improve your mood and behavior. It also restores your interest to do routine work willingly as your energy level also boosts after taking this medicine. The level of fear, unwanted thoughts, and anxiety also decreases. Dry mouth, nausea, and sleepiness are a few common side effects of these antidepressants. Don’t take it if someone suggests it to you to tackle your depression issues but seek your doctor’s advice regarding this.

 

Cymbalta (Duloxetine):

The ‘worth it’ score of Cymbalta (Duloxetine) is 58% while is also a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor just like Effexor. Besides treating anxiety and depression, this medicine is also suggested to control the chronic pain of various types. Duloxetine provides relief for nerve pain in diabetic patients. It is also helpful in treating chronic back pain, arthritis and fibromyalgia.

Gastrointestinal, sleepiness, and headaches are a few symptoms of the side effects of this medicine. Alcohol, duloxetine, and other SNRIs cannot mix well so their combination can be risky. Ask your health provider if this medication suits you or not if you are an alcoholic. Another benefit of taking duloxetine is that it boosts your energy level, reduces nervousness, and improves your sleep and mood. It keeps some natural substances, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, balanced in your brain.

Prozac (Fluoxetine):

This medicine is also an SSRI which means it is effective to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, panic attacks, and mood disorders. It does this work by increasing the serotonin levels in your brain. Its ‘worth it’ score is 62% according to a consumer review. Sleeping issues, stomach upset, and drowsiness are a few common side effects as noticed by reviewers. Other side effects include nausea, sweating, tiredness, and loss of appetite.

Zoloft (sertraline):

It is another SSRI medication that is effective to cure panic attacks, OCD, PTSD, social phobia, anxiety, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and depression. This medication restores the balance of serotonin in the human brain and increases your energy level. The common side effects of sertraline include dry mouth, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, nausea, and more. These side effects go away a few days after taking this medicine but others can stay for long. You should talk to your doctor to discuss your situation.

Celexa (citalopram):

Though this medication is also an SSRI it is not approved by FDA because it can put the life of liver and heart patients in danger. It can also cause heart palpitation. This medication improves your energy level. Loss of appetite, yawning, blurred vision, fatigue, dizziness, and sweating are a few of its side effects.

Conclusion

Although consumer reviews have shown that these are the best antidepressant for anxiety and depression but still you are not recommended to take these medicines until your doctor suggest them. You may have to experience different side effects when taken without a doctor’s approval. Additionally, the selection of antidepressants depends on your medical condition. Thus, if you are suffering from depression, anxiety, or any aforementioned issues, consult your doctor to know which antidepressant best suits your need and is safe for you.