I suffered from major depression for years before my GP prescribed Paxil. Some months later I discovered that if I drank alcoholic beverages, (1) I could become intoxicated really, really easily, and (2) the next day or two my mood dropped horribly. I now abstain almost entirely as I’d rather forego the single malt Scotch and martinis that I used to really, really love, because neither of those are worth the depression.
One thing I have learned in my years of being on mental health meds is that medications get a type label and that does not always represent what it is capable of doing.
An anti-depressant may help with anxiety but it is not called an anti-anxiety medicine like Xanax is. An SSRI type of med may work with the neurotransmitters that cause different reactions, they then can be used for many things.
I’ve been on anti-depressants most of my adult life. If you count alcohol as a depressant, then I’d say they don’t do a whole heck of a lot, at least not in the dosages I’ve experienced. I’m currently on a mood stabilizer, a stimulant (AHDH) and Xanax, which is for anxiety but I’m not sure if it counts as a depressant. They all just do what they’re supposed to do. I’ve never had any weird side effects or anything from taking my medication.