Meds That Treat Anxiety
Anxiety affects more than 40 million adults in the United States. anxiety recovery of medications are available to treat it.
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. Contrary to benzodiazepines they're not addictive.
SSRIs
The most commonly used anxiety medications are selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro) and fluoxetine (Prozac). These medications are also used to treat depression and relieve symptoms of other anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder. It can take up to one month for them to begin working.
These drugs work by boosting the levels of certain chemical messengers within the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine. These are typically the first choice to treat anxiety, though doctors may also prescribe other kinds of antidepressants, also known as benzodiazepines.
Another class of antidepressants known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are used to treat anxiety. They are a bit different from SSRIs because they decrease norepinephrine but at a lower degree than SSRIs. These medications can take a while to take effect, and they also tend to be more expensive than SSRIs.
Tricyclic antidepressants, like imipramine Tofranil can be effective in treating anxiety disorders. Their drowsiness, along with other side effects, make them less popular. Another kind of antidepressant, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can be used to combat anxiety. They are a high risk of toxicity and the restriction on dietary intake make them unsuitable for use.
Benzodiazepines can be used treat anxiety and panic attacks in the short-term in the meantime, while waiting for SSRIs and SNRIs. These medications can trigger dependence to tolerance, sedation, and dependence as well as withdrawal symptoms such as a depression, anxiety, and delirium. Benzodiazepines are commonly found in alprazolam, clonazepam, and lorazepam.
Therapy is a crucial component of any treatment plan for anxiety. It assists you to better know your symptoms and their root causes. Many people find that medication and therapy both help them cope. In fact, some studies suggest that cognitive therapy is as effective as anxiety medications. Talk to your doctor to find out what's best for you.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines have a calming effect, decrease anxiety and relax muscles that are tense. They also ease symptoms of fear-related bodily stimulation (like heart racing or trembling), and promote sleep.
They work by binding to inhibitory neurons, for example GABA or gamma aminobutryic acid at receptors in the central nervous system. They enhance the effects of GABA by facilitating its inhibitory effect on other neurotransmitters, and reducing the number of messages that are transmitted to the amygdala, a region of the brain that assesses threats and produces the sensation of fear.
These medications can be utilized for short durations of time like when you experience a panic attack or if you are experiencing severe anxiety. They may relieve symptoms within 30 to 60 minutes. Unlike SSRIs, benzodiazepines don't remain in the body for a long time. They're quick-acting and can work within a couple of hours. This makes them suitable for situations in which immediate relief is needed (such as during an airplane ride or before a presentation in public).
Since they are addictive, patients are usually prescribed for up to four weeks at a time. They also lose effectiveness after that time.
One of the reasons why benzodiazepines became so popular is that they worked and had a few adverse effects when compared with their predecessors like meprobamate and barbiturates. They have a rapid start of action and are extremely effective as anxiolytics (anti-anxiety), sedatives, anticonvulsants and as muscle relaxants.
Benzos are often blamed for the negative perceptions of anxiety that developed in the 1970s and 1980s. This included the trivialization of the disorder and the belief that benzodiazepine treatment causes physical dependence. Yet the fact that benzodiazepines play a major role in the treatment for anxiety disorders, particularly when they are combined with psychosocial interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy and other interpersonal therapies.
Benzos can interact with other drugs and cause undesirable side-effects like drowsiness or confusion. It is essential to inform your doctor be aware of any other prescription, non-prescription or herbal medication you are taking or thinking about taking. You can find out which medications are safe to use with benzodiazepines by checking the British National Formulary A-Z list of drug interactions.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants can help ease anxiety and other mental health problems. 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 to treat other health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, eating disorders and certain kinds of pain.
The majority of doctors prescribe SSRIs as the first-line treatment for anxiety, however these drugs may not be appropriate for all people. If the antidepressants do not work, the doctor may try an older type called a tetracyclic or tricyclic antidepressant. These include amitriptyline and nortriptyline, clomipramine and trimipramine, dothiepin, doxepin or imipramine. These antidepressants aren't as common but are still readily available. You may also ask your physician to prescribe the sedating antidepressant, trazodone(Desyrel), at lower doses in case you are experiencing anxiety or sleep problems.
Nefazodone, a.k.a Ferdinand (Cymbalta), and duloxetine may also be helpful. These medications are also available in generic form. If they do not work, your doctor can try the antidepressant that is sedating, mirtazapine (Remeron) or the antipsychotics olanzapine and quetiapine.
Beta blockers are used to treat other anxiety disorders. They reduce heart rate and blood pressure by blocking adrenaline. These medications are not typically used to treat anxiety alone however they can be effective when used in conjunction with psychotherapy.
Psychological therapy can help you change negative thoughts and behaviours that cause anxiety. It can teach you to control your anxiety and learn strategies for coping. Based 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 trigger anxiety. Exposure therapy involves gradually increasing the level of anxiety-inducing situations until you are able to manage the stressors. This can be done in a single session or in a small group. In both instances it takes time to demonstrate results. Some people believe that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is the best choice. Some people find that medication alone is enough to manage symptoms. Discuss with your doctor how you manage your symptoms.
Other Medications
Although benzodiazepines and antidepressants are the most common treatment for anxiety, other medications can help alleviate your symptoms as well. Antihistamines, beta blockers, and buspirone are often prescribed to ease anxiety.
These medications can help reduce your symptoms, by reducing or blocking the signals that cause anxiety and stress. They're not a panacea. You'll still need to do other things to reduce your anxiety, including physical exercise as well as relaxation techniques and psychotherapy.
Your doctor may initially prescribe one of the "first first" anxiety medication, which includes SSRIs and SNRIs. These are the most effective drugs for treating anxiety disorders according to research studies. The most commonly used SSRIs include sertraline (Zoloft), the fluoxetine (Prozac) and Citropram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro). These medications may have minor side effects, such as insomnia or nausea, but they usually subside within 4-8 weeks. They are not addictive, and they do not increase the likelihood of suicidal ideas.
The benzodiazepines, alprazolam (Xanax) and Clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepoxide (Valium) provide immediate relief from panic attacks and anxiety However, they can cause adverse effects, such as dizziness, drowsiness, memory and coordination problems, and dependence. These drugs are less popular than older barbiturates but are equally effective.
Antihistamines such as Vistaril (hydroxyzine) were originally developed to relieve allergies. However they also serve to reduce anxiety symptoms. Hydroxyzine has a calming effect because it blocks histamine receptors. It is not a controlled drug, so it doesn't have the same risks of addiction as benzodiazepines.
Anticonvulsants are a different kind of medication that can be used to treat anxiety. They have been proven to reduce anxiety by interfering in the production and release dopamine and sérotonin. They can be prescribed in combination with other medicines or as a short-term treatment for anxiety. Your doctor will assess your symptoms and health history to determine whether these medications are appropriate for you. They'll also talk about how long you should be taking them and any possible adverse effects. Anxiety medications are only available on prescription, so you'll need to see a psychiatrist to get these medications.