The best medications for depression, anxiety, and ADHD Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe What are the best medications for depression anxiety and ADHD Medically reviewed by Nicole Washington, DO, MPH — By Lauren Hellicar on July 14, 2022Depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) conditions present with different symptoms. Therefore, doctors may prescribe different types of medication to treat each one. They can also recommend medications to treat multiple mental health conditions. Anxiety, depression, and ADHD are relatively common mental health conditions. Some people have two or more of these, and doctors call these comorbid or co-occurring conditions. In these cases, medications or other types of treatment may be effective in treating multiple conditions simultaneously. Read more to learn about the available options for the best medication for anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Treating ADHD anxiety and depression Share on PinterestMaksim Tarasov/StocksyThe type of treatment a person receives for ADHD, anxiety, or depression depends on whether they have one or more of these conditions. People with ADHD commonly experience other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Treating one condition is fairly simple and usually involves a combination of medications and therapy. However, treatment can be more complicated if a person has one or more conditions. This is because while some medications can effectively treat multiple mental health conditions, others can worsen some symptoms. Therefore, a healthcare professional must carefully weigh the risks and benefits of each treatment option. Everyone is different and may react differently to different drugs, therapies, or combinations of these, so finding the best treatment may require trial and error. Medication for anxiety There are various medications available for the treatment of anxiety. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines, epilepsy drugs, and more. Antidepressants Research shows that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), commonly known as antidepressants, can also be effective in treating anxiety disorders. Some of these drugs include:fluoxetine (Prozac)escitalopram (Lexapro)desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)duloxetine (Cymbalta) Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines, commonly called “benzos,” are a sedative. According to a 2021 study, they can benefit people with anxiety. While there is some risk of addiction to benzodiazepines, the study’s authors argue that this risk has been overstated and only applies to people with a history of substance misuse. This medication subclass includes medicines such as:alprazolam (Xanax)clonazepam (Klonopin)diazepam (Valium)lorazepam (Ativan) Anticonvulsants Some anticonvulsants, which are drugs people use to treat epilepsy, may also be effective in managing anxiety symptoms. There is limited research on using these medications for anxiety, but doctors may prescribe them for people who cannot take benzodiazepines. A 2020 study says that some of these medications include gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica). Antipsychotics Currently, trifluoperazine is the only antipsychotic with approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating anxiety. Some people with the condition may benefit from taking some types of antipsychotics that doctors prescribe “off-label.” This is when a doctor prescribes a drug for a different use than the one stated when it was licensed. Some of these include aripiprazole (Abilify) and quetiapine (Seroquel). Learn more about anxiety medications. Medication for depression The first line of treatment for depression is antidepressant medication. Some people may need a combination of drugs to best manage their condition. This could include two different antidepressants or, in some cases, an antidepressant with a mood stabilizer or antipsychotic. SSRIs SSRIs allow more serotonin — the “happy” hormone — to circulate in a person’s brain. Some SSRIs include:citalopram (Celexa)escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro)fluoxetine (Prozac)fluvoxamine (Luvox)paroxetine (Paxil)sertraline (Zoloft) Some newer SSRIs also affect other serotonin receptors. These include vortioxetine (Trintellix, formerly Brintellix) or vilazodone (Viibryd). SNRIs SNRIs can treat anxiety, depression, and some forms of chronic pain. Some examples include:desvenlafaxine succinate (Pristiq)duloxetine (Cymbalta)levomilnacipran (Fetzima)venlafaxine (Effexor) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs MAOIs can target one or multiple neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Examples include: isocarboxazid (Marplan)phenelzine (Nardil)selegiline (EMSAM)tranylcypromine (Parnate) Tetracyclic antidepressants Tetracyclic antidepressants are a class of noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants. They are not as common as the above medications, but doctors may prescribe them for treatment-resistant depression. Some examples include mirtazapine (Remeron) or maprotiline (Ludiomil). Tricyclic antidepressants Tricyclic antidepressants are an older type of antidepressant medication that doctors do not commonly prescribe because they carry a higher risk of side effects than other drugs. Some examples include:amitriptyline (Elavil)imipramine (Tofranil)nortriptyline (Pamelor)Doxepin (Sinequan) Other medications Some other medications that doctors may recommend for treating depression include: Bupropion Wellbutrin This medication for major depressive disorder can also help people stop smoking. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists These medications help restore the neural pathways that control mood and emotional behavior. One example is esketamine (Spravato). Nutraceuticals The FDA categorizes l-methyl folate (Deplin), the active form of folate, as a medical food (nutraceutical) rather than medication. However, research shows that it may effectively treat depression symptoms. It is available by prescription only and works by regulating the neurotransmitters that affect mood. Learn more about depression medications. Medication for ADHD Healthcare professionals typically break ADHD medications into two subtypes: stimulants and nonstimulants. Stimulants Stimulants are first-line therapy for ADHD. These medicines benefit around 75–80% of children with this condition. Some stimulant medications include:methylphenidatedexmethylphenidatedextroamphetamine lisdexamfetamine mixed amphetamine salts Jornay PMAdhansia XR Nonstimulants Some people with ADHD do not tolerate stimulants, while others do not benefit from taking them. The FDA has approved several nonstimulant medications to treat ADHD. They include:atomoxetineguanfacineviloxazine (Qelbree) Learn more about ADHD medications. Co-occurring conditions Some medications work well in treating two or more conditions at once. For example, a doctor may prescribe an ADHD medication that also eases a person’s anxiety. However, others may help with one condition while worsening another. For instance, a doctor may prescribe stimulants to treat ADHD, and these can worsen a person’s anxiety. The type of treatment someone needs will depend on whether their anxiety or depression is a symptom of their ADHD or a separate condition. Other treatment options Various talk therapies can help treat mental health conditions. These include:Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Encourages a person to identify negative thoughts and provides practical tools to cope.Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): Similar to CBT, this technique encourages passive acknowledgment of negative thinking rather than attempting to change someone’s thought process.Interpersonal therapy: This traditional talk therapy focuses on the importance of relationships and interpersonal connections.Dialectical behavior therapy: This helps a person develop skills in mindfulness, tolerate distress, regulate their emotions, and interact with others Additionally, some people may benefit from newer therapies, such as electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation. With electroconvulsive therapy, a person receives a general anesthetic, and doctors use electro pads to run electrical currents through the individual’s brain. With transcranial magnetic stimulation, a person receives treatment with magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, especially the prefrontal cortex. These areas may have atypically low activity in people with depression. Summary Depression, anxiety, and ADHD are separate mental health conditions that can often overlap. Doctors can prescribe a wide range of medications or combinations of them to treat a person’s condition or conditions. The best medication for one person may not work for another, and treating mental health conditions takes a personalized approach. Additionally, some individuals may benefit from a range of nondrug therapies available to treat these conditions. Last medically reviewed on July 14, 2022DepressionMental HealthADHD / ADDAnxiety / StressDrugs 12 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Briars, L., et al. (2016). A review of pharmacological management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.https://meridian.allenpress.com/jppt/article/21/3/192/197313/A-Review-of-Pharmacological-Management-ofD'Agostino, A., et al. (2015). Vortioxetine (Brintellix): A new serotonergic antidepressant.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296590/Dealing with ADHD: What you need to know. (2016).https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/dealing-adhd-what-you-need-knowDrug approval package: QELBREE. (2021).https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2021/211964Orig1s000TOC.cfmEsketamine. (2020).https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/esketamine/Garakani, A., et al. (2020). Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment options.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584/fullJakubovski, E., et al. (2019). Systematic review and meta-analysis: Dose-response curve of SSRIs and SNRIs in anxiety disorders [Abstract].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30479005/Jain, R., et al. (2020). Good, better, best: Clinical scenarios for the use of L-methylfolate in patients with MDD [Abstract].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31833826/Katzman, M. A., et al. (2017). Adult ADHD and comorbid disorders: Clinical implications of a dimensional approach.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5567978/Moraczewski, J., et al. (2022). Tricyclic antidepressants.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557791/Murawiec, S., et al. (2020). Increasing the dosage of pregabalin in patients with focal epilepsy decreases the frequency of seizures and ameliorates symptoms of anxiety, depression and insomnia [Abstract].https://www.europeanreview.org/article/24207Tibrewal, P., et al. (2021). Benzodiazepines for the long-term treatment of anxiety disorders? [Abstract].https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00934-X/fulltextFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Nicole Washington, DO, MPH — By Lauren Hellicar on July 14, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageList of ADHD medications: Comparing typesMedically reviewed by Alexandra Perez, PharmD, MBA, BCGP There are many different ADHD medications. 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