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Meds That Treat Anxiety

Anxiety affects 40 million adults in the United States. It is extremely treatable, and there are many types of medications available.

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro and Effexor, work to alleviate anxiety by raising levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain. They're not addictive, unlike benzodiazepines.

SSRIs

The most common anxiety medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro) and fluoxetine (Prozac). These drugs can also be used to treat depression and relieve symptoms of anxiety disorders like obsessive compulsive disorder. It can take up to one month for them to begin working.

These drugs work by boosting the levels of certain chemical messengers in the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine. They're typically the first treatment option for anxiety, but doctors may also prescribe other kinds of antidepressants and benzodiazepines.

Another class of antidepressants called serotonin and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are used to treat anxiety and panic attacks treatment. They function a bit differently than SSRIs in that they reduce the reabsorption of norepinephrine and serotonin, but at lower levels than SSRIs. These medicines may take a few days to start taking effects, and they tend to be more expensive than SSRIs.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as imipramine (Tofranil) are effective in treating certain anxiety disorders, notably GAD. However their drowsiness as well as other adverse effects make them less popular. Another type of antidepressant, monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs) are also able to be used to treat anxiety. Their high toxicity risk and dietary restrictions limit their use.

Benzodiazepines are frequently used medicine To treat Anxiety and depression combat anxiety and panic attacks in the short term like when you wait for SSRIs or SNRIs to kick in. These medications can trigger addiction, tolerance, and sedation and withdrawal symptoms like a rebound anxiety, depression and delirium. Benzodiazepines can be found in alprazolam as well as clonazepam and lorazepam.

Therapy is an important part of an anxiety treatment plan as it can help you discover more about the symptoms and their root causes. Many people find that both therapy and medication can help them cope with anxiety. Some studies suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy is as effective as anxiety medications. Speak to your doctor to determine what is the best option for you.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines create a calming effect, decrease anxiety and relax tense muscles. They also ease symptoms of fear-related bodily stimulation (like heart racing or shaking) and encourage sleep.

The way they work is through binding to inhibitory neurotransmitters like gamma-aminobutryic acid, or GABA and interacting with receptors in the central nervous system. They enhance GABA's effects by facilitating the inhibitory effect of GABA on other neurotransmitters, and by reducing the volume of messages sent to amygdala. This is a region of the brain that is able to detect threats and produces a feeling of fear.

These medications are sometimes taken for short durations, such as during panic attacks or an anxiety episodes. They may help relieve the symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes of taking them. Benzodiazepines are different from SSRIs do not stay in the body for long. They're fast-acting and usually perform in just a few hours, which makes them ideal for situations where quick relief is needed (like on a plane flight or prior to giving an event in public).

As they are addictive, patients are usually only prescribed them for up to four weeks at a time. They also lose effectiveness after a certain period of time.

One of the reasons why the benzodiazepines became so well-known is that they worked and had few side effects when compared with their predecessors, like barbiturates or meprobamate. They are fast in the onset of action and are very useful as anxiolytics (anti-anxiety), sedatives, anticonvulsants, as well as for muscle relaxants.

Benzos are often blamed for the negative perceptions of anxiety that developed in the 1970s and 1980s, including the denial of the disorder and the belief that benzodiazepine treatment leads to physical dependence. Despite this they play a significant role in the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially in combination with psychosocial interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

Benzos can interact with other drugs and cause unwanted side-effects, such as drowsiness or confusion. It is recommended to inform your doctor about any prescription, nonprescription, or herbal medicines you are currently taking or plan to take. You can find out which medications are safe to take with benzodiazepines through the British National Formulary A-Z list of medication interactions.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants can ease anxiety and other mental health issues. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, antidepressants -- like SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) -- can help reduce chronic anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The FDA has approved antidepressants to treat other health conditions, including eating disorders, bipolar disorder and certain kinds of pain.

SSRIs are typically prescribed as a first-line treatment option for social anxiety disorder treatment by doctors, but they may not work for everyone. If they don't work, doctors may look at the more traditional antidepressant, known as tricyclic or tetracyclic an antidepressant. These include amitriptyline or nortriptyline as well as Clomipramine. These antidepressants aren't as common but they are still accessible. Your doctor can also prescribe the antidepressant that sedates, Trazodone (Desyrel) in lower doses for sleep or anxiety.

Other antidepressants that may help are the nefazodone (Ferdinand) and duloxetine (Cymbalta). They're also available in generic forms. If they don't help, your doctor may try the antipsychotics quetiapine and Olanzapine or the sedating antidepressant Mirtazapine.

Medications for other anxiety disorders include beta blockers, which reduce the blood pressure and heart rate by preventing the action of adrenaline. These drugs aren't usually used to treat anxiety by themselves however they can be beneficial when used in conjunction with psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy can help you to change negative thoughts and behaviors that can cause anxiety. It can teach you to control your anxiety and learn strategies for coping. Depending on your health condition, you could be treated with cognitive behavioural therapy or exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy assists you to overcome negative thoughts, fearful thoughts and to overcome the fear of situations that cause anxiety. Exposure therapy is the process of increasing the anxiety provoking situations until they become manageable. This can be done in a single session or in a small group. In both cases, results can take a while to show. Some people find that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is the best option. Some people find that taking medication alone is sufficient to treat symptoms. Inform your doctor about how you manage your symptoms.

Other Medical Treatments

Other drugs can also aid in relieving your symptoms. Beta blockers, antihistamines, and buspirone are all prescribed to ease anxiety.

These drugs can help you alleviate your symptoms by reducing or blocking the signals that trigger stress and fear. They're not a cure-all. You'll still need to do other things to reduce your anxiety, like exercises, relaxation techniques, and psychotherapy.

Your doctor might initially prescribe one of the "first choices" anxiety treatment meds medications, which include SSRIs and SNRIs. According to research, these drugs are the most effective in treating anxiety disorders. SSRIs are commonly found in sertraline (Zoloft), Citropram, fluoxetine, and escitalopram. These medications might have minor side effects, such as insomnia or nausea, however they usually subside within 4-8 weeks. They aren't addictive and they do not increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts.

The benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, diazepoxide, and clonazepam (Valium) are a quick relief from panic and anxiety attacks. However, they may cause side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness. They may also cause memory and coordination issues, and may even cause dependence. They're less well-known than the barbiturates of the past, however, they're equally effective.

Antihistamines such as Vistaril (hydroxyzine) were originally created to treat allergies. However, they are also used to alleviate anxiety symptoms. Hydroxyzine blocks histamine receptors in the brain, and can trigger an energizing effect. It is not a controlled substance and does not have the same risk of addiction as benzodiazepines.

Another type of medication that can aid with anxiety is a group of medications called anticonvulsants, which have been shown to relieve anxiety by affecting the release and production of serotonin and dopamine. These medications may be prescribed as part of an integrated therapy or to treat anxiety in the short term. Your doctor will examine your medical history and symptoms to determine if these medications are appropriate for you. They'll also talk about how long you should take them and any possible adverse effects. Anxiety medications are only available through prescription, so a psychiatrist will be required to prescribe it.