Asking the simple question and even perplexity is nudging me towards the answer..

 

Yes, they often are affected differently, but not in a simple “better or worse” way. It depends on whether the main problem is depression/anxiety, ADHD, or both, and on the specific drug and dose.droracle+2

Big picture

• SSRIs like Zoloft (sertraline) and Lexapro (escitalopram) mainly treat serotonin‑related mood and anxiety symptoms, not core ADHD symptoms like inattention and executive dysfunction.medisearch+2

• People with undiagnosed ADHD who are treated “as if it’s just depression” often report only partial benefit: mood feels somewhat better, but focus, motivation, and organization remain poor.adhdrollercoaster+1

• This pattern (multiple SSRI trials, chronic “treatment‑resistant” depression, ongoing attention problems) is common in adults whose underlying ADHD has not been recognized.[adhdrollercoaster]​

How SSRIs can feel different if ADHD is present

For someone with undiagnosed ADHD, SSRIs can:

• Help some symptoms: less anxiety, fewer ruminations, somewhat improved mood or irritability.bhcsmt+2

• Not touch core ADHD: still procrastinating, forgetful, disorganized, mentally “all over the place,” difficulty finishing tasks.medisearch+2

• Sometimes worsen ADHD‑type issues: more brain fog, feeling emotionally “flat,” less drive, slower thinking, worse decision‑making and cognitive flexibility have been reported with serotonin‑specific antidepressants in ADHD.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1

A lot of adults describe it as “I feel a bit calmer, but I’m still stuck and can’t get things done,” which can easily be misread as “depression that’s not responding,” rather than “underlying ADHD still untreated.”bhcsmt+1

Differences between Zoloft, Lexapro, Effexor in ADHD

These three are not interchangeable from an ADHD perspective:

Drug	Class	Typical role when ADHD is present	Possible ADHD‑relevant effects
Zoloft	SSRI	Mood/anxiety in someone who also has ADHD; not an ADHD med itself.droracle+2	May help anxiety/emotional distress, but can worsen or not improve attention and executive function in some.medisearch+2
Lexapro	SSRI	Depression/anxiety only; no evidence it improves ADHD symptoms directly.[medisearch]​	Can improve mood; has been described as potentially worsening ADHD‑type cognitive issues in some patients.medisearch+1
Effexor	SNRI	Off‑label option when there is depression/anxiety and sometimes mild ADHD benefit, because it increases norepinephrine at higher doses.[medisearch]​	Mixed evidence: some small studies show reduced ADHD symptoms; controlled trials often find little difference vs placebo.[medisearch]​

Because Effexor (venlafaxine) hits norepinephrine as well as serotonin (especially at moderate–high doses), a subset of people with ADHD/depression report a bit more energy or focus on it than on “pure” SSRIs, but it is not considered a first‑line ADHD treatment.[medisearch]​

Why undiagnosed ADHD can change the overall picture

Undiagnosed ADHD changes how the whole course of treatment looks:

• People may cycle through multiple SSRIs with only partial or no response, get labeled “treatment‑resistant depression,” and yet actually have unrecognized ADHD driving the chronic functional impairment.[adhdrollercoaster]​

• In one treatment‑resistant depression sample, about a third had previously undetected ADHD, and having failed several SSRIs was one of the clues pointing to that.[adhdrollercoaster]​

• When ADHD is finally treated (usually with stimulants or specific non‑stimulant ADHD meds), the depression/anxiety often lessen, and SSRIs can sometimes be reduced or stopped, or used at lower doses as needed.adxs+1

What this means practically (and safety)

If someone has strong ADHD‑type symptoms plus a long history of “meh” responses to SSRIs:

• It is a strong signal to ask a psychiatrist or other qualified clinician for a full ADHD evaluation (childhood history, rating scales, collateral history, etc.).bhcsmt+1

• If an SSRI is already on board and ADHD is later diagnosed, it is common and generally considered safe to combine an SSRI with an ADHD medication under supervision, with monitoring for blood pressure, sleep, agitation, and rare interaction risks.attopgx+1

• No one should add, stop, or change these meds on their own; withdrawal, rebound anxiety, or mood destabilization can occur if SSRIs or SNRIs are stopped abruptly.breeze-wellbeing+1

If you want, you can tell me which of those meds you’ve tried (Zoloft, Lexapro, Effexor, others) and what you noticed, and I can help you frame it in “ADHD vs depression/anxiety” language that you can bring to your psychiatrist.