The process of choosing a medication for your anxiety and depression can be lengthy and often come with a long list of potential side effects. Many patients have to go through multiple medications to find one that works. When you have determined that the best option is medication to manage anxiety or depression, there are many factors to consider. With multiple antidepressants and anxiety reducers on the market, Ogden Psychological Services wants to help patients understand which medication will be best for them.
Combining mental health medication with proper therapy can help you cope with new changes in life, anxiety triggers, and other situations. Ogden Psychological Services wants to help give you the tools to better handle all life can throw at you. Seeking treatment of any form is not a sign of weakness.
SSRIs Or SNRIs
When you are researching medications, you will likely see these two acronyms referring to medication to manage anxiety. SSRI stands for Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. SNRI stands for serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. These are both the first line of treatment for anxiety disorders. Common SSRI brands include Celexa, Lexapro, and Zoloft. Common SNRI brands are Pristiq, Cymbalta, and Effexor XR.
SSRIs only affect serotonin in your body, while SNRIs adjust the serotonin and norepinephrine levels. If you are experiencing a mix of anxiety and depression symptoms a doctor may recommend an SSRI to help boost your serotonin levels. Increasing your serotonin and norepinephrine levels helps your body to be more aware and keep your mood up. Norepinephrine also helps improve blood pressure and sleep schedule which can affect depression symptoms.
Choosing between an SSRI or SNRI can seem tricky, but trying multiple medications may be the best option. SSRIs take a little while to enter your system and start to affect your hormone levels, so give it a few months before you completely abandon the medication to manage anxiety or depression. A doctor or therapist can help you learn more about the medication and how it makes you feel.
Tips For Choosing Medication To Manage Anxiety
Because there are a variety of anxiety disorders, there are different medications that can treat different triggers or symptoms. For those with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Lexapro is a medication with fewer reported side effects than an SSRI. Social Anxiety Disorder is usually treated with Zoloft because it is safer for those with heart problems or pregnant women.
For a disorder like OCD, there are medications including Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft that will help limit triggers in the brain. SSRIs are now more recommended because they have fewer unfavorable side effects, but they can also make patients gain weight.
Tips For Depression Medication
Each medication for depression affects neurotransmitters in slightly different ways. Mani antidepressants help aid communication between brain cells which means that some may even make your symptoms worse, rather than better. Popular depression medications are Celexa, Effexor XR, Prozac, and Fetzima.
Treating depression with medication often means you will need to meet with your healthcare provider often for the next few months. Because not all medication to manage anxiety and depression works for everyone, your doctor will want to monitor if your symptoms worsen, or if your neurotransmitters are reacting to the medicine. Depression medications are often SNRIs which can have side effects like increased thoughts of suicide. If you start to feel suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide Hotline at 988.
Common Side Effects To Watch For
All medications come with a list of potential side effects that can be detrimental to your mental and physical health. Some common side effects that occur from these medications are:
- Feeling agitated or anxious
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Weight Gain
- Suicidal thoughts
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Low Libido
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Hallucinations
- Panic attacks
There are more side effects that are possible from medication combined with a chemical imbalance in the brain you are already experiencing. If your side effects lead you to severe sickness or suicidal thoughts, contact your doctor ASAP.
Therapy And Medication With Ogden Psychological Services
Seeking medication for your mental illness can also be more helpful when combined with psychotherapy. Our therapists at Ogden Psychological Services treat a variety of mental health issues and help you work to develop coping skills, and new thoughts, and have a safe place to learn and vent. Therapy can be helpful in understanding your medication side effects, why your body experiences panic attacks or depression, and more.
Our therapists are board certified and have experience dealing with a variety of patients. We help you to determine your goals and reach them with action steps. The act of therapy itself can be a daunting task, but we want you to know that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. Therapy can improve your life in just a few sessions and help you see a brighter side of life. Contact our office to schedule an appointment today!
