When someone is suffering from depression or anxiety, an antidepressant is often prescribed. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are two types of antidepressants most commonly prescribed for these maladies. These medications usually take 2 to 8 weeks to become effective. They work by changing the chemical messengers in the brain (serotonin and norepinephrine) that affect your mood.
Prozac
Prozac (fluoxetineis) is an SSRI that is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in children, adolescents and adults. Though the drug can be effective, antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents, so young patients should be closely monitored when taking this medication, according to Drugs.com.
Paxil and Zoloft
Paxil (paroxetine) and Zoloft (sertralineare) are SSRIs used to treat depression and most types of anxiety including obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic anxiety disorder. Drugs.com reports that improvement in symptoms is usually seen within 1 to 4 weeks of beginning these medications.
Lexapro
Lexapro (escitalopram) is prescribed for people suffering from major depression and generalized anxiety disorder. It's an SSRI that requires 1 to 4 weeks to take full effect. This medication can sometimes cause drowsiness, so operating vehicles and other machinery might need to be avoided until you know how this medicine affects you.
Effexor
Effexor (venlafaxine) is an SNRI prescribed for depression, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder. Whereas most of the SSRIs listed above are taken once daily, Effexor must be taken two to three times per day with food. However, the extended-release form is taken only once a day.
