Drugs to Treat Anxiety Disorders
Psychologists treat anxiety disorders using various tools. IamPsychiatry use drugs as part of a three-pronged strategy, including exercise and psychotherapy.
SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are often prescribed as first-line antidepressants to treat anxiety disorders. They decrease anxiety by a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. Tricyclic antidepressants (propranolol and atenolol) are also available. These can increase blood pressure, and you may need to have your blood pressure monitored while on these drugs.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines can be a powerful treatment for anxiety. They provide immediate relief and make you feel calmer and more relaxed. They work by increasing the activity of GABA neurotransmitter in the brain. This can help reduce tension and nervousness. Benzodiazepines can also be used as an aid to sleep to help you fall asleep. GPs can prescribe a range of different benzodiazepines, including alprazolam (Xanax), diazepoxide (Librium) as well as Clonazepam (Klonopin) as well as lorazepam (Ativan) and flurazepoxide (Dalmane).
While benzodiazepines are an important treatment for anxiety symptoms however, they should be used cautiously. They can lead to dependence when used for long periods. This is why they are prescribed for short-term use. Doctors should take this into consideration when prescribing benzodiazepines, and discuss the potential risks with patients.
Some people abuse 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 adverse effects. Keep all your medications, including benzodiazepines, in a safe place. Only you or others who are authorized by you can access the medications.
If you have any previous background of alcohol or drug abuse, you might be more susceptible to developing a dependency to benzodiazepines. Inform your GP about any past issues with substance abuse so that they can monitor your treatment and assess your risk in more detail.
GPs should always consider non-drug approaches to treating anxiety prior to prescribing benzodiazepines. These include relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, exercise and tai chi, and changing some of your routines to lessen stress. They might recommend therapy that involves talking, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, which are beneficial to many people, helping to pinpoint the root of their anxiety, devise coping strategies and improve emotional well-being.
Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine receptor inhibitors (SNRIs), can also be effective in treating anxiety. These medications can be taken as part of an overall anxiety management plan, with the use of benzodiazepines for short-term anxiety relief while waiting for the longer-lasting effects of the antidepressants start to show.
Antidepressants
There are a variety of medicines that can be used to combat anxiety. They work in different ways, but they all increase the quantity of certain chemicals in your brain, which can impact mood. Your doctor will determine the best medication for you based on your symptoms and 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 a prescription from your doctor to purchase them, however generic versions are usually cheaper than the brand-name 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 in the nerve cells that produce or release serotonin. They can also decrease the amount norepinephrine that is released in response to stressful situations, and improve sleep.
Tricyclic antidepressants are a different kind of antidepressant. It is effective for some individuals, but its adverse effects and drowsiness restrict its use. Monoamine oxide inhibitors are effective in treating anxiety. However, their side effects, such as erectile dysfunction and weight increase make them less well-liked.
Sometimes, combining therapy with medication is the best approach to managing anxiety. Psychotherapy is more cost-effective and effective than drugs alone for most people who suffer from anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT, can teach you to identify the triggers of your anxiety and how to cope with these triggers. CBT can also assist you in learning how to stay clear of negative thoughts that can trigger anxiety.
Some people may need to take medication for anxiety for a long period of time, depending on their individual symptoms and how they respond to other treatments. The research is ongoing to discover how and why these medications increase anxiety and the best length of treatment is. Some people with severe anxiety may benefit from newer antidepressants like esketamine which is also known as Spravato.
Sedatives
Sedatives are medicines that relax the central nervous system and encourage sleep. Doctors prescribe them to treat sleep and anxiety disorders. They boost the function of a neurotransmitter named gamma-aminobutyric acids (or GABA in the brain to slow down the neuron's activity and reduce excitability, leading to feelings of relaxation and calm. Sedatives can also induce relaxation and decrease muscle spasms. These drugs can also be used to induce anesthesia. Z-drugs and benzodiazepines are the most frequently prescribed sedatives. The most common benzodiazepines include Xanax (alprazolam) and Liquirium and Valium (chlordiazepoxide and diazepoxide, respectively), Ativan, Lorazepam and others. Z-drugs are a type of hypnotic medication that acts by binding receptors in the brain and spinal cord to cause sleepiness. They have a calming effect that lasts from a few hours up to a whole day.
If sedatives are used in conjunction with other medicines such as alcohol or opiates, they may cause dangerous side effects. These include impaired judgment, drowsiness and loss of coordination. They can also lead to depression and confusion. Sedatives are also addictive and can cause dependence when taken for a prolonged period of time. Dependence is especially evident if the user is taking large doses of the drug or if they stop using "cold to the point of a cold" without slowly reducing the amount they use.
Antidepressants in addition to sedatives, are often prescribed to combat anxiety. They work by preventing nerve cells in the mind from reabsorbing a chemical called serotonin. This chemical is essential in regulating mood. Antidepressants are usually prescribed for 6-12 month and then the dosage is gradually decreased. Most people do not develop a tolerance for these medications, and they don't suffer withdrawal symptoms or develop 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 their anxiety and then learn to manage these situations. EMDR may be an effective treatment for other ailments, as well as PTSD. In this therapy, the person recalls life experiences that have caused anxiety, and moves their eyes around.
Psychotherapy
Anxiety disorders affect people of every age and have a wide range of backgrounds, incomes, and. These disorders are among the most common disorders of psychiatry that affect adults and they can be treated with psychotherapy or medication. Certain medications can help alleviate certain 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 typically prescribed to treat symptoms like excessive worry, restlessness, and trembling. They also can help alleviate other symptoms that are often associated with anxiety disorders, such as depression or fatigue. Antidepressants can also be prescribed to treat anxiety, and some of them are effective for people who do not have any depressive disorder.
The most effective medications to treat anxiety are selective serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). 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 headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness in the beginning However, these adverse effects tend to diminish with time use.
SSRIs and SNRIs are not the only medications that can be used to treat anxiety. These include venlafaxine and vortioxetine, bupropion XL, buspirone, doxepine, and valproic acids (VPA) in some formulations. The majority of these medications, however, have not been thoroughly tested in head-tohead trials, and have only a small amount of evidence to support their efficacy for generalized anxiety disorder.
Benzodiazepines are often utilized as a substitute for SSRIs or SNRIs, but they can cause serious side effects and can become habit-forming. They also can affect the effectiveness of psychotherapy, and a lot of patients experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking their benzodiazepine medications too soon. Due to these dangers, benzodiazepines should only be used as a last resort in conjunction with other treatments. If the symptoms are severe or life-threatening, your doctor might prescribe the medication.