Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are a large group of drugs that include drugs for anxiety and drugs for depression. The mechanism of action of these drugs is very complex and not very easy to understand. The molecule serotonin is a messenger substance (neurotransmitter) that ensures that patients feel good.
If there is a lack of serotonin, the patient does not have enough messenger substances that contribute to a positive mood. It comes now to the fact that the patient becomes unhappy by the lack of serotonin or feels however large fear. In order to counteract the negative mood, there are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which can be used as a drug against anxiety and as a drug against sadness (antidepressants).
The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors prevent the messenger substance serotonin from being removed from the blood and from the so-called synaptic cleft. As a result, increased serotonin remains and the patient’s mood is brightened. At the same time, these drugs can be used against anxiety, as they can also help the patient to become more relaxed and thus minimize anxiety.
Duloxetine is an active ingredient that is contained in various anti-anxiety drugs. However, Duloxetine is not only used as an anxiety medication but also ensures that the patient feels less pain. This is due to the fact that Duloxetine increases the effect of the transport substances (neurotransmitters) noradrenaline and serotonin by not removing them from the blood (hence the medical name: selective serotonin and noradrenaline – reuptake inhibitors).
Since serotonin and norepinephrine are substances that make the patient happy when they are present in increased concentrations in the blood, duloxetine also brightens the mood and is therefore an effective anxiety drug. The active ingredient Duloxetine is usually administered in capsule form. The active ingredient citalopram or escitalopram are so-called serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
These are used so that increased serotonin, a messenger substance (neurotransmitter), which makes happy, remains in the blood. The active substance citalopram is contained in medicines against anxiety, but is also very often administered as a medicine against depression, i.e. as antidepressants. Citalopram is also used in patients with panic disorders, phobias or personality disorders.
In general, Citalopram works well as an anxiety medication as it has a mood-lifting effect as well as increased drive or drive. Citalopram is taken as an anxiety medication in tablet form and the exact dosage should be discussed with the treating psychiatrist and can be slightly increased or decreased as needed. The active ingredient paroxetine may be contained in various anxiety medicines.
Paroxetine is actually one of the drugs used to treat depression. More precisely, it is a so-called serotonin reuptake inhibitor. This means that paroxetine prevents the transport molecules (neurotransmitters) serotonin from being removed so that more serotonin can become active.This then leads to the patient feeling better because serotonin is a messenger substance that affects mood. In general, paroxetine is rarely used as a medication against anxiety, but more often the active substance is used in depression. However, Paroxetine can also be used for social anxiety disorders, phobias or post-traumatic stress disorders.
