Anxiety Medications

Anxiety Information

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are closely related to SSRIs. They have similar actions as SSRIs, although they have a tendency to have more "stimulatory" effects, probably due to the effects on norepinephrine. This can become a problem for some people who may experience insomnia or jitteriness. Others may develop high blood pressure as a result of the norepinephrine effects.

SNRI medications include:

Not all SNRIs are approved for anxiety treatment.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants have been around longer than SSRIs and have been more widely studied as a treatment for anxiety. However, they are generally more likely to cause intolerable or even dangerous side effects and (as a result) are not usually good choices for elderly individuals. Some of the potential side effects of tricyclic antidepressants include:

Dizziness
Drowsiness
Dry mouth (see Tricyclic Antidepressants and Dry Mouth)
Confusion or delirium
An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).

If these problems persist or are bothersome, a change in dosage or a switch in medications may be needed. Tricyclics are especially useful when treating anxiety in people with co-occurring anxiety disorders and depression.

Examples of tricyclic antidepressants include:

Not all tricyclic antidepressants are approved to treat anxiety.

(Anxiety Medications Continued: Page 4)
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