It's A Anxiety Treatment Medicines Success Story You'll Never Believe
Anxiety Treatment Medications
People with anxiety disorders often improve by undergoing psychotherapy and taking medication. Benzodiazepines like Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are used to help with anxiety.
Antidepressants can also be used to treat anxiety. SSRIs such as citalopram (Celexa) and fluoxetine (Prozac) are effective in preventing brain nerve cells from absorbing serotonin, which is a chemical that influences mood.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (benzos) are powerful medicines that are effective in treating anxiety and can be used quickly. However, they are physically addictive and they pose significant safety risks when used for prolonged periods of time. They should only be taken under the supervision of a physician. They can be used as an "as-needed" treatment for panic attacks as well as other severe anxiety episodes. Benzos are usually employed together with other medications such as antidepressants or psychotherapy (talk therapy), as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for anxiety disorders.
Benzos are extremely effective in short-term anxiety relief and can help you get an excellent night's rest. They can be harmful if abused and are not recommended to be used in conjunction with other medications. When combined with sedatives such as alcohol or opioid pain medications, benzodiazepines may increase the risk of a fatal overdose and even death. They can also interact negatively with certain antidepressants and trigger severe withdrawal symptoms.
When prescribed by your doctor, benzodiazepines can be effective and safe when treating anxiety disorders. However, many doctors are cautious about using them, because they are addictive and can cause negative side effects, such as memory loss. In the long run, they can trigger a severe withdrawal reaction, and people who become dependent are typically incapable of stopping their use without experiencing serious symptoms such as depression and seizures. The most important aspect to long-term benzo usage is prescribing them only to patients who may benefit from their use, and using them in clinical settings that will likely help improve anxiety symptoms, avoiding prolonged use or abrupt withdrawal and reducing the chance of abuse, and combing them with a psychological interventions.
Anxiety medications, like benzodiazepines, can reduce anxiety by blocking certain nerve signals and preventing them from being activated in the brain. These drugs can help you sleep more comfortably and feel less stressed, but they won't solve the root cause of what makes you worry (like mounting costs or a relationship that isn't working).
Exercise, meditation, and yoga are all natural methods to decrease anxiety. Other options include cognitive behavioral therapy, where you learn to confront your irrational fears and anxieties.
Antidepressants
SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a good option for people suffering from anxiety, as they work with the brain to manage mood. It can take up to four weeks before they begin working. If a person doesn't feel better after this time it is recommended to speak with their doctor about changing medication.
Antidepressants like mirtazapine and nefazodone are also effective in treating anxiety. They may work faster than older medications such as venlafaxine XR. However, it's important to note that these drugs can trigger severe reactions in some individuals. If someone experiences this reaction, they should seek emergency medical attention or contact healthdirect at 1800 022 222 for a chat with an experienced nurse (known as NURSE-ON CALL in Victoria).
MAOIs are a different kind of antidepressant that is used to treat anxiety. They block the actions of enzymes that breakdown chemicals in the brain such as dopamine and noradrenaline. This allows the levels these chemicals to increase, with a positive effect on mood. MAOIs tend to be reserved for patients that do not respond well to other antidepressants. However, they can be very effective in treating anxiety.
The most effective antidepressants for anxiety are tricyclic antidepressants. These medications treat anxiety and mental disorders in a way similar to SSRIs however, with fewer adverse effects. These medicines are effective at low doses, but their effectiveness increases with the increase in dosage. Tricyclics are effective for treating anxiety, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, however, they are not likely to treat generalized anxiety disorder.
A newer antidepressant, buspirone, is also used to combat anxiety. It acts as a mild tranquilizer but it doesn't cause the same side effects as benzodiazepines. It doesn't affect memory and coordination. It works by increasing the serotonin levels in the brain, and decreasing dopamine levels. As anxiety treatment therapy as 70% of people who take the drug find it to be effective. The risk of side effects tends to decrease when the medication is used for longer periods of time. Talk therapy, for instance cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy, can be used alongside these medications to enhance the effects.
Buspirone
Buspirone is a generic medicine used to treat anxiety disorders. It's taken orally, usually twice a day. It is not a controlled drug, but there is the potential for abuse.
Doctors aren't certain of the exact way buspirone functions, but they do know that it reduces the levels of serotonin and its actions in certain regions of the brain. This makes the nervous system less responsive to anxiety and stress.
Buspirone is generally considered safe by doctors for the vast majority of people. It is generally believed as having a lower degree of toxicity and a smaller risk of addiction than benzodiazepines or barbiturates. Like other medicines there are some adverse reactions. The most common side effects are nausea and dizziness. Buspirone may interact with other supplements, medications and other ingredients. Inform your doctor if you are taking any of these prior to beginning the drug.
If you are over 65, your doctor could give you buspirone in a lower dosage. This is due to the fact that older people tend to respond to drugs differently than younger individuals do. This is especially true of drugs that affect the nervous system.
It's also important to inform your doctor if taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor like isocarboxazid (Marplan) or linezolid (Zyvox), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar) or tranylcypromine (Parnate). Buspirone can cause serious side effects due to increasing the concentrations of these drugs.
Inform your doctor if you suffer from liver disease, kidney problems stomach issues, are breastfeeding or pregnant. In these cases, certain medications, such as SSRIs might not be suitable for you.
Your doctor may prescribe an alternative treatment in the event that buspirone isn't working or in the event that you are unable to take it due to a medical condition or because of an interaction with a different drug. This could be a new type of antidepressant such as Lexapro or Prozac or a beta blocker, such as propranolol; or a benzodiazepine like Xanax. The PIL for each drug will provide more information about how to take it and possible adverse effects.
Other Medicines
In addition to medications, there are other options to help reduce anxiety. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is one of the options. Psychotherapy can help you change the way you think about your anxiety and help you develop strategies to manage it. Other options include learning relaxation skills and maintaining a regular workout routine, and staying away from alcohol and other drugs. Herbal remedies can aid some people with anxiety symptoms. If these methods don't work, talk to your doctor.
The two main categories of medications used to treat anxiety. Benzodiazepines like Ativan, or lorazepam, enhance the activity of GABA in your brain, which increases peace. They provide rapid relief but can become addictive if used long-term. Antidepressants are more difficult to use however they can regulate the levels in your brain of specific chemicals called neurotransmitters that affect your mood.
Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are the most well-known kind of antidepressant used to treat anxiety. They increase the level of serotonin, a chemical messenger in your brain, which may improve your mood and make you feel less stressed. Another class of antidepressants, serotonin norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors or SNRIs, prevent the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain, increasing levels of these chemicals and making you feel more energized. Monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs) are a third antidepressant group that is sometimes used by people who don't respond to SSRIs to combat anxiety.
There are numerous other medications that can be used to combat anxiety. These include azapirones alpha- and Beta-blockers, Antihistamines, such as Clonidine, hydroxyzine and. These medications have a lower rate of success than SSRIs or benzodiazepines.
Although medication can be an effective treatment for anxiety, it shouldn't always be used. Non-drug treatments can be more effective if there is an underlying cause for your anxiety, such as eating disorders, debt or an unhealthy relationship. Other options include cognitive behavior therapy, or biofeedback, which teaches you to control your own brain waves using a monitoring device; and mindfulness meditation, a form of meditation that focuses on the present moment.