Depression and anxiety are two separate disorders. They are related in some ways - there is a high comorbidity between anxiety and depression, indicating that they have something in common - but they're technically different disorders that cause different symptoms and require different treatments.

There are a number of different medications that are currently used to treat anxiety disorders. Antidepressants, although originally intended to treat depression, have been found to be effective in relieving symptoms of anxiety. Medication does not “cure” anxiety. While some people may not feel relief from anxiety symptoms and some may not be able to tolerate side effects, the majority of people do find relief from the debilitating impact of anxiety in their lives.

There are a number of antidepressant medications on the market today used to treat different types of anxiety:
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) Examples include Lexapro (Escitalopram), Celexa (Citalopram), Fluox (Fluoxetine), and Zoloft (Sertraline).
- Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI) Examples include Cymbalta and Effexor.
- Tricyclic Antidepressants Examples include Adapin, Anafranil, and Elavil.
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) Examples include Aurorix, and Emsam.

While the drugs themselves are all different, they all affect the serotonin system in the body. There is little medical reason to choose one over another. Most often, a doctor will choose based on their own personal preference, the history of side effects, the allergies of the person with anxiety, other medications, etc.

It should be noted that antidepressants can also take weeks to work and do not always affect everyone. Doctors may prefer a different course of treatment to provide immediate relief or to benefit those with a different type of anxiety disorder.