Meds That Treat Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health problems which affects more than 40 million people in the United States. It's extremely treatable with numerous 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. In contrast to benzodiazepines, they're addictive.

SSRIs

The most common anxiety medication is selective serotonin reuptake inhibits (SSRIs), including citalopram, escitalopram, and fluoxetine. These medications can also be used to treat depression and relieve symptoms of anxiety disorders like obsessive compulsive disorder. It could take up to a month to start working.

They work by increasing the amount of certain chemical messengers in the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine. These are typically the first option to treat anxiety, though doctors may prescribe other forms of antidepressants or benzodiazepines.

Antidepressants like duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are also used for anxiety. They differ from SSRIs because they decrease norepinephrine, but at a lower rate than SSRIs. These medications may take some time to begin taking effects, and they tend to be more expensive than SSRIs.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) like imipramine (Tofranil), can be effective in treating certain anxiety disorders, notably GAD. However their drowsiness as well as other side effects make them less well-known. Another type of antidepressant, monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs) are also able to be used to treat anxiety. Their high risk of toxicity and restrictions on diets restrict their use.

Benzodiazepines are frequently used to treat panic attacks and anxiety in the short-term, such as when waiting for SSRIs or SNRIs to begin working. These medications can cause addiction to tolerance, sedation, and dependence, as well as withdrawal symptoms such a rebound anxiety, depression and delirium. Common benzodiazepines include alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin) and lorazepam (Ativan).

Therapy is an essential part of any home treatment for anxiety attack plan for anxiety. It assists you to better know your symptoms and their root causes. Many people discover that medication and therapy both help them cope. Some studies suggest that cognitive therapy works just as well as medication for anxiety. Talk to your doctor about your options and what is the best option for you.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines have a calming affect they reduce anxiety and relax muscles that are tight. They also reduce symptoms of bodily arousal related to fear (like heart rate, trembling and shaking) and encourage sleep.

They work by binding inhibitory neurons, like GABA or gamma aminobutryic acid and bind to receptors in the central nervous system. They enhance GABA's effects by facilitating the inhibitory effect of GABA on other neurotransmitters, and decreasing the amount of messages that are sent to the amygdala. It is a part of the brain that is able to detect threats and produces a feeling of fear.

These medications can be utilized for short periods of time for instance, when a panic attack occurs or if you are experiencing severe anxiety. They can help ease symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes of taking them. Contrary to SSRIs, benzodiazepines don't remain in the body for very long. They're quick-acting and typically perform in just a few hours, making them ideal for situations in which immediate relief is required (like during an airplane flight or prior to giving an event in public).

They are addictive, which is why it is recommended to only prescribe them for up to 4 weeks at each time. After that time, they also lose their effectiveness.

One of the reasons why benzodiazepines are so popular is that they are effective and have few adverse effects when compared ways to treat anxiety without medication their predecessors, such as barbiturates or meprobamate. They are fast in the time to begin their action and are extremely effective as anxiolytics (anti-anxiety) as well as sedatives and anticonvulsants as well as as muscle relaxants.

Benzos were blamed for the negative attitudes towards anxiety that developed in the 1970s and 1980s and included the denial of the disorder and the perception that benzodiazepine treatments lead to physical dependence. Despite this they play a crucial role in the treatment of anxiety disorders, specifically when used in combination with psychosocial interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

Benzos can interact with other medications, causing undesirable side effects such as drowsiness and disorientation. It is important to inform your doctor about any prescription, nonprescription, or herbal medicines you currently use or plan to take. You can find out which medications are safe to use with benzodiazepines through the British National Formulary A-Z list of drug interactions.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants can be effective in treating anxiety and other mental disorders. 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 issues, such as bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and certain types of pain.

SSRIs are often prescribed as a first-line Homeopathic treatment for anxiety (qooh.Me) for anxiety by doctors, however they might not work for everyone. If they aren't working doctors can consider a different type of antidepressant, known as tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants. They include amitriptyline, nortriptyline as well as clomipramine. These antidepressants are not as popular but still readily available. You may ask your doctor to prescribe the sedating antidepressant trazodone(Desyrel), at lower doses if you're having sleep problems or anxiety panic attack treatment.

Other antidepressants that can help are nefazodone (Ferdinand) and duloxetine (Cymbalta). These drugs to treat depression and anxiety are also available in generic forms. If they don't work, your doctor may try the antipsychotics quetiapine and Olanzapine or the sedative antidepressant Mirtazapine.

Treatments for other anxiety disorders include beta blockers, which reduce the blood pressure and heart rate by blocking the action of adrenaline. These medications aren't typically used to treat anxiety by themselves, but they can be effective when coupled with psychotherapy.

Psychological therapy can help you overcome negative thoughts and behaviors that can cause anxiety. It can help you to control your anxiety, and develop coping skills. Based on your specific situation, you may receive cognitive behavioural therapy or exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps you overcome negative thoughts, fears and avoidance of situations that trigger your anxiety. Exposure therapy involves gradually increasing the severity of anxiety-inducing situations until you can cope with them. This can be done individually or in small groups. In both instances, the results take time to appear. Some people find that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is the best choice. Others discover that medications alone are sufficient to control their symptoms. It is important to inform your doctor what you're doing to manage your symptoms.

Other Medical Treatments

Other drugs can also help relieve your symptoms. Beta blockers, antihistamines and buspirone are all sometimes prescribed to ease anxiety.

These medications can help alleviate your symptoms by reducing or blocking the signals that trigger stress and fear. However, they're not an all-in-one solution. You'll need to continue doing other things to reduce anxiety, such as physical exercise or relaxation techniques, as well as psychological therapy.

Your doctor may first prescribe one of the "first choices" anxiety medications, which are SSRIs and SNRIs. They are the most effective drugs to treat anxiety disorders, according to research studies. The most common SSRIs include sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac) and citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro). These medications might have mild side effects, such as nausea or insomnia, but they typically disappear within 4-8 weeks. Contrary to benzodiazepines they're not addictive and won't increase the risk of suicidal thoughts.

The benzodiazepines, alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepoxide (Valium) provide immediate relief from anxiety and panic attacks However, they can cause side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, memory and coordination problems, and dependence. These medications are less well-known than older barbiturates, however they are equally effective.

Antihistamines such as Vistaril (hydroxyzine) were originally designed to help with allergies. However, they are also used to alleviate anxiety symptoms. Hydroxyzine may have a relaxing affect by blocking histamine receptors. It's not a controlled non drug treatment for anxiety, so it doesn't have the same risks of addiction as benzodiazepines.

Another type of medication that can help with anxiety is a group of medications called anticonvulsants. They have been proven to reduce anxiety by interfering with the production and release of dopamine and serotonin. These medications can be used as part of an integrated therapy or to treat anxiety in the short term. Your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms to determine if these drugs are suitable for you. They will also discuss the length of time you'll need to take these medicines and any potential negative side effects that might occur. Anxiety medication is only available through prescription, and it is necessary to see a psychiatrist to prescribe it.