Meds That Treat Anxiety

Anxiety is among the most frequent mental health problems, affecting 40 million adults in the United States. There are a variety of medications 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 common anxiety medications are selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro) and fluoxetine (Prozac). These drugs also treat depression and can help relieve the symptoms of anxiety disorders, like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It could take up to one month before they begin working.

These drugs increase the amount of certain chemical messengers within the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine. They're usually the first treatment option for anxiety, though doctors also employ other kinds of antidepressants as well as benzodiazepines.

Another class of antidepressants known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are used to treat anxiety. They operate a bit differently from SSRIs because they reduce the reabsorption of norepinephrine and serotonin, although at lower levels than SSRIs. These medicines take a long time to work and are more expensive than SSRIs.

Tricyclic antidepressants like imipramine Tofranil are effective in treating anxiety disorders. However their drowsiness as well as other adverse reactions make them less well-known. Another type of antidepressant, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are also able to be used to treat anxiety. However, their restrictions on diet and the high risk of toxicity restrict their use.

Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat panic attacks and anxiety in the short term, such as when waiting for SSRIs or SNRIs to take effect. These medications can trigger addiction, tolerance, and sedation as well as withdrawal symptoms such a depression, anxiety, and delirium. Benzodiazepines can be found in alprazolam as well as clonazepam and lorazepam.

Therapy is a crucial component of any anxiety treatment plan. It aids you in better understand your symptoms and their reasons. Many people find that both therapy and medication can help them manage their anxiety. In fact, some studies suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy is as effective as medications for anxiety. Talk with your doctor about your options and determine what might be best for you.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines create an calming effect, reduce anxiety and relax tense muscles. They also alleviate symptoms of bodily stress related to fear (like heart rate or trembling) and encourage sleep.

They work by binding to inhibitory neurons, like GABA or gamma aminobutryic acids and bind to receptors in the central nervous system. They enhance the effects of GABA by facilitating its inhibitory effect on other neurotransmitters and decreasing the amount of messages that are that are transmitted to the amygdala, which is the brain's region that detects threats and creates the feeling of fear.

These medications can be utilized for short periods of time for instance, when you experience a panic attack or if you are experiencing severe anxiety. They can help relieve symptoms in 30 to 60 minutes. In contrast to SSRIs they don't stay in the body for long. They are fast acting and can be effective within a few hours. This makes them ideal for situations when immediate relief is needed (such for instance, during an airplane ride or before a presentation in public).

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

One of the reasons why benzodiazepines are so well-known is that they are efficient and have few adverse effects when compared to their predecessors such as barbiturates and meprobamate. They are fast in the time to begin their action and are extremely effective as anxiolytics (anti-anxiety), sedatives, anticonvulsants, as well as for muscle relaxants.

Benzos were blamed for the negative attitudes towards anxiety that were developed during the 1970s and 80s, including the minimization of the disorder, and the belief that benzodiazepine treatment result in physical dependence. However they still play an important role in the treatment of anxiety disorders, specifically in combination with psychosocial interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

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

Antidepressants

Antidepressants can be effective in treating anxiety and mental illnesses. 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 a variety of antidepressants to treat other health ailments, too, such as eating disorders, some types of pain, and bipolar disorder.

The majority of doctors prescribe SSRIs as a first-line treatment for anxiety, but these medications may not be suitable for everyone. If these antidepressants don't work the doctor might suggest an older type known as a tetracyclic, or tricyclic antidepressant. These include amitriptyline and nortriptyline, as well as clomipramine. They're less popular than the newer antidepressants, but still available. You can ask your doctor to prescribe the sedating antidepressant, trazodone(Desyrel) at lower doses if you are experiencing sleep issues or anxiety.

Nefazodone, also referred to as Ferdinand (Cymbalta), and duloxetine are also beneficial. These drugs are also available in generic forms. If they aren't helping, your doctor may try the antipsychotics quetiapine or olanzapine or the tranquilizing antidepressant Mirtazapine.

Beta blockers are used to treat other anxiety treatment types disorders. They reduce heart rate and blood pressure by blocking adrenaline. These drugs aren't commonly used to treat anxiety on their own however they can be beneficial when used in conjunction with psychological therapy.

Psychotherapy can assist you to alter negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute towards your anxiety. It can help you manage your anxiety and develop strategies for coping. Based on the severity of your problem, exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy could be suggested. Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches you to confront unhelpful and fearful thoughts, and to overcome your aversion to situations that trigger anxiety. Exposure therapy is the process of increasing the intensity of anxiety-inducing situations until they can be managed. It can be done either individually or in a small group. In both instances, the results will take time to manifest. A combination of medication and psychotherapy therapy is the best option for certain people. Some people find that taking medication alone is enough to manage symptoms. It is important to inform your doctor what you're doing to control your symptoms.

Other Medications

Other medications can also help alleviate your symptoms. Antihistamines, beta blockers, and buspirone are often prescribed to ease anxiety.

These drugs can help you ease your symptoms, by reducing or blocking signals that cause anxiety and stress. They're not a cure-all. You will still require a variety of methods to reduce anxiety, like physical exercise, relaxation techniques and psychological therapy.

The SSRIs or SNRIs are often the first choice of anxiety medications that your doctor might prescribe. According to studies, these medications are the most effective for treating anxiety disorders. SSRIs are commonly found in sertraline (Zoloft) as well as Citropram, fluoxetine, and escitalopram. These medications can cause mild side effects like nausea and insomnia, but these tend to subside within 4-8 weeks. In contrast to benzodiazepines, these are not addictive and won't increase your risk of having suicidal thoughts.

The benzodiazepines, alprazolam (Xanax) as well as Clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepoxide (Valium) provide immediate relief from panic attacks and anxiety however they can also cause adverse effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, memory and coordination issues, and dependence. These medications are less well-known than older barbiturates but are equally effective.

Antihistamines, such as Vistaril (hydroxyzine) are designed to help with allergies, but they're also sometimes used to reduce anxiety symptoms. Hydroxyzine has a calming effect because it blocks histamine receptors. It is not a controlled substance, so it doesn't have the same addiction risks as benzodiazepines.

Anticonvulsants are a different kind of medication that can be used to treat anxiety. They have been proven to reduce anxiety by inhibiting the production of and release of dopamine and sérotonin. They might be prescribed in conjunction with other medications or as a short-term treatment for anxiety. Your doctor will evaluate your health history and symptoms to determine if these drugs are right for you. They'll also discuss the length of time you should take them for and any possible side effects. Anxiety medication is only available on prescription, and you'll need a psychiatrist to prescribe it.