The term ‘antidepressants’ covers a range of medications with different actions on the brain and body. So when we use the term ‘antidepressant’ it is very non-specific. Within this umbrella term there are several different classes of medication - the most well known are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), SNRIs (serotonin and nor adrenaline reuptake inhibitors) and TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants). Antidepressants that you may have come across are Fluoxetine, which is an SSRI and goes by the trade name Prozac in the UK, and Venlafaxine (Trade name Efexor in the UK) which is an SNRI. There are other classes of drug that I have not mentioned here, as it would get quite complex.
Although most of these medications are licensed in the UK to treat depression, some are also licensed for anxiety because often it is the same neurotransmitters in the brain that are disturbed in both conditions. However even when these medications are prescribed only for anxiety, they are often still colloquially referred to as ‘antidepressants’ which can be confusing.
Although most of these medications are licensed in the UK to treat depression, some are also licensed for anxiety because often it is the same neurotransmitters in the brain that are disturbed in both conditions. However even when these medications are prescribed only for anxiety, they are often still colloquially referred to as ‘antidepressants’ which can be confusing.
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