Anxiety Treatment Medications

People with anxiety disorders often recover by undergoing psychotherapy and taking medication. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are used to treat anxiety.

Antidepressants are also used to alleviate anxiety. SSRIs such as citalopram (Celexa) and fluoxetine (Prozac) are effective in preventing neurons in the brain from absorbing serotonin a chemical that affects mood.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines (benzos) are powerful drugs that are effective in treating anxiety, and they work very quickly. They are also physically addictive and carry significant safety risks when used for prolonged periods. They should only be taken under the supervision of a medical professional. They are useful as an "as required" treatment for panic attacks or other extreme anxiety treatment anxiety episodes. Benzos can be used in combination with psychotherapy, antidepressants and other medicines to treat anxiety disorders.

Benzos can be extremely effective in managing anxiety for a short time, and they help you sleep well. However, they can be dangerous when misused, and they are not suitable to be used in conjunction with other medications. When benzodiazepines are mixed with sedatives like opioid pain medication and alcohol, the risk of death or overdose rises. They may also interact negatively with certain antidepressants and cause severe withdrawal symptoms.

If prescribed by your physician If prescribed by your doctor, benzodiazepines are effective and safe in treating anxiety disorders. Many doctors are cautious when prescribing them because they can trigger addiction and adverse side effects, including memory loss. Long-term use can cause severe withdrawal reactions and those who become dependent are often unable to stop taking them without experiencing severe symptoms such as depression and seizures. The key to long-term benzo use is: prescribing them only to those who might benefit from their use, making use of them in settings that are likely to improve anxiety symptoms, avoiding long-term use or abrupt withdrawal and reducing the risk of abuse and using them in conjunction with effective psychological intervention.

Anxiety medications, like benzodiazepines, can reduce anxiety by blocking certain nerve signals and preventing them from being released in the brain. These medications can assist you in sleeping better and feel less anxious but they can't fix the root cause of what makes you feel anxious (like the rising cost of bills or a strained relationship).

There are a variety of natural ways to treat anxiety methods to ease your anxiety, such as meditation, exercise and yoga. Cognitive behavioral therapy is another treatment. You can learn to overcome irrational worries and fears.

Antidepressants

SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a great choice for those suffering from anxiety because they assist the brain to manage mood. However, they can take between four and six weeks or longer to begin working. If one does not feel better during that time it is recommended to talk to their physician about changing their medication.

Newer antidepressants like mirtazapine and nefazodone are also helpful for treating anxiety. They may be more effective than older drugs such as venlafaxine and XR. It's important to remember that these drugs can cause severe reactions in certain people. If someone experiences this reaction it is recommended that they seek urgent medical attention or contact healthdirect at 1800 022 222 for a chat with a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs, are another kind of antidepressant used to treat anxiety. They block enzymes that break chemical in the brain into noradrenaline. This causes levels of these chemicals, which can have a positive effects on mood, to rise. MAOIs are typically reserved for those who don't respond well to other antidepressants. However they can be extremely effective in treating anxiety.

The most effective antidepressants for anxiety are the tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs are similar to SSRIs in the way they treat anxiety and other mental disorders, however they are not as prone to adverse effects. They begin at a lower dose and their effectiveness increases as the dosage increases. Tricyclics may be effective for treating panic disorder, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder, but they are less likely to aid in treating generalized anxiety disorder.

Buspirone, a newer antidepressant is also used to treat anxiety. It is a mild tranquilizer but it doesn't cause the same negative side effects as benzodiazepines. It doesn't affect memory or coordination. It works by boosting the serotonin levels in the brain and decreasing dopamine. As high as 70% of those who try the drug find it effective. As the medication is taken longer, the risk of side effects to diminish. Talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy, can be utilized in conjunction with these medications to increase the effectiveness.

Buspirone

Buspirone is a medication used to treat anxiety disorders. It's taken orally typically twice daily. It's not a controlled substance, but it does have potential for abuse.

Doctors aren't sure 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.

Buspirone is generally considered safe by doctors for the vast majority of people. It is generally believed to be less toxic and has a lower risk of addiction than benzodiazepines as well as barbiturates. Like other medicines there are some adverse effects. Most common are dizziness and nausea. Buspirone can interact with other medications, supplements and other ingredients. Inform your doctor if you are taking any of these prior to beginning the drug.

Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose if you are over 65. This is because people who are older tend to react differently to drugs than younger people. This is particularly true for drugs that affect the nervous system.

It's also important to inform your doctor if you're taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid (Marplan) or linezolid (Zyvox), Phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar) or tranylcypromine (Parnate). Buspirone can increase the levels of these drugs in your body, which can lead to serious adverse side adverse effects.

Inform your doctor if you suffer from kidney disease, liver disease stomach problems, breastfeeding or pregnant. Certain medicines, like SSRIs, may not be appropriate for you in these situations.

If buspirone isn't effective or you are unable to use it due to a medical condition or interaction with a different medication, your doctor will prescribe an alternative method of first line treatment for anxiety for anxiety. It could be a different type of antidepressant, such as Lexapro or Prozac; a beta blocker, such as propranolol or a benzodiazepine, such as Xanax. The PIL for each drug will include more details on how to treat anxiety disorder naturally to take it and possible adverse reactions.

Other Medical Treatments

In addition to medications there are other methods that can reduce anxiety. Talk therapy or psychotherapy is an option. Psychotherapy can help you learn how to cope with anxiety and change your way of thinking. Other options include learning relaxation skills and maintaining a regular workout routine, and staying away from alcohol and drugs. Some people experience relief from anxiety symptoms by taking herbal medicines. If you've tried these alternatives and they aren't working talk to your doctor.

The medications used for anxiety treatment usually fall into two broad categories: benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Benzodiazepines, such as Ativan or lorazepam increase the activity of GABA in your brain, which promotes tranquility. They can provide relief quickly however they can become addictive when used long-term. Antidepressants take longer to work however they can stabilize the levels in your brain of certain neurotransmitters, chemicals that affect your mood.

Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are the most well-known type of antidepressant for anxiety. They increase the amount serotonin, a chemical messenger in your brain. This can improve your mood or cause you to feel less anxious. Another class of antidepressants, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, stop the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain, thereby increasing levels of these chemicals, making you feel more energetic. A third antidepressant class known as monoamine oxide inhibitors, also known as MAOIs, are used to treat anxiety in people who aren't responding to SSRIs.

There are also a number of other medications that are sometimes used to treat anxiety, including azapirones (such as buspirone), beta- and alpha-blockers antihistamines (such as hydroxyzine) and clonidine. These medications have a lower chance of success than SSRIs or benzodiazepines.

Although medication can be an effective treatment for anxiety, it shouldn't necessarily be used. Alternative treatments are more effective if there is an underlying cause for your anxiety like debt, poor diet or a relationship that is unhealthy. Other options include cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT; biofeedback, which helps you to manage your brain waves with a monitoring device; and mindfulness meditation, a form of meditation that focuses on the present moment.