Which two medications are cited as SNRIs effective for GAD and social anxiety?

Which two medications are cited as SNRIs effective for GAD and social anxiety?

• A. Venlafaxine and duloxetine.
• B. Fluoxetine and sertraline.
• C. Alprazolam and clonazepam.
• D. Buspirone and trazodone.

Answer: (A)

SNRIs work by boosting both serotonin and norepinephrine in brain circuits that regulate worry and social fear, which helps alleviate symptoms of generalized anxiety and social anxiety. Venlafaxine and duloxetine are the two SNRIs with the strongest, well-established evidence for treating both GAD and social anxiety disorder. Venlafaxine’s efficacy is particularly evident at higher doses where norepinephrine reuptake inhibition contributes more to its anxiolytic effect. Duloxetine also shows robust results across trials for GAD and social anxiety, reflecting its balanced dual-action mechanism. The other options involve different drug classes or mechanisms. Fluoxetine and sertraline are SSRIs, which can be effective for GAD and social anxiety, but they are not SNRIs. Alprazolam and clonazepam are benzodiazepines, offering rapid relief but not the SNRI mechanism. Buspirone and trazodone have distinct pharmacologies and are not classified as SNRIs. So the best answer is the pair of venlafaxine and duloxetine.

SNRIs work by boosting both serotonin and norepinephrine in brain circuits that regulate worry and social fear, which helps alleviate symptoms of generalized anxiety and social anxiety. Venlafaxine and duloxetine are the two SNRIs with the strongest, well-established evidence for treating both GAD and social anxiety disorder. Venlafaxine’s efficacy is particularly evident at higher doses where norepinephrine reuptake inhibition contributes more to its anxiolytic effect. Duloxetine also shows robust results across trials for GAD and social anxiety, reflecting its balanced dual-action mechanism.

The other options involve different drug classes or mechanisms. Fluoxetine and sertraline are SSRIs, which can be effective for GAD and social anxiety, but they are not SNRIs. Alprazolam and clonazepam are benzodiazepines, offering rapid relief but not the SNRI mechanism. Buspirone and trazodone have distinct pharmacologies and are not classified as SNRIs. So the best answer is the pair of venlafaxine and duloxetine.