​Medication

​SSRI compounds

​SSRI is an abbreviation of the term Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors. These substances work by affecting the brain’s serotonin system. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is released from a nerve cell, after which it influences the neighboring cell. If one is being treated with an SSRI compound, the brain’s serotonin system is stimulated.

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These compounds are effective with respect to anxiety disorders, depression and OCD. They typically begin to take effect after 2-4 weeks – with OCD it sometimes​ takes half a year. Dosage for OCD is higher than for anxiety disorders and depression. SSRI compounds are not physically habit-forming, but without relevant cognitive behavior therapy it may be expected that anxiety and OCD symptoms will return if the patient stops taking the medication.

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Side effects are usually mild. It should be noted, however, that anxiety symptoms may ​at first worsen when treatment begins. Likewise at the beginning of treatment there can be nausea, headache and mild, influenza-like symptoms which will later ease off. It should also be noted that quite a few people who take SSRI medication are troubled by sexual side effects, primarily in the form of reduced desire. There are no known long-term side effects from taking SSRI medications.

Dual-action compounds

​These modern substances affect not only serotonin, but also the neurotransmitter noradrenalin; hence the popular term “dual-action”. This sometimes makes the medication more effective, but it normally also results in more side effects. The compounds are especially used to treat depression, or if there is a depressive element in cases of anxiety or OCD. The substances in question are Effexor (37.5-300 mg), Remeron (15-30 mg) and Cymbalta (30-60 mg).

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Tricyclic antidepressants

​These older compounds are used to treat severe depression, as they are more effective than the above substances, but they also have more side effects, especially in older people.

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Benzodiazepines

​For emergency treatment of anxiety, benzodiazepines may be used, for example Oxazepam or Stesolid. These compounds are rapid-acting and highly effective, but after a short while they result in physical dependence. The medication is therefore typically only used for short-term therapy, and one must remember to phase out slowly in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms.