Anxiety Treatment Medications
Psychotherapy and medication can aid people with anxiety disorders. Treatments for anxiety include benzodiazepines, such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam).
Antidepressants can also treat anxiety. SSRIs like citalopram (Celexa) and fluoxetine (Prozac) work by preventing nerve cells in the brain from absorbing serotonin, an ingredient that influences mood.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are powerful drugs for treating anxiety. They are effective and quick. However, they also can be physically addictive, and pose serious risks to safety when used over long durations. They should only be taken under the supervision of a doctor. They can be useful as an "as needed" treatment for panic attacks and other severe anxiety episodes. Benzos are usually used together with other medications, such as antidepressants and psychotherapy (talk therapy) as part of a comprehensive anxiety disorder treatment plan.
Benzos can be extremely effective in treating anxiety for a short time, and they help you sleep better. However, they can be dangerous when abused, and they are not recommended 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 interfere negatively with certain antidepressants, causing severe withdrawal symptoms.
When prescribed by your doctor If prescribed by your doctor, benzodiazepines are effective and safe when treating anxiety disorders. A lot of doctors are cautious when prescribing them because they can cause addiction and adverse side effects, including memory loss. In the long run, they can trigger a severe withdrawal reaction and those who become dependent on them are often not able to stop taking them without experiencing severe symptoms such as depression and seizures. The main thing to remember about long-term use of benzos is to prescribe them only for patients who may benefit from them, and use them in situations in which they will likely improve anxiety symptoms; avoid prolonged use or abrupt discontinuation; reduce the chance of abuse, especially by children; and combine them with effective psychological treatments.
Anxiety medications, like benzodiazepines can help reduce anxiety by blocking certain nerve signals and preventing them from being released in the brain. These medications can make you sleepy and less anxious, but they will not resolve the root cause that causes anxiety.
Meditation, exercise, and yoga are all natural ways to lessen anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a different treatment. You learn to overcome the irrational fears and anxieties.
Antidepressants
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are a viable alternative for those suffering from anxiety as they affect the brain to control mood. It could take up to four weeks for them to start working. If someone isn't feeling better after the time frame it is recommended to talk to their physician about changing medications.
Antidepressants like mirtazapine or nefazodone can be effective in treating anxiety. They can work faster than older drugs such as venlafaxine or XR. It is important to be aware that these medications may cause severe reactions in some 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 an experienced nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL Victoria).
MAOIs are another type of antidepressant that is used to treat anxiety. They block enzymes that break down chemicals in the brain down, including noradrenaline. This causes levels of these chemicals, which have a an impact positive on mood, to increase. MAOIs are usually reserved for those who do not respond to other antidepressants however they can be very effective in treating anxiety.
Among the most effective antidepressants for anxiety are tricyclic antidepressants. They help with mental and anxiety disorders in a similar way to SSRIs however, with fewer side-effects. These medications are effective at small doses, but their effectiveness increases with the increase in dosage. Tricyclics may be effective for treating anxiety, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, but they are less likely to help with generalized anxiety disorder.
A newer antidepressant, buspirone is also used to combat anxiety. It acts as a mild tranquilizer, but it doesn't cause the same adverse effects as benzodiazepines. It doesn't affect memory or coordination. It is a way of increasing serotonin levels in the brain, and reducing dopamine. Up to 70% of people who try the drug will find it effective. The adverse effects are likely to decrease when the medication is used for longer periods of time. Talk therapy, such as exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, is a good option to combine with these medications to enhance their effects.
Buspirone
Buspirone is a generic drug that is used to treat anxiety disorders. It's taken by mouth generally twice daily. It's not a regulated drug, but there is the potential for abuse.
Doctors aren't quite sure how it is working, but they believe that buspirone can reduce the amount and actions of a chemical referred to as serotonin in specific parts of the brain. This makes the nervous system less susceptible to anxiety and stress.
Buspirone is generally regarded as safe by doctors for the majority of people. It is generally considered to be less toxic and has a lower risk of addiction than benzodiazepines as well as barbiturates. Like other medications, it may cause side effects. Most common are nausea and dizziness. Buspirone can interact with other supplements, medications, and ingredients. Inform your doctor if you take any of these prior to beginning the medication.
If you are over 65, your doctor could prescribe buspirone at a lower dose. This is due to the fact that older people tend to react to drugs differently than younger people do. This is particularly true for drugs that affect the nervous system.
It's also important to tell your doctor if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox) or Phenelzine (Nardil) selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar) or tranylcypromine (Parnate). Buspirone can cause serious side effects by increasing the concentrations of these drugs.
Tell your doctor if you suffer from kidney or liver diseases, stomach problems, are pregnant, or breastfeed. Certain medicines, like SSRIs might not be suitable for you in these situations.
If buspirone isn't effective or you are unable to take it due to an illness or interaction with other medications or other medication, your doctor will recommend an alternative form of treatment for your anxiety. This could be a new kind of antidepressant like Lexapro, Prozac, a beta-blocker, such as propranolol or a benzodiazepine like Xanax. The PIL will provide more information on how to take the drug and any possible side effects.
Other Medicines
There are other treatments available to help ease anxiety. treatment for depression and anxiety , also known as talk therapy, is one of the options. Psychotherapy can help you change the way you think about anxiety and teach you strategies for coping to reduce anxiety. Other options include learning relaxation skills and maintaining a regular workout routine, and abstaining from using alcohol and drugs. Herbal medicines can be helpful for sufferers with anxiety-related symptoms. If you try these options but they don't work talk to your doctor.
Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are two major categories of medication used to treat anxiety. Benzodiazepines such as Ativan or lorazepam increase the activity of GABA in your brain, which increases tranquility. They can provide quick relief, but they can also become addictive if taken for long periods of time. Antidepressants are slower to work but they help stabilize the levels in your brain of certain neurotransmitters. These chemicals influence your mood.
SSRIs are the most popular antidepressants used to treat anxiety. They increase the amount serotonin which is a chemical messenger in your brain. This can improve your mood or make you feel less anxiety. Another class of antidepressants is serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors or SNRIs, stop the reabsorption of both serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain, increasing levels of these chemicals and causing you to feel more energetic. A third class of antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs, can be used to treat anxiety in those who aren't responsive to SSRIs.
There are a variety of other medications that are often 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 chance of success than SSRIs or benzodiazepines.
While medication is an effective anxiety treatment, it shouldn't be the only option you choose to use. If you have a root reason for your anxiety like debt, poor diet, or a problematic relationship, non-drug treatments may be more efficient. Other options include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) biofeedback (which helps you to regulate your brain's activity by using a device to monitor them), and mindfulness meditation.