Drugs For Anxiety Disorder
An individual suffering from anxiety disorder suffers from severe and persistent symptoms. These symptoms affect her work and daily life. She is required to take medication and attend counseling.
Antidepressants can help reduce anxiety. These medications work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Tricyclic antidepressants are another treatment. They block adrenaline and noradrenaline and have shown to be effective in numerous studies.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants have been proven effective in relieving anxiety for up to 70% of those who have tried them. There are a variety of antidepressants on the market, and as with any drug there may be some side effects. In most cases, these adverse effects are not severe and tends to diminish with treatment. Your doctor will monitor your progress during the first few months of treatment, and might switch to a different kind in the event that it isn't working or causing too many side-effects.
The most popular antidepressants for treating anxiety are the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). These work to change the brain's chemical composition that affect sleep, mood and feelings of wellbeing. They also help to manage physical symptoms such as muscle tension and headaches. disorders anxiety like nefazodone or mirtazapine can also be used to combat anxiety.
Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants for you in case you suffer from GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). These will be used in conjunction with psychotherapy and other treatments like hypnotherapy to assist you in gaining control on anxiety and learn to manage it. These medicines are extremely effective in managing anxiety and are usually safe when taken according to the directions.
Benzodiazepines are powerful and fast-acting, but have the potential to cause serious side effects, such as dizziness memory and attention problems, drowsiness, irritability, dependence, and addiction. They are used to treat anxiety and panic attacks in the short-term, but also for underlying problems like depression, stress, alcohol and drug abuse.
Antidepressants, which are less dependent than benzodiazepines, are easier to quit than benzos. They do not cause the same physical dependence or withdrawal that benzodiazepines do. However there are some patients who have unpleasant effects, like drowsiness and dry mouth. Other negative effects include a lack of sexual function, fatigue and weight gain. They are typically not prescribed for long-term use and are difficult to locate when you're suffering from anxiety or depression.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are powerful drugs that help to reduce anxiety-related episodes and improve the quality of sleep. They do this by enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA which helps calm the central nervous system. They also cause drowsiness that helps you sleep and remain asleep for the duration of the night. They can also cause harmful side effects, such as addiction and physical dependency. They can develop over time but not when taken in small amounts or only occasionally.
Benzodiazepines, which are used to prevent dependence and addiction are prescribed for short-term (often a few weeks) use. They are also frequently employed in conjunction with other therapeutic methods such as psychotherapy. They are not recommended for people with certain mental conditions that are severe, such as severe personality disorders or a substance abuse history.
Long-term benzodiazepine use can be problematic because tolerance to the sedative effects increases quite rapidly, requiring more and more doses for the same effect. This can be dangerous because the brain stem depressant effect can interfere with breathing or heart rate. This can lead to respiratory depression and possibly even death. The risk of this complication is increased by taking benzodiazepines with other depressants, like alcohol or SSRIs.
The sedative effects of benzodiazepines can be very dangerous, particularly for people with liver or kidney diseases or who are susceptible or prone to seizures. Patients with these conditions should be monitored closely.
Physical dependence can also result from taking benzodiazepines over a long time period. This isn't the same thing as addiction. Those who depend on benzodiazepines might suffer withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking them abruptly. This is why it's important to consult your healthcare provider about the best method to taper off benzodiazepines.
Benzodiazepines are often stolen from the medicine cabinets of family members and friends. To avoid unauthorized access it is recommended that the medication be secured. Healthcare professionals are aware of the risks associated with benzodiazepine dependency and can assist to minimize the risk by recommending a timeline for tapering or switching to a different type of medication with an a lesser chance of dependency.
Beta-blockers
Although they are typically used to treat heart problems, beta blockers like propranolol may be a useful drug for anxiety disorder. These medications reduce anxiety symptoms by stopping adrenaline, a hormone that causes stress, from binding to receptors within the body. When adrenaline isn't able to attach to receptors in your body, blood pressure and heart rate will drop. The drugs can also ease the physical symptoms of anxiety, like sweating, a racing heart and nausea. These medications are renowned for their rapid effects. Many people notice a reduction in physical symptoms within one hour of taking their prescription.
Beta blockers are an immediate alternative to benzodiazepines and antidepressants. They are more effective than these medications which can take several weeks to start working. They are an excellent choice for those looking to ease anxiety in certain situations, such as before an appointment with a doctor or a public speaking events. In fact, a 2016 review of research conducted on the use of propranolol for short-term use to treat anxiety revealed that it is just as effective for treating some anxiety disorders as benzodiazepines and may be less likely to trigger dependence.
However, it's important to remember that beta blockers don't address the underlying causes of anxiety. They only alleviate your in-the-moment physical reactions to stressors. They can be beneficial for people with anxiety about social interactions or performance anxiety (stage fear) when these uncomfortable physical symptoms are especially acute.
It's also important to note that these medications are the most efficient when they are a part of a complete treatment program. In the ideal scenario, these medications must be used alongside therapy that addresses the underlying mental issues as well as lifestyle changes that can contribute to anxiety. Talk to your doctor to determine if you are a suitable candidate for this type of medication or other treatments to treat anxiety-related symptoms. In the end, the aim is to live your life with no anxiety symptoms hindering your life.
Psychotherapy
While many people experience anxiety at some time in their lives, if you have an anxiety disorder, the feelings of nervousness are more severe and last longer. These symptoms can affect your personal and professional life. Psychotherapy and medications are typically used to treat anxiety disorders. Medications may help reduce anxiety and help you get back to the things you love. The type of medication you need will depend on the level of anxiety that you have. You may need to try several types of medication before you discover the right one for you.
SSRIs are typically the first prescription medication for generalized anxiety disorder. These medications increase levels of serotonin which is a chemical that is found in the brain and assists in relieving symptoms. You should notice the effects within a few weeks after starting treatment. Some SSRIs may cause stomach upset, nausea and trouble sleeping. These side effects should be less severe as your body gets familiar with the medication.
If SSRIs do not offer enough relief from your anxiety, you could require a serotonin-noradrenaline-reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). These drugs increase the amount of serotonin and noradrenaline in your brain to alleviate your symptoms. When you first begin taking SNRIs you might experience side effects like fatigue, headaches and elevated blood pressure. However these side effects will go away when your body is accustomed to the medication.
Benzodiazepines slow down the activity of nerves in your brain. They are used to treat panic attacks, anxiety attacks, and other mental disorders. They are available in a variety of strengths, including diazepam (low potency) and Lorazepam (mid-potency) and alprazolam (high-potency). BZDs are effective in treating anxiety, but they can also be misused and pose the most risk of addiction, sedation and overdose.
Newer treatments are focused on monamine and GABA neurotransmitters in the brain to treat anxiety disorders, but clinical trials are in progress, and their results have not been reported in full. d-cycloserine is an antibiotic and antituberculosis medication that increases the activity of amygdala NMDA receptors. This enhances the rate of extinction learning in human anxiety models. It is being studied as a possible anxiolytic drug and has been used to enhance exposure therapy.