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Meds That Treat Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions that affects 40 million adults in the United States. Many types of medications are available to treat it.

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 commonly used anxiety medication is selective serotonin inhibits (SSRIs), including citalopram, escitalopram, and fluoxetine. These drugs also treat depression and can ease the symptoms of anxiety disorders, like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). They can take up to a month before they begin working.

They are effective by increasing the quantity of certain chemical transmitters that are present in the brain. This includes serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These medications are typically the first choice for treating situational anxiety treatment, though doctors may also prescribe other types of antidepressants or benzodiazepines.

Another class of antidepressants known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are used to treat anxiety. They function a bit differently than SSRIs in that they reduce the reabsorption of norepinephrine and serotonin, although at lower levels than SSRIs. These medications take a lengthy time to take effect and are more expensive than SSRIs.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as imipramine (Tofranil), are effective in treating certain anxiety disorders, particularly GAD. Their drowsiness, and other adverse effects are what make them less well-liked. Monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs) are another type of antidepressant used to treat anxiety. However, their strict dietary restrictions and the high risk of toxicity restrict their use.

Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat panic attacks and anxiety in the short-term like when you wait for SSRIs or SNRIs to kick in. These drugs can lead to dependence, tolerance, and sedation as well as withdrawal symptoms such a depression, anxiety, and delirium. Benzodiazepines are typically found in alprazolam, clonazepam, and lorazepam.

Therapy is a crucial component of an anxiety treatment plan, as it helps you discover more about the symptoms and the reasons. Many people discover that medication and therapy both help them cope. In fact, some studies suggest that cognitive behavior therapy works just as well as medications for anxiety. Speak to your doctor to find out what's right for you.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines create a calming effect, decrease anxiety and relax muscles. They also alleviate symptoms of bodily stimulation related to fear (like heart rate or trembling) and help promote sleep.

The way they function is by binding to inhibitory neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutryic acid or GABA, at receptors in the central nervous system. They enhance the effects of GABA by facilitating its inhibitory effect on other neurotransmitters, and reducing the amount of messages that are that are transmitted to the amygdala, which is the brain's region which detects threats and gives the feeling of fear.

These medications are typically used for short periods like panic attacks or an anxiety episode. They may help relieve symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes after taking them. Benzodiazepines are, in contrast to SSRIs aren't able to remain in the body long. They are fast-acting and often take effect in just a couple of hours, making them ideal for situations when immediate relief is required (like during a flight or before a public presentation).

They are addictive, which is why people are generally only prescribed them for up to four weeks at each time. After that period, they also lose their effectiveness.

One of the reasons why benzodiazepines were so popular was that they worked and had a few adverse effects, when compared to their predecessors like meprobamate and barbiturates. They have a rapid start of action and are very useful as anxiolytics (natural anti anxiety treatment-anxiety), sedatives, anticonvulsants and as muscle relaxants.

Benzos were blamed for the negative attitudes towards anxiety that developed in the 1970s and 1980s, including the minimization of the disorder, as well as the perception that benzodiazepine therapies lead to physical dependence. Yet, benzodiazepines continue to play a significant role in the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially when they are combined with psychosocial interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy and other interpersonal therapies.

Benzos may interact with other medications and cause undesirable side effects such as drowsiness and confusion. It is important to inform your doctor know about any other prescription, non-prescription or herbal medicines you're contemplating or are taking. You can find out which medications are safe to take along with benzodiazepines by looking up the British National Formulary A-Z list of drug interactions.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants can help ease anxiety and other mental health conditions. 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 many antidepressants to treat other ailments, too, such as eating disorders, some types of pain, and bipolar disorder.

SSRIs are often prescribed as a first-line treatment for anxiety by doctors, however they might not work for all people. If they aren't working, doctors may try the older type of antidepressant known as tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants. These include amitriptyline, nortriptyline, clomipramine and dothiepin, doxepin, trimipramine or imipramine. They're less common than newer antidepressants, yet they're still readily available. You can ask your doctor to prescribe the sedating antidepressant, trazodone(Desyrel) at lower doses if you are experiencing sleep issues or anxiety.

Other antidepressants that could aid are the nefazodone (Ferdinand) and duloxetine (Cymbalta). These medications are also available in generic forms. If they aren't helping your doctor, he may suggest the antipsychotics quetiapine or olanzapine or the tranquilizing antidepressant Mirtazapine.

Beta blockers are used to treat anxiety disorders. They reduce heart rate and blood pressure by blocking adrenaline. These drugs are not usually used to treat anxiety by themselves, but they can be effective if used in conjunction with psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy can help you change negative thoughts and behaviors that can cause anxiety. It can teach you to manage your anxiety and develop how to cope. Based on your specific condition, you might be treated with exposure or cognitive behavioural therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps you overcome negative, fearful thoughts and overcome the fear of situations that cause your anxiety. Exposure therapy involves increasing the intensity of anxiety-inducing situations until they can be managed. It can be performed in a group or individually. In both instances, the results will take time to manifest. A combination of medication and psychological therapy is the best option for some individuals. Some people find that taking medication alone is sufficient to treat symptoms. Discuss with your doctor how you manage your symptoms.

Other Medicines

While benzodiazepines and antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed treatment for anxiety, other drugs can help alleviate your symptoms as well. Beta blockers and antihistamines are often prescribed to ease anxiety nausea treatment.

These drugs can help you alleviate your symptoms by reducing or blocking signals that cause anxiety and stress. They are not a panacea. You'll still have to do other things to manage anxiety, such as physical exercise or relaxation techniques, as well as psychological therapy.

Your doctor could first prescribe one of the "first first" anxiety medications, which are SSRIs and SNRIs. According to research, these medications are the most effective for treating anxiety disorders. SSRIs are typically found in sertraline (Zoloft), the fluoxetine, citalopram and escitalopram. These drugs may cause minor adverse effects, like nausea or insomnia, but they typically subside within 4-8 weeks. Contrary to benzodiazepines they're not addictive and won't increase your risk of having suicidal thoughts.

The benzodiazepines alprazolam (Xanax), Clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepoxide (Valium) offer immediate relief for anxiety and panic attacks However, they can cause negative effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, memory and coordination problems, and dependence. These are less popular than older barbiturates but are equally effective.

Antihistamines, such as Vistaril (hydroxyzine) were created to treat allergies, but they're also sometimes used to ease anxiety symptoms. Hydroxyzine may have a relaxing affect by blocking histamine receptors. It's not a controlled drug which means it doesn't carry the same dangers of addiction as benzodiazepines.

Anticonvulsants are an additional kind of medication that can be used to treat anxiety. They have been proven to reduce anxiety through blocking the production and release dopamine and sérotonin. They can be prescribed in combination with other medications or as a short-term homeopathic treatment for anxiety for travel anxiety treatment. Your doctor will examine your health history and symptoms to determine if these drugs are appropriate for you. They'll also discuss how long you should be taking them and any possible adverse effects. Anxiety medication is only available on prescription, so you'll have to see a psychiatrist before you can get them.