Antidepressants

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Antidepressants, intended to ease depressive symptoms, are first-line prescribed medications to treat anxiety disorders and anxiety-based conditions. They fall into the following classes:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

In addition:

• Controversial use of antidepressants for bipolar disorder (BD): Though effective in treating BD depression, they can trigger mania or rapid cycling. Individuals with BD should never take an antidepressant alone, but with a mood stabilizer.
• Antidepressants and risk of suicide: Most are safe, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires warning labels. There are cases of children and adults under 25 having increased suicidal ideation when taking antidepressants, especially in the first weeks or when the dose is changed. Over time, antidepressants are more likely to reduce suicide risk by improving mood.
• Atypical antidepressants because they don’t fit neatly into other categories, include trazodone, mirtazapine (Remeron), vortioxetine (Trintellix), vilazodone (Viibryd), and bupropion (Forfivo XL, Wellbutrin SR, others).