Drugs to Treat Anxiety Disorders
Psychiatrists treat anxiety disorders using different tools. Drugs are sometimes part of a triple-pronged treatment, which also includes psychotherapy and physical exercise.
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are frequently prescribed for anxiety disorders as a first-line antidepressant. They can reduce anxiety through an axon that regulates mood. Tricyclic antidepressants (propranolol and atenolol) are also available. These medications can raise blood pressure so it is essential to keep track of your blood pressure when taking these medications.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a potent treatment for anxiety. They offer immediate relief and allow you to feel more relaxed and calm. They improve the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain, which helps to reduce tension and anxiety. The benzodiazepines can also serve as an aid to sleep, helping you fall asleep. GPs might prescribe a variety of benzodiazepines including alprazolam (Xanax) diazepoxide (Librium), clonazepam (Klonopin), Lorazepam (Ativan) and flurazepoxide (Dalmane).
While benzodiazepines can be a powerful treatment for anxiety-related symptoms but they should be taken cautiously. They can lead to dependence when used for long periods. This is why they are only prescribed for short-term usage. GPs should take this into consideration when prescribing benzodiazepines, and discuss the risks with patients.
Some people misuse benzodiazepines through taking them more often or for longer than prescribed, or by mixing them with alcohol or other drugs. This could be risky, and increase the risk of adverse effects. It is essential to keep all your medications, including benzodiazepines, stored in a secure place, so that they can only be accessible by you or people authorised to do so by you.
If you have an history of drug or alcohol abuse, you might be at a higher risk of developing an addiction to benzodiazepines. It is essential to inform your GP whether you've had any prior problems with alcohol or drugs, so they can assess your risk more carefully and examine your treatment more closely.
Before prescribing benzodiazepines, doctors should consider other options to treat anxiety. These include relaxation techniques such as meditation, exercise, yoga and tai chi, and changing some of your routines to lessen stress. They might recommend therapy that involves talking, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, which are beneficial for many people, assisting to pinpoint the root of their anxiety, devise strategies to cope and improve their emotional wellbeing.
Antidepressants, including selective norepinephrine receptor inhibitors (SNRIs) and serotonin reuptake inhibition inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective in treating anxiety. These medications can be taken in conjunction with a larger anxiety management plan, with the use of benzodiazepines to provide short-term anxiety relief while waiting for the long-lasting effects of antidepressants to start to show.
Antidepressants
There are many medicines that can be used to combat anxiety. All of these medications boost the amount of certain chemicals in your mind that affect your mood. Your doctor will determine which medication is best for you depending on your medical condition and your medical history.
Antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are some of the most common medications used to treat anxiety disorders. They're typically taken daily and can be purchased at many pharmacies. You'll require prescriptions, but generic versions tend to be cheaper than the brand name versions.
SSRIs are generally considered the first-choice pharmaceutical treatment for most anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder/agoraphobia, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They stop the reabsorption of the chemical serotonin into the presynaptic nerve cells which produce and release it. Additionally, they reduce the amount of norepinephrine released when responding to stressful situations, and may help improve sleep.
Tricyclic antidepressants are a different kind of antidepressant. It is effective for people suffering from GAD however, drowsiness and other side effects limit its use. Monoamine oxidase inhibiters are also effective in treating anxiety. However, their side effects such as erectile problems and weight gain make them less popular.
Sometimes, combining therapy and medication is the best way to reduce anxiety. Psychotherapy can be effective for the majority of people suffering from anxiety and is often more cost-effective than using drugs by themselves. Cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT, can help you to identify the triggers that contribute to anxiety and learn how to deal with them. CBT can help you avoid negative thoughts that cause anxiety.
natural anxiety treatments may have to take medication for anxiety for a long period of time dependent on their individual symptoms and how they respond to other treatments. Research is ongoing to determine how and why these medications improve anxiety and what the best length of treatment is. Newer antidepressants, such as esketamine (Spravato) are showing promise for some patients suffering from severe anxiety.
Sedatives
Sedatives are drugs that help to calm the central nervous system and encourage sleep. Doctors prescribe them to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. They boost the activity in the brain of a neurotransmitter known as gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) to slow down the activity of neurons and decrease excitability. This leads to feelings of calm. Sedatives can cause drowsiness, or even reduce muscle spasms. These drugs can also be used to induce anesthesia. The most frequently prescribed sedatives are benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. The most common benzodiazepines include Xanax (alprazolam) and the Librium and Valium (chlordiazepoxide and diazepoxide), Ativan, Lorazepam and others. Z-drugs are a type of hypnotic medicine that works by binding to receptors in the spinal cord and brain to induce somnolence. They have a calming effect that can last from just a few hours to a full day.
Sedatives can have dangerous side effects when taken with other drugs like alcohol and opiates. They can cause impaired judgment as well as drowsiness and loss in coordination. They can also cause depression and confusion. Sedatives can be addictive and can cause dependence if used for a long time. Dependence is particularly noticeable if someone is using high doses of the drug, or if they go "cold turkey" without gradually reducing their use.
In addition to sedatives antidepressants are commonly prescribed for anxiety. They stop the brain's nerve cells from absorbing serotonin a chemical which plays an important function in the regulation of mood. Antidepressants are usually prescribed for 6-12 months and then the dosage is gradually reduced. The majority of people don't develop a tolerance for these drugs, and they don't experience withdrawal symptoms or dependency when they stop taking it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR are both alternative therapies for anxiety. CBT assists people in identifying the triggers that cause anxiety and learn to manage the situation. EMDR could be a successful treatment for other conditions such as PTSD. During this therapy the person recalls past life experiences that caused anxiety, and shifts their eyes back and forth.
Psychotherapy
Anxiety disorders affect people of every age and background, as well as income. These disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions affecting adults, and can be treated through psychotherapy or medication. Certain medications can help alleviate some symptoms, but other medications can cause serious side effects and should be used only as part of a treatment program that includes therapy.
Treatments for anxiety disorders are usually prescribed to alleviate symptoms such as excessive worry, restlessness, and shaking. They also help with other symptoms commonly associated with anxiety disorders, including depression or fatigue. Antidepressants are also prescribed to treat anxiety, and some are even effective in people who don't have a depressive disorder.
The most effective drugs for treating anxiety are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These medications can decrease anxiety by increasing levels of serotonin which is a mood-enhancing chemical that is found in the brain. These medications can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness at first, but these side effects tend to diminish with time use.
SSRIs and SNRIs aren't the only drugs that can be used to treat anxiety. Venlafaxine, Vortioxetine (Bupropion XL) Doxepine, Buspirone, and Valproic Acid (VPA) are a few of the medications that have been proven to be effective in treating anxiety. The majority of these medications however, haven't been thoroughly tested in head-to-head trials and have only limited evidence to support their efficacy for treating generalized anxiety disorder.
Benzodiazepines can be used in lieu of SSRIs or SNRIs, but they can cause dangerous side effects and may become habit-forming. They also can hinder the effectiveness of psychotherapy, and many patients feel withdrawal symptoms if benzodiazepine is stopped too soon. Due to these risks, benzodiazepines are recommended as a last-resort treatment in combination with other treatments. If the symptoms are severe or life-threatening, your doctor may prescribe these medications.