Anxiety Treatment Medications
People with anxiety disorders usually recover by undergoing psychotherapy and taking medication. Benzodiazepines like Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are used to treat anxiety.
Antidepressants are also used to combat anxiety. SSRIs like fluoxetine and citalopram work by preventing neurons in the brain from absorbing serotonin. This chemical influences mood.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (benzos) are powerful medications that treat anxiety very well, and they work very quickly. However, they also can be physically addictive, and they pose serious risks to safety when used over long durations. This is why they should always be prescribed and taken under the supervision of a medical professional. They can be used as an "as needed" treatment for panic attacks and other severe anxiety episodes. Benzos can be utilized in combination with psychotherapy, antidepressants and other medications to treat anxiety disorders.
Benzos are extremely effective in treating anxiety for a brief time, and they help you sleep well. However they can be harmful when used in excess, and are not recommended for use with some other medications. When benzodiazepines are mixed with sedatives such as opioid pain medication and alcohol, the risk of death or overdose increases. They also can interact negatively with certain antidepressants and trigger severe withdrawal symptoms.
If prescribed by a doctor When prescribed by a doctor, benzodiazepines are effective and safe for treating anxiety disorders. Many doctors are cautious when prescribing them due to the fact that they can cause addiction and adverse side effects, including memory loss. Long-term use can cause a severe withdrawal reaction and those who are dependent on them are often not able to stop taking them without experiencing severe side effects such as depression and seizures. The key to long-term benzo use is to prescribe them only to patients who may benefit from their use, and making use of them in settings that will likely help improve anxiety symptoms, and avoiding prolonged use or abrupt withdrawal and minimizing the chance of abuse, and combing them with a psychological intervention.
Anxiety medications like benzodiazepines can reduce anxiety. They accomplish this by blocking certain nerves signals and preventing their brains from firing. These drugs may aid in sleeping and feeling less anxious, but they do not solve the underlying issue that is making you worry.
Meditation, exercise yoga, and meditation are all natural methods to lessen anxiety. Other options include cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches you to overcome irrational fears or anxiety.
Antidepressants
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are a good option for anxiety because they affect the brain to control mood. It could take up four weeks for them to begin working. If a person doesn't feel better in that time, they should talk to their doctor about changing medications.
The latest antidepressants, like mirtazapine and nefazodone are also effective in treating anxiety. They may be more effective than older medications, such as venlafaxine or XR. However, it's important to note that these medications can cause a severe reaction in some people. If they have this reaction, they should seek emergency medical attention or call healthdirect at 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, also known as MAOIs, are a different kind of antidepressant that can be used to treat anxiety. They block the actions of enzymes that degrade chemicals in the brain which include dopamine and noradrenaline. This allows the levels of these chemicals to rise, with a positive effect on mood. MAOIs are usually reserved for patients who are not improving on other antidepressants however they can be very effective in treating anxiety.
One of the most effective antidepressants to treat anxiety are tricyclic antidepressants. They are similar to SSRIs in their approach to treating anxiety and other mental disorders, but they are less prone to negative side negative effects. These medications start at a low dose, and their effectiveness improves as the dosage increases. Tricyclics are effective in treating panic, anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, they may not be as effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder.
A newer antidepressant, called buspirone is also used to combat anxiety. It is a mild tranquilizer but does not have the same negative side effects as benzodiazepines. It doesn't affect memory or coordination. It increases serotonin in the brain and reducing dopamine. The drug can be effective for up to 70% of people who take it. As the drug is taken longer, the risk of side effects to diminish. Talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy and/or exposure therapy, can be combined with these medications to improve their effects.
Buspirone
Buspirone is used to treat anxiety disorders. It is taken orally, usually twice daily. It is not a controlled drug however there is a chance of abuse.
Doctors don't know exactly how buspirone works, but they believe that it decreases the amount of serotonin and its actions in specific areas of the brain. This makes the nervous systems less sensitive to anxiety and stress.
In general, doctors consider buspirone to be a safe medication for the majority of people. It is generally believed as having a lower degree of toxicity and a lower chance of becoming addicted than barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Like other medications, it may cause adverse effects. The most common side effects are dizziness and nausea. Buspirone may interact with other supplements, medications and other ingredients. Inform your doctor if you are taking any of these before starting the medication.
Your doctor may recommend an inverse dose if you are over 65. This is because older individuals tend to react differently to drugs than younger individuals. This is especially true of drugs that affect the nervous system.
It's also important to inform your doctor if you're taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, like isocarboxazid (Marplan) or linezolid (Zyvox) or Phenelzine (Nardil) or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar) or tranylcypromine (Parnate). Buspirone can cause serious adverse side effects by increasing the levels of these drugs.
Tell your doctor if you suffer from liver disease, kidney problems, stomach problems, are pregnant, or breastfeed. Some medicines, such as SSRIs might not be suitable for you under these circumstances.
Your doctor might suggest a different treatment option in the event that buspirone isn't working or if you are unable to take it due to a medical condition or due to an interaction with another drug. It could be a brand new type of antidepressant such as Lexapro, Prozac, a beta-blocker like propranolol or a benzodiazepine such as Xanax. The PIL will provide more details on how to take the drug and any possible side effects.
Other Medical Treatments
There are other treatments available that can help reduce anxiety. Talk therapy or psychotherapy is a possibility. Psychotherapy can help you change the way you think about anxiety and help you develop strategies to manage it. Other options include acquiring relaxation techniques, maintaining a regular workout routine, and avoiding alcohol and drugs. Some people get relief from anxiety-related symptoms by taking herbal medication. If I Am Psychiatry don't work, speak to your doctor.
The medications used for anxiety treatment usually fall into two broad categories: antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines like Ativan or lorazepam enhance the activity of GABA in your brain, which promotes peace. They can bring relief quickly however they can be addictive if they are used over a long period of time. Antidepressants require longer time to work but balance the levels of certain chemicals in your brain, called neurotransmitters, which affect your mood.
SSRIs are the most popular antidepressants used to treat anxiety. They boost the amount of serotonin which is a chemical messenger in your brain. This can boost your mood or reduce anxiety. Another antidepressant class, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, stop the reabsorption process of both serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain, thereby increasing levels of these chemicals, making you feel more energetic. Monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs) are another antidepressant class that is sometimes used by those who do not respond to SSRIs to combat anxiety.
There are a myriad of other medicines that are sometimes used to treat anxiety, such as azapirones (such as buspirone), alpha- and beta-blockers, antihistamines (such as hydroxyzine), and Clonidine. These medications have a lower rate of success than SSRIs or benzodiazepines.
Although medication is an effective treatment for anxiety however, it shouldn't be your only treatment you use. Alternative treatments are more effective if you have an underlying cause of your anxiety, such as food insecurity, debt, or an unhealthy relationship. Other options include cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT; biofeedback, which helps you to control your own brain waves with a monitoring device; and mindfulness meditation, a form of meditation that focuses on the present moment.