What is the Difference Between Anxiolytic and Antidepressant?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between anxiolytics and antidepressants lies in their primary purpose and mechanism of action.
Anxiolytics:
- Medications used to treat anxiety symptoms or disorders, sometimes referred to as anti-anxiety medications or minor tranquilizers.
- Can be habit-forming and lead to dependency or substance use disorder, often prescribed for short-term use.
- Work by acting on GABA receptors, raising levels of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which helps to feel calm and can induce sleepiness.
- Examples of anxiolytics include benzodiazepines, azapirones, and beta-blockers.
Antidepressants:
- Medications used to treat major depressive disorder, some anxiety disorders, chronic pain conditions, and some addictions.
- Work by acting on neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
- Examples of antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).
Anxiolytics and antidepressants are sometimes used together in the acute phase of depression treatment, as the former can help alleviate anxiety, irritability, and insomnia that may occur during the early stages of treatment. However, after a few weeks, benzodiazepine anxiolytics should generally be withdrawn, and antidepressants should continue to be used for depression treatment.
Comparative Table: Anxiolytic vs Antidepressant
Anxiolytics and antidepressants are both medications used to treat neurobehavioral disorders, but they have distinct purposes and mechanisms of action. Here is a table comparing the differences between the two:
| Feature | Anxiolytic | Antidepressant |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Treats anxiety symptoms or disorders | Treats major depressive disorder, some anxiety disorders, chronic pain conditions, and some addictions |
| Mechanism | Acts on specific brain receptors | Acts on specific brain receptors, primarily targeting neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine |
| Side Effects | Drowsiness, sedation, confusion, dependence, withdrawal symptoms, stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, sexual dysfunction, and headache | Side effects vary depending on the class of antidepressant, but may include drowsiness, sedation, confusion, dependence, withdrawal symptoms, stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, sexual dysfunction, and headache |
| Examples | Benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam) | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, e.g., citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline) |
| Azapirones (e.g., buspirone) | Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs, e.g., venlafaxine, duloxetine) | |
| β-blockers | Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs, e.g., amitriptyline, nortriptyline) | |
| Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) | ||
| Atypical antidepressants (e.g., bupropion, mirtazapine) |
Both anxiolytics and antidepressants are used to treat anxiety disorders, but antidepressants are also used to treat major depressive disorder, some anxiety disorders, chronic pain conditions, and some addictions. Anxiolytics, such as benzodiazepines and azapirones, primarily target specific brain receptors, while antidepressants act on neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
- Anxiety vs Depression
- Sedative vs Tranquilizer
- Xanax vs Lexapro
- SSRI vs Tricyclic Antidepressants
- Benzodiazepines vs Nonbenzodiazepines
- Valium vs Xanax
- Paxil vs Zoloft
- Benzodiazepines vs Barbiturates
- Prozac vs Zoloft
- Lexapro vs Zoloft
- Cholinergic vs Anticholinergic
- Benzodiazepines vs Z-drugs
- Klonopin vs Xanax
- Melatonin vs Serotonin
- SSRI vs SNRI
- Venlafaxine vs Sertraline
- Clonazepam vs Diazepam
- Stress vs Anxiety
- Histamine vs Antihistamine