Cure The Winter Blues: Surefire Ways To Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder

Medications

Another way for those living with SAD to find relief from their symptoms is to take specific medications that can help suppress feelings of anxiety and depression while stabilizing their moods. Antidepressants, also known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are generally prescribed for patients with SAD. Common examples of these medications include citalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine, escitalopram, and paroxetine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also approved another type of antidepressant known as bupropion to treat SAD, which is an alternative option for those who want to avoid the side effects of SSRIs such as weight gain and loss of libido. A physician may inform a patient to begin taking these medications before their symptoms fully appear, for instance, a month to several weeks in advance, for the individual to feel the full effect of these medications.