Anxiety Treatment Medications
People with anxiety disorders often recover through psychotherapy and medication. The medications used to treat anxiety include benzodiazepines like Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam).
Antidepressants are also used to combat anxiety. SSRIs like citalopram (Celexa) and fluoxetine (Prozac) work by preventing neurons in the brain from reabsorbing serotonin, a chemical that affects mood.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are powerful medications for treating anxiety. They are effective and quick. They are also physically addictive and pose significant safety risks when used for long periods. They should be taken only under the supervision of a physician. They are useful as an "as required" treatment for panic attacks and other severe anxiety episodes. Benzos are usually employed together with other medications like antidepressants and psychotherapy (talk therapy), as part of an overall treatment plan for anxiety disorders.
Benzos are extremely effective in treating anxiety for a short period of time, and also aid in sleeping well. However, they can be dangerous when abused, and they are not suitable to be used in conjunction with other drugs. When mixed with sedative drugs like alcohol or pain medication, benzodiazepines could increase the risk of an overdose and even death. They can also interfere negatively with certain antidepressants, causing severe withdrawal symptoms.
If prescribed by a physician If prescribed by a physician, benzodiazepines can be safe and effective in treating anxiety disorders. Many doctors are cautious when prescribing them due to the fact that they can trigger dependence and negative side effects, such as memory loss. Long-term use can trigger severe withdrawal reactions and those who become dependent are often unable to stop taking them without experiencing severe side effects such as depression and seizures. The main thing to remember about long-term use of benzos is to: prescribe them only to patients who could benefit from them; use them in clinical situations that will likely ameliorate anxiety symptoms; avoid long-term use or abrupt discontinuation; reduce the chance of abuse, particularly by children; and pair them with effective psychological treatments.
Anxiety medications, like benzodiazepines, can ease anxiety by blocking certain nerve signals and preventing them from being activated in the brain. These medications can aid in sleeping more comfortably and feel less stressed, but they won't solve the root cause of what makes you anxious (like mounting bills or a strained relationship).
There are many natural ways to lessen anxiety such as exercise, meditation and yoga. Other treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy, in which you learn to confront your irrational fears and anxiety.
Antidepressants
SSRIs which are also known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are a great choice for people suffering from anxiety, as they work with the brain to control mood. It could take up four weeks for them to start working. If one doesn't feel better in the period it is recommended to talk to their physician about changing their medication.
Newer antidepressants like mirtazapine and nefazodone, can also be beneficial in treating anxiety. They can work faster than older drugs such as venlafaxine and XR. It is important to keep in mind that these medications can trigger severe reactions in certain people. If you encounter this reaction, contact healthdirect on 1800 022222 to talk to an experienced nurse.
MAOIs are a different kind of antidepressant that can be used to treat anxiety. They block the action of enzymes that breakdown brain chemicals such as dopamine and noradrenaline. This causes the levels of these chemicals to increase and have a positive impact on mood. MAOIs are typically reserved for patients who are not able to respond well to other antidepressants. However, they can be very effective in treating anxiety.
One of the most effective antidepressants to treat anxiety are tricyclic antidepressants. These medications treat anxiety and mental disorders in a similar way to SSRIs, but with fewer adverse effects. These medicines are effective at small doses, but their effectiveness increases with increasing dosage. Tricyclics can be effective in treating anxiety, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder however, they are not likely to help with generalized anxiety disorder.
Buspirone, a newer antidepressant, is also used to treat anxiety. It is a mild tranquilizer, but doesn't have the same negative side effects as benzodiazepines. It doesn't affect coordination or memory. It works by boosting the serotonin levels in the brain, and decreasing dopamine levels. About 70% of people who take the drug find it to be effective. As the medication is taken longer, side effects tend decrease. Talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy, can be used in conjunction with these medications to enhance the effects.
Buspirone
Buspirone is a medication used to treat anxiety disorders. It's taken by mouth typically twice daily. It's not a regulated drug however there is a potential for abuse.
Doctors aren't quite sure how it is working, but they believe that buspirone can reduce the amount and action of a chemical called serotonin in specific parts of the brain. This makes the nervous system less susceptible to anxiety and stress.
Buspirone is generally considered safe by doctors for the vast majority of people. It is generally considered to be less harmful and has a lower risk of addiction than benzodiazepines or barbiturates. Like other medicines they can cause adverse reactions. The most frequent ones are dizziness and nausea. It's important to tell your doctor about all medicines, supplements and other ingredients you're taking prior to starting buspirone since it can interact with them.
If you're older than 65, your doctor might give you a lower dose of buspirone. This is due to the fact that older people tend to respond to drugs differently than younger people do. This is particularly true for drugs that affect the nervous system.
It's also important to inform your doctor if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, like isocarboxazid (Marplan) or linezolid (Zyvox), Phenelzine (Nardil) or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar) or tranylcypromine (Parnate). Buspirone can increase levels of these drugs within your body, which can lead to serious adverse side negative effects.
Consult your physician whether you suffer from kidney or liver diseases stomach problems, pregnant, or breastfeed. Some medicines, such as SSRIs might not be suitable for you under these situations.
If buspirone isn't effective or you're unable to take it due to an illness or interaction with other medications, your doctor will prescribe an alternative treatment for your anxiety. This could be a different kind of antidepressant, such as Lexapro or Prozac or beta blockers like propranolol, or a benzodiazepine like Xanax. The PIL for each drug will contain more details on how to take it as well as possible side effects.
Other Medicines
In addition to medications, there are other treatments that can help ease anxiety. Talk therapy or psychotherapy is an option. Psychotherapy can help you change the way you think about your anxiety and help you develop strategies to manage it. Other options include acquiring relaxation techniques as well as maintaining a regular exercise routine, and abstaining from using alcohol and other drugs. Some people experience relief from anxiety-related symptoms by taking herbal medicines. If these alternatives don't work, consult your doctor.
Medicines used as an anxiety treatment typically fall into two broad categories: antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines, like Ativan (lorazepam) are able to increase the function of gamma-aminobutyric acids, or GABA, in your brain, which helps to increase tranquility. They provide rapid relief but they can also become addictive if used long-term. Antidepressants require longer time to work but balance the levels of certain chemicals in your brain, called neurotransmitters. They affect your mood.
SSRIs are the most popular antidepressants used to treat anxiety. They increase the level of serotonin, a chemical messenger in your brain, which may improve your mood and make you feel less anxious. anxiety treatment meds (SNRIs) are another antidepressant that blocks the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine out of your brain. This increases levels of these chemicals in your body, which makes you feel more energetic. A third antidepressant class, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs, can be used to treat anxiety in people who don't respond to SSRIs.
There are a variety of other medicines that are frequently used to treat anxiety disorders, including azapirones (such as buspirone) beta- and alpha-blockers antihistamines (such as hydroxyzine), and clonidine. These medicines have a lower rate of success than SSRIs or benzodiazepines.
Although medication is an effective anxiety treatment however, it shouldn't be your only treatment you use. If you're suffering from an underlying cause for your anxiety, like debt, poor diet, or an unhealthy relationship, non-drug therapies may be more effective. Other options include cognitive behavioral therapy, or biofeedback, which teaches you to control your own brain waves using a monitoring device; and mindfulness meditation, a form of meditation that focuses on the present moment.