Antidepressant/Anti-Anxiety Medications

Several medications are useful for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders and other related conditions. 

Use the antidepressant monitoring form to help you, your caregivers, and your doctor monitor how well your medication is working and also to measure any side effects you may be experiencing.

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) include the following medications: citalopram (Celexa®), escitalopram (Cipralex®), fluoxetine (Prozac®), fluvoxamine (Luvox®), paroxetine (Paxil®/Paxil CR®) and sertraline (Zoloft®).

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Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines is a group of medications used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, seizure disorders, symptoms of catatonia, to promote sleep, and for several other purposes.

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Clomipramine (Anafranil®)

Clomipramine is used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive & related disorders (OCD), depression, anxiety disorders, and chronic pain disorders.

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Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq®)

Desvenlafaxine helps to treat depression when other treatments have not been effective or tolerated.

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Duloxetine (Cymbalta®)

Duloxetine (Cymbalta®) is an antidepressant medication used in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.

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Traditional Antidepressants (TCAs)

Traditional Antidepressants are antidepressant medications used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, ADHD, depression, nerve-related pain disorders, OCD and sleep disorders.

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Trazodone (Desyrel®)

Trazodone is an antidepressant medication that is commonly used to promote sleep.

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Venlafaxine (Effexor XR®)

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication used in the treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other anxiety disorders.

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Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre

BC Children's Hospital 
Healthy Minds Centre, Building #85, Room P3-302, 3rd floor,
4555 Heather Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm

Local Phone: 604 875 2084
Toll-Free: 1 800 665 1822
keltycentre@cw.bc.ca

The BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre is located on the unceded, traditional and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

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Need urgent help?

Call 911 or go to your local hospital’s emergency room if you or anyone else’s safety is at risk and immediate help is needed.

If you or someone you know is thinking about ending their own life, or needs someone to talk to about suicidal thoughts or ideas:

  • Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) for the BC Suicide Prevention and Intervention Line. Available in over 140 languages using a language service.
  • Call 1-800-588-8717 for the BC KUU-US Indigenous Crisis and Support Line.  
  • Call or text 988 for the National Suicide Crisis Helpline. Available in English and French.

For mental health or substance use crisis support:

  • Call 310-6789 for the BC Mental Health Support Line anytime for emotional support, information and resources. Available in over 140 languages using a language service.

 For commonly asked questions about supports and services in BC, explore our Ask Kelty Mental Health tool.