SSRIs (serotonin specific reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) are medications that are commonly used by psychiatrists all over the world to treat anxiety and depression. These are considered first-line treatments for anxiety and depressive disorders.
For someone with a depressive disorder, there are many other antidepressants that can be considered. For example, bupropion, mirtazapine, vortioxetine, agomelatine, etc can all be considered. We can also add on a mood stabiliser to augment the response to an antidepressant.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used in the management of treatment-resistant cases or when we need patients to have a quick response to the treatment; for instance, if the patient is eating poorly or has lost some weight or is highly suicidal. Psychotherapy is also readily used in clinical practice in the treatment of depression.
For someone with an anxiety disorder, psychotherapy can be considered in the early stage of treatment. We commonly used cognitive behavioural therapy to help patients deal with their anxiety and the triggers to their anxiety.
There are different types of anxiety disorders and treatment approaches and emphasis may be slightly different. The medicine pregabalin can also be used to treat anxiety and to help individuals with their sleep as it has been shown to increase deep sleep.
To conclude, the good news is that there are many possible ways to treat anxiety and depression. So if you fail to respond to SSRIs and SNRIs, do not despair as there are still many options available. Your treating psychiatrist will strive to find for you the optimal treatment.
Meanwhile, do take good care of yourself.
