2006-07-12 16:46:28 · 12 answers · asked by angelalovin2003 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
anti-anxiety pills calm you down, while anti-depressants stimulate you to alter a better mood.
2006-07-12 16:50:11 · answer #1 · answered by hot pepper 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
As someone mentioned earlier, anti-depressants affect serotonin and some new ones also affect norepinephrine. They block the chemical from being drawn back into its transmitter, keeping it in between the transmitter and receiver. This combined with an attempt to maintain positive outlooks helps strengthen those reinforcing thoughts provided by the increase of ease in effective transmission. Anti-anxiety meds most often affect GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) which causes the sedation. And for most, sedation = contentment or, no anxiety. Hope that helps.
2006-07-13 16:53:42 · answer #2 · answered by Frank D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
anti-anxiety calms you down and an anti-depressant lifts you up. Usually with anxiety attacks you get this feeling like you're in a lot of trouble when you've actually done nothing wrong. Anti-depressants are used when you have feelings of hopelessness, sadness and despair accompanied by crying for no particular reason.
2006-07-13 00:00:27 · answer #3 · answered by chilly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hot Pepper is right, but to add to it. Anti-anxiety drugs work almost immediately, having an almost immediate calming effect. Anti-deppressants are very complicated and can take up to a week or two to start having an effect. They are intended to fight the depression in the long-term. Anti-anxiety drugs can usually be stopped and started without any ill-effects but anti-deppresants should be taken everyday without any breaks and shouldn't be suddenly stopped. Otherwise they may cause more damage than good.
This is just advice and without knowing the particular drugs you are refering to is not necessarily accurate. I would suggest you speak to the doctor that prescribed them to confirm.
2006-07-12 23:56:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just that. Anxiety is an uncontrollable fear or worry about something that you don't feel you can control. Depression is sadness and fatigue. Some people have both anxiety and depression. I have anxiety, but also mild depression. So I take a perscription that helps depression but has a positive side effect of easing anxiety. They are not one and the same.
2006-07-12 23:51:25 · answer #5 · answered by janab712003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anti-depressants are commonly referred to as SSRI's...the effect how the brain uses the neurotransmitter "SERATONIN" which causes depression. Examples of SSRI's are Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft... they are not addictive, don't produce euphoria, and help to raise levels of social functioning, but take a few weeks to kick in. Also, some type of theraputic counceling is highly recommended in conjunction with these drugs.
Anti-anxiety drugs block the receptors in the brain that control "fight or flight"= anxiety. SSRI's can also be used for anxiety as well as sedatives.
2006-07-12 23:58:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure but anti-depressants correct the chemical imbalances in the brain that supposedly contribute to depression I know because I've taken 5 kinds of anti-depressants.
2006-07-12 23:50:46 · answer #7 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
an anti-anxiety med. works right now, anti-depressants usually take a while to kick in
2006-07-12 23:52:49 · answer #8 · answered by Jones 4 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they work diffrently. depression medications make you feel better (happier) where anti anxiety meds help take away your anxiety, they calm you down. the work on diffrents things in your brain. its really hard to explain over a comp. call your local pharmacist.
2006-07-12 23:50:50 · answer #9 · answered by cassie c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
anti-anxiety meds are tranquilizers that keep you from feeling anxious, anti-depression meds alter the chemicals in your brain to help your mood disorder.
2006-07-13 00:18:57 · answer #10 · answered by Rosaline M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋