Drugs to Treat Anxiety Disorders
Psychiatrists treat anxiety disorders with a variety of tools. The use of drugs is often part of a tri-pronged approach which includes psychotherapy and exercise.
SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are often prescribed as first-line antidepressants to treat anxiety disorders. They reduce anxiety by affecting the neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation. Other treatments include tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers and benzodiazepines (propranolol, atenolol). These medications can raise blood pressure, so it is important to keep track of your blood pressure when taking these medications.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are an effective treatment for anxiety, offering immediate relief and assisting to feel more peaceful and at ease. They help by increasing the activity of GABA neurotransmitter that is found in the brain. This can help reduce tension and nervousness. The benzodiazepines can also serve as an aid to sleep to help you sleep. GPs are able to prescribe a variety of benzodiazepines including alprazolam, diazepoxide, clonazepam and lorazep and flurazepoxide.
Although benzodiazepines are an effective treatment for anxiety-related symptoms, care should be taken when making use of these medications. Utilizing them for prolonged durations of time can lead to dependence, which is the reason they are typically prescribed for short-term usage. Doctors should consider this when prescribing benzodiazepines, and discuss the risks with patients.
Some people misuse benzodiazepines by taking them more often or for longer than prescribed, or mixing them with alcohol or other drugs. This could be risky and increase the risk of side consequences. It's important to keep all of your medications, such as benzodiazepines, locked away in a secure place, so that they can only be accessed by you or those authorized to access them by you.
You may be at greater chance of developing addiction to benzodiazepines in the event that you have a past history of alcohol or drug abuse. Tell your GP about any previous issues with substance abuse, so they can monitor your treatment and assess your risk more closely.
Before prescribing benzodiazepines, doctors should consider other alternatives to treat anxiety. These include relaxation techniques, like yoga, meditation, exercise and tai-chi, as well as changing some of your routines to decrease stress. They may recommend talking therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, which can be beneficial to many people, assisting them to identify the causes of their anxiety, develop strategies to cope and improve their emotional wellbeing.
Antidepressants, like selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective in treating anxiety. These drugs can be used as part of a comprehensive strategy for managing anxiety. Benzodiazepines are often used to provide short-term relief of anxiety while waiting for the longer-lasting effects of antidepressants.
Antidepressants
There are a variety of medicines that can be used to treat anxiety. They work in different ways however they all increase the amount of certain chemicals that are in your brain that affect mood. Your doctor will decide which one is best for you based upon your medical history and symptoms.
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 are available in most pharmacies. They are usually taken every day. You'll need a prescription from your doctor to purchase them, however generic versions are typically cheaper than the branded version.
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 prevent the reabsorption of the chemical serotonin into the presynaptic nerve cells which produce and release it. In addition, they may reduce the amount of norepinephrine released when responding to stressful situations and can enhance sleep.
Another type of antidepressant can be described as a tricyclic antidepressant. It is effective for some individuals, but its adverse effects and drowsiness limit its use. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are effective in treating anxiety. However, their negative effects such as erectile problems and weight gain make them less popular.
Sometimes, combining therapy with medication is the best approach to manage anxiety. Psychotherapy is more cost-effective and effective than drugs alone for most people suffering from anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, can teach you to recognize the triggers that contribute to anxiety and how to cope with these triggers. CBT can help you to avoid negative thoughts that trigger anxiety.
Some people may need to take anxiety medicine for a long time according to their specific symptoms and how they react to other treatments. Research is ongoing to understand how and why these medications increase anxiety and the most effective timeframe for treatment is. Newer antidepressants like esketamine (Spravato), are showing promise for patients suffering from severe anxiety.
Sedatives
Sedatives are medicines that relax the central nervous system and promote sleep. Doctors prescribe sedatives for treating insomnia and anxiety 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 reduce the rate of excitability. This results in feelings of calmness. Sedatives may cause drowsiness, or even reduce muscle spasms. They can also be used to induce anesthesia. Z-drugs and benzodiazepines are the most commonly prescribed sedatives. The most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines are Xanax (alprazolam), the Librium and Valium (chlordiazepoxide and diazepoxide), Ativan, Lorazepam and many others. Z-drugs are a type of hypnotic medication that acts by binding to receptors in the spinal cord and brain to induce drowsiness. These drugs have a calming effect that lasts from a few hours up to a full day.
If sedatives are used in conjunction with other medicines, such as alcohol or opiates, they can cause dangerous side effects. These can include impaired judgment as well as drowsiness and loss of coordination. anxiety treatment in dogs can also trigger confusion and depression. 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 slowly decreasing their use.
Antidepressants in addition to sedatives, are often prescribed to treat anxiety. They work by stopping nerve cells in the mind from absorbing a chemical called serotonin. This chemical is essential for mood regulation. Antidepressants are typically taken for a period of 6 to 12 months, after which the dosage is gradually decreased. Most people don't develop a tolerance to these medications and do not experience dependency or withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the medication.
Alternative treatments for anxiety include cognitive behavior therapy and EMDR. CBT assists people to identify what triggers anxiety and then helps them learn to manage these situations. EMDR could be a successful treatment for other ailments such as PTSD. During this therapy the person remembers past life events that caused anxiety and then shifts their gaze between the two.
Psychotherapy
Anxiety disorders (GAD, GAD with comorbid depression, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and social anxiety disorder) affect people of all ages, backgrounds and incomes. These disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions affecting adults, and they can be treated through psychotherapy or medication. Some medications can help with certain symptoms, but others have severe negative side effects. They should only be used as part of a comprehensive treatment program that includes psychotherapy.
Treatments for anxiety disorders are generally prescribed to alleviate symptoms such as excessive worry, restlessness, and shaking. They also help with other symptoms that are often associated with anxiety disorders, such fatigue or depression. Antidepressants are also prescribed to treat anxiety, and some of them work in those who do not suffer from a depressive disorder.
Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitions (SNRIs) are the most effective medications for treating anxiety. These medications can reduce 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 initially, but these side effects tend to diminish with time use.
In addition to SSRIs and SNRIs, a few of other medications have been found to be effective in treating anxiety. Venlafaxine, Vortioxetine (Bupropion XL) Buspirone, Doxepine and Valproic Acid (VPA) are some of the drugs that have been found to be effective in treating anxiety. However, most of these drugs have not been thoroughly studied in head-to-head trials and have only limited evidence for their efficacy against 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 can also hinder the effectiveness of psychotherapy and a lot of patients experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking their benzodiazepine medications too soon. Due to these risks, benzodiazepines should only be utilized as a last resort in conjunction with other treatments. However, if symptoms become serious or even life-threatening, your doctor might recommend taking these medications.