Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) affect the concentration of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays a role in anxiety. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter with calming effects, and oftentimes people with anxiety do not have adequate amounts of serotonin. Thus, although they are considered antidepressants, SSRIs have been used effectively for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Improvement is usually seen in four to six weeks after beginning treatment.
Common names include:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of pharmacological antidepressants. They are currently the most popular class of antidepressant medications because of their relative safety in comparison to monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclics (TCAs). In addition to being prescribed for depression, SSRIs are sometimes prescribed for General Anxiety Disorder as well.
