Anxiety Treatment Medications
Psychotherapy and medication may help people with anxiety disorders. Treatments for anxiety include benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam).
Antidepressants can also help with anxiety. SSRIs like fluoxetine and citalopram work by preventing nerve cells in the brain from absorbing serotonin. This chemical influences mood.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are powerful drugs to treat anxiety. They are effective and quick. They are also physically addictive and pose serious safety risks if used for prolonged periods. They should only be used under the supervision of a physician. They can be used as an "as required" treatment for panic attacks and other severe anxiety attacks. Benzos can be utilized in conjunction with antidepressants, psychotherapy and other medications to treat anxiety disorders.
Benzos are very effective at short-term anxiety treatments, and they can help you get a good night's sleep. They can be dangerous when misused and are not recommended for use alongside other drugs. When combined with sedatives like alcohol or opioid pain medications, benzodiazepines may increase the risk of a fatal overdose and death. They may also interact negatively with certain antidepressants, causing severe withdrawal symptoms.
When prescribed by a doctor If prescribed by a physician, benzodiazepines can be safe and effective at treating anxiety disorders. Many doctors are cautious when prescribing them as they can trigger dependence and negative side effects, like memory loss. Long-term use of these substances can cause severe withdrawal symptoms and those who become dependent are usually unable to quit using them without experiencing severe side effects like depression and seizures. The key to long term benzo use is: prescribing them only to patients who could benefit from them, using them in clinical settings that are likely improve anxiety symptoms, and avoiding prolonged use or abrupt withdrawal, minimizing the risk of abuse and combining them with effective psychological intervention.
www.iampsychiatry.com like benzodiazepines can reduce anxiety. They do this by blocking certain nerve signals and preventing their brains from firing. These drugs can help you sleep more comfortably and feel less stressed but they can't fix the root cause of what makes you worry (like the rising cost of bills or an unhealthy relationship).
Meditation, exercise, and yoga are all natural ways to decrease anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy is another treatment. You can learn to overcome the irrational fears and anxieties.
Antidepressants
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are a great alternative for those suffering from anxiety as they affect the brain to regulate mood. It could take up four weeks for them to begin working. If someone doesn't feel better in that time they should speak to their doctor about changing their medications.
Antidepressants like mirtazapine and Nefazodone are effective in treating anxiety. They may work faster than older medications like venlafaxine or XR. It is important to be aware that these drugs can cause severe reactions in some people. If they have 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 Victoria).
MAOIs are another type of antidepressant which can be used to treat anxiety. They block the action of enzymes that break down brain chemicals, including noradrenaline and dopamine. This causes the levels of these chemicals to increase which has a positive effect on mood. MAOIs are usually reserved for those who do not respond to other antidepressants but they can be effective in treating anxiety.
The most effective antidepressants to treat anxiety are tricyclic antidepressants. They treat mental and anxiety disorders in a similar way as SSRIs, but with fewer side-effects. These medications start at a lower dose and their effectiveness increases as the dosage is increased. Tricyclics can be effective in treating anxiety, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, but they are less likely to help with generalized anxiety disorder.
Buspirone, a newer antidepressant is also used for anxiety. It functions as an a mild tranquilizer, however it doesn't have the same adverse effects as benzodiazepines. It doesn't affect memory and coordination. It increases serotonin in the brain and decreasing dopamine. The drug is effective for up to 70 per cent of people who take it. As the medication is taken longer, the risk of side effects decrease. Talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy, can be utilized in conjunction with these medications to enhance the effects.
Buspirone
Buspirone is a medication used to treat anxiety disorders. It's taken orally, usually twice a day. It's not a controlled drug however it does have potential for abuse.
Doctors aren't sure exactly how buspirone works, but they believe that it reduces the levels of serotonin as well as its actions in certain regions of the brain. This makes the nervous system less prone to stress and anxiety.
Buspirone is generally regarded as safe by doctors for the majority of people. It's generally regarded to have a lower level of toxicity and a smaller chance of becoming addicted than benzodiazepines or barbiturates. However, as with other medications, it can cause side effects. The most frequent ones are dizziness and nausea. Buspirone may interact with other medications, supplements and other ingredients. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these prior to starting the drug.
Your doctor might prescribe a lower dose if you are over 65. This is due to the fact that older people tend to respond to drugs differently than younger people do. This is especially true for drugs that affect the nervous system.
Tell your doctor whether any of these medications are being taken by you. These include isocarboxazid, selegiline, phenelzine, linezolid, Emsam, Zelapar, and tranylcypromine. Buspirone can cause serious side effects due to increasing the concentrations of these drugs.
Tell your doctor whether you suffer from liver disease, kidney problems stomach problems, nursing or pregnant. In these cases, certain medicines, like SSRIs might not be appropriate for you.
If buspirone doesn't work, or you can't use it due to a medical condition or interaction with other medications Your doctor may prescribe an alternative treatment for your anxiety. It could be a different type of antidepressant like Lexapro or Prozac; beta blockers such as propranolol or a benzodiazepine such as Xanax. The PIL will provide more information about how to use the drug and possible adverse effects.
Other Medications
There are many other treatments available that can reduce anxiety. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a possible option. Psychotherapy can help you change the way you think about your anxiety and help you develop strategies to help reduce anxiety. Other options include learning relaxation techniques, having a regular workout routine, and avoiding the use of alcohol and other drugs. Some people get relief from anxiety-related symptoms by taking herbal medicines. If these methods don't work, speak to your doctor.
Medicines used as an anxiety treatment generally fall into two broad categories: benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Benzodiazepines, such as Ativan or lorazepam boost the activity of GABA in your brain, which promotes calmness. They can provide quick relief, however they can be addictive if taken for long periods of time. Antidepressants require longer time to work but they balance the levels of certain chemicals in your brain, known as neurotransmitters. They affect your mood.
SSRIs are the most common antidepressants that treat anxiety. They boost the levels of serotonin, the chemical messenger in your brain, which may improve your mood and make you feel less anxious. Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are a different antidepressant that stops the reabsorption of serotonin as well as norepinephrine from the brain. This increases levels of these chemicals in your body, which makes you feel more energetic. A third class of antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs, can be used to treat anxiety among people who aren't responding to SSRIs.
There are also a number of other medications sometimes used to treat anxiety disorders, including azapirones (such as buspirone), beta- and alpha-blockers antihistamines (such as hydroxyzine), and clonidine. They have lower success rates than SSRIs and benzodiazepines.
Although medication is an effective treatment for anxiety however, it shouldn't be your only option you choose to use. If you have a root cause for your anxiety, such as debt, a poor diet, or a problematic relationship, non-drug treatments may be more efficient. Other options include cognitive-behavioral therapy, or biofeedback, which allows you to manage your brain waves using a monitoring device and mindfulness meditation, a form of meditation that focuses on the present moment.