Meds That Treat Anxiety
Anxiety affects 40 million people in the United States. It's extremely treatable with many types of medications available.
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro and Effexor, work to alleviate anxiety by raising levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain. They're not addictive, unlike benzodiazepines.
SSRIs
The most commonly used anxiety medication is selective serotonin inhibits (SSRIs), including citalopram, escitalopram, and fluoxetine. These medications can also help with depression, and can ease the symptoms of other anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It could take up to one month for them to begin working.
These drugs work by boosting the production of certain chemical messengers within the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine. They are usually the first option for anxiety, but doctors also employ other kinds of antidepressants and benzodiazepines.
Antidepressants, such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine, (Effexor) are also used for anxiety. They function a bit differently than SSRIs, as they also reduce the reabsorption rate of norepinephrine and serotonin, although at lower levels than SSRIs. These medications can take a while to take effect, and they also tend to be more expensive than SSRIs.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as imipramine (Tofranil) are effective in treating some anxiety disorders, including GAD. Their drowsiness, and other adverse effects, make them less popular. Another form of antidepressant is monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are also able to be used to combat anxiety. However, their strict dietary restrictions and the high risk of toxicity limit their usage.
Benzodiazepines are commonly used to combat anxiety and panic attacks in the short-term for instance, when waiting for SSRIs or SNRIs to begin working. These medications can cause dependence tolerance, sedation, and tolerance, as well as withdrawal symptoms such as a rebound anxiety, depression and delirium. Common benzodiazepines include alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin) and lorazepam (Ativan).
Therapy is a vital part of any treatment for anxiety. It helps you to better know your symptoms and their causes. Many people find that medication and therapy both help them cope. Some studies suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy works just as well as anxiety medications. Talk to your doctor to find out what's best for you.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines have a calming effect, reduce anxiety and relax muscles that are tense. They also relieve symptoms of fear-related bodily stimulation (like heart racing or shaking), and promote sleep.
They work by binding inhibitory neurons, like GABA or gamma aminobutryic acids and bind to receptors in the central nervous system. They enhance the effects of GABA by facilitating its inhibitory effect on other neurotransmitters and decreasing the number of messages that are transmitted to the amygdala, an area of the brain that detects threats and creates the feeling of fear.
These medications are typically employed for short periods of time for instance, during panic attacks or an anxiety episode. They may ease the symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes after taking them. In contrast to SSRIs, benzodiazepines don't remain in the body for long. They are fast-acting and often take effect in just a couple of hours, which makes them ideal for situations in which you require quick relief (like during an airplane flight or before giving an event in public).
Because they can be addictive, people are usually only prescribed them for up to four weeks at a time. They also lose effectiveness after a period of time.
One of the main reasons why benzodiazepines are so popular is that they are efficient and have few adverse effects when compared to their predecessors such as barbiturates and meprobamate. They have a quick onset of action and are very effective as anxiolytics (anti-anxiety) as well as sedatives and anticonvulsants, as well as for muscle relaxants.
Benzos were blamed for negative attitudes towards anxiety that were developed in the 1970s and 80s, including the minimization of the disorder, and the belief that benzodiazepine treatment can lead to physical dependence. Yet however, benzodiazepines still play a significant role in the treatment for anxiety disorders, particularly when combined with psychosocial interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapies.
Benzos can interact with other medications and cause unwanted side-effects, like drowsiness or confusion. It is recommended to inform your doctor about any prescription, nonprescription or herbal medicines you currently take or plan to take. Go through the British National Formulary A to Z list of medication interactions to find out which medicines are safe to take with benzodiazepines.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants can reduce anxiety and other mental health conditions. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, antidepressants -- like SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) -- can help reduce chronic anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The FDA has approved antidepressants for other health issues, such as bipolar disorder, eating disorders and certain kinds of pain.
SSRIs are typically prescribed as a first-line treatment for anxiety by doctors, however they may not work for everyone. If the antidepressants do not work doctors may suggest an older form of medication called a tetracyclic or tricyclic antidepressant. These include amitriptyline and nortriptyline as well as clomipramine. They're less popular than the newer antidepressants, but still available. Your doctor may prescribe the sedating antidepressant trazodone (Desyrel) in lower doses for sleep or anxiety.
Nefazodone, a.k.a Ferdinand (Cymbalta) and duloxetine are also helpful. These medications are also available in generic form. If they aren't helping your doctor, you can try the antipsychotics quetiapine and olanzapine or the sedating antidepressant Mirtazapine.
Beta blockers are used to treat other anxiety disorders. They lower heart rate and blood pressure by blocking adrenaline. These medications aren't typically used for anxiety alone, but can be helpful when combined with psychological therapy.
Psychotherapy can assist you to change negative thoughts and behavior that can cause anxiety. It can help you to manage your anxiety and build coping skills. Depending on the severity of your situation, exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy might be recommended. Cognitive behavioural therapy assists you to learn to challenge unhelpful thoughts, fearful thoughts and to overcome the fear of situations that cause anxiety. Exposure therapy involves gradually increasing the intensity of anxiety-inducing situations until you are able to manage them. This can be done in a single session or in a small group. In both instances, results can take a while to show. Some people find that a combination of medication and psychotherapy is the best option. Some people find that taking medication alone is enough to manage symptoms. It is important to inform your doctor what you're doing to control your symptoms.
Other Medicines
Other drugs can also help relieve your symptoms. Beta blockers and antihistamines are sometimes prescribed to relieve anxiety.
These drugs can help you alleviate your symptoms by reducing or blocking signals that trigger stress and fear. However, they'ren't a cure all. You'll need to do things to reduce anxiety, including physical exercise as well as relaxation techniques, and psychotherapy.
Your doctor might first prescribe one of the "first choice" anxiety medications, which are SSRIs and SNRIs. They are the most effective drugs to treat anxiety disorders, according to research studies. The most common SSRIs include sertraline (Zoloft) as well as fluoxetine (Prozac) and Citropram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro). These medications may have mild side effects, like nausea or insomnia, but they typically subside within 4-8 weeks. Unlike the benzodiazepines, they're not addictive and do not increase your risk for suicidal thoughts.
The benzodiazepines, alprazolam (Xanax) as well as Clonazepam (Klonopin) and diazepoxide (Valium) provide immediate relief from anxiety and panic attacks however they can also cause negative effects such as dizziness, drowsiness and coordination issues, as well as dependence. These medications are less well-known than older barbiturates, however they are equally effective.
Antihistamines, such as Vistaril (hydroxyzine) are designed to help with allergies, but they're also sometimes employed to alleviate anxiety symptoms. Hydroxyzine block histamine receptors within the brain, and can trigger a calming effect. It is not a controlled substance and does not carry the same addiction risks as benzodiazepines.
Anticonvulsants are another kind of medication that can help with anxiety. They have been shown to reduce anxiety through blocking the production and release of dopamine and sérotonin. These medications are often prescribed as a part of an integrated therapy or to treat anxiety in the short-term. Your doctor will assess your symptoms and health history to determine if these medications are right for you. medication to treat anxiety will also discuss the duration of time you should take these medications and any negative side effects that might occur. Anxiety medication is only available on prescription, which means you'll need to visit an astrologer to obtain these medications.