Anxiety Treatment Medications
Psychotherapy and medication can help people with anxiety disorders. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are used to combat anxiety.
Antidepressants can also treat anxiety. SSRIs like fluoxetine and citalopram help by stopping nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing serotonin. This chemical can affect mood.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (benzos) are powerful drugs that treat anxiety very well, and they work very quickly. However, they can be physically addictive and they have serious safety risks when used for prolonged periods of time. They should only be taken under the supervision of a doctor. They can be useful as an “as required” treatment for panic attacks or other extreme anxiety episodes. Benzos are typically employed together with other medications like antidepressants and psychotherapy (talk therapy), as part of an overall anxiety disorder treatment plan.
Benzos are extremely effective in short-term anxiety relief and can assist you in getting the best night’s sleep. However they are also dangerous when abused, and they are not suitable to be used in conjunction with other drugs. When benzodiazepines are mixed with sedatives, such as opioid pain medication and alcohol the risk of dying or overdose rises. They may also interact negatively with certain antidepressants, causing severe withdrawal symptoms.
When prescribed by a doctor When prescribed by a doctor, benzodiazepines are safe and effective in treating anxiety disorders. Many doctors are cautious when prescribing them as they can trigger addiction and have adverse side effects, like memory loss. Long-term use of these drugs can cause severe withdrawal symptoms, and those who become dependent are often unable quit using them without experiencing serious side effects, such as depression and seizures. The key to long term benzo use is to prescribe them only to patients who may benefit from their use, and making use of them in settings that are likely to improve anxiety symptoms, avoiding prolonged use or abrupt withdrawal and minimizing the chance of abuse, and using them in conjunction with effective psychological interventions.
Anxiety medications, including benzodiazepines, can help alleviate anxiety by blocking certain nerve signals and preventing them from firing in the brain. These medications can aid in sleeping and feeling less anxious, but they do not resolve the root cause that causes you to worry.
There are some natural ways to reduce anxiety, such as meditation, exercise and yoga. Cognitive behavioral therapy is another treatment. You can learn to overcome irrational worries and fears.
Antidepressants
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are a viable option for anxiety because they work on the brain to regulate mood. It could take up to four weeks before they begin working. If a person doesn’t feel better after this period, they should speak to the doctor about changing their the medication.
Newer antidepressants like mirtazapine and nefazodone can also be beneficial in treating anxiety. They may be more effective than older drugs, such as venlafaxine or XR. It is important to be aware that these medications can trigger 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 to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON CALL in Victoria).
MAOIs are another type of antidepressant that is used to treat anxiety. They block the action of enzymes that break down chemicals in the brain which include dopamine and noradrenaline. This allows the levels of these chemicals to increase, with a positive effect on mood. MAOIs are generally reserved for those who do not improve on other antidepressants, however they can be very effective in treating anxiety.
Tricyclic antidepressants are among the most effective antidepressants to treat anxiety. These medications are similar to SSRIs in how they treat anxiety and other mental disorders, but they have fewer adverse effects. They begin at a lower dose and their effectiveness improves as the dosage increases. Tricyclics are effective in treating panic, anxiety disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorder. However, they may not be as effective when treating generalized anxiety disorder.
Buspirone, a more recent antidepressant is also used for anxiety. It functions as a mild tranquilizer but it doesn’t cause the same side effects as benzodiazepines. It doesn’t affect memory or coordination. It works by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, and reducing dopamine. The drug is effective for up to 70% of those who test it. When the medication is used longer, side effects tend to decrease. Talk therapy, like exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, is a good option to combine with these medications to enhance their effects.
Buspirone
Buspirone is used to treat anxiety disorders. It’s taken by mouth, usually twice a day. It’s not a controlled drug, but it does have potential for abuse.
Doctors aren’t certain of the exact way buspirone works, but believe that it decreases the amount of serotonin and its actions in specific areas of the brain. This makes the nervous system less sensitive to anxiety and stress.
In general, doctors believe that buspirone is a safe drug for most people. It is generally considered to be less harmful and has a lower risk of addiction than benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Like other medications there are some adverse reactions. The most common side effects are dizziness and nausea. Buspirone may interact with other medicines, supplements, and ingredients. Inform your doctor if taking any of these prior to starting the drug.
If you’re older than 65, your doctor might give you buspirone in a lower dosage. This is due to the fact that older people tend to react to drugs differently than younger individuals do. This is especially true of drugs that affect your nervous system.
It’s also essential to inform your doctor if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox) and the phenelzine (Nardil) or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar) or tranylcypromine (Parnate). Buspirone can cause serious side effects due to increasing the concentrations of these drugs.
You should also inform your doctor know if suffer from kidney illness, stomach issues or if you are breastfeeding or pregnant. In these cases, certain medicines, like SSRIs might not be appropriate for you.
Your doctor could prescribe an alternative treatment if buspirone doesn’t work or if you are unable to take it due to a medical condition or due to an interaction with a different drug. It could be a brand new type of antidepressant such as Lexapro, Prozac, a beta-blocker like propranolol or a benzodiazepine like Xanax. The PIL will give more details on how to take the drug and any possible side effects.
Other Medicines
There are many other treatments available that can help reduce anxiety. Talk therapy or psychotherapy is an option. Psychotherapy can help you change the way you think about your anxiety and teach you coping strategies to manage anxiety. Other options include learning relaxation skills, maintaining a regular workout routine, and avoiding alcohol and drugs. Herbal medications can help some people suffering from anxiety symptoms. If none of these options work, talk to your doctor.
The medications used for anxiety treatment generally fall into two broad categories: benzodiazepines and antidepressants. 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 can bring relief quickly, but they can also become addictive if used for a long time. Antidepressants take longer to work however they can stabilize the levels in your brain of specific chemicals called neurotransmitters that affect your mood.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs), or SSRIs, are the most popular kind of antidepressant used to treat anxiety treatment medicines. They increase the amount serotonin, a chemical signalling agent 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, prevent the reabsorption process of both serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain, thereby increasing levels of these chemicals, making you feel more energetic. Monoamine inhibitors of oxidase (MAOIs) are an additional class of antidepressants that is often used by people who don’t respond to SSRIs to combat anxiety treatment without medication.
There are numerous other medicines that can be used to treat anxiety. They include azapirones, beta- and alpha-blockers, Antihistamines, such as Clonidine, hydroxyzine and. These medicines have a lower percentage of success than SSRIs or benzodiazepines.
While medication is an effective treatment for anxiety, it shouldn’t always be used. If you have an underlying reason for your anxiety, like debt, poor diet, or an unhealthy 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 using a monitoring device) and mindfulness meditation.