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https://www.iampsychiatry.com/anxiety-treatment

Meds That Treat Anxiety Anxiety affects 40 million people in the United States Many types of medications are available to treat it SSRIs selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and SNRIs serotoninnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitors like Zoloft Prozac Lexapro and Effexor work to alleviate anxiety by raising levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain Theyre not addictive unlike benzodiazepines SSRIs The most commonly used anxiety medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs like citalopram Celexa escitalopram Lexapro and fluoxetine Prozac These drugs also treat depression and they can alleviate the symptoms of anxiety disorders like obsessivecompulsive disorder OCD It could take up to one month for them to begin working These drugs increase the levels of certain chemical messengers in the brain including serotonin and norepinephrine Theyre usually the first treatment option for anxiety but doctors may also prescribe other kinds of antidepressants and benzodiazepines Another class of antidepressants known as serotonin and norepinephrinereuptake inhibitors SNRIs like duloxetine Cymbalta and venlafaxine Effexor are used to treat anxiety They work a little differently from SSRIs as they also reduce the reabsorption rate of norepinephrine and serotonin but at lower levels than SSRIs They may take a few days to begin taking effects and they are more expensive than SSRIs Tricyclic antidepressants like imipramine Tofranil can be effective for treating anxiety disorders Their drowsiness and other side effects make them less popular Another type of antidepressant monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs can be used to treat anxiety They are a high risk of toxicity and restrictions on diets limit their use Benzodiazepines are frequently used to treat panic attacks and anxiety in the short term like when you wait for SSRIs or SNRIs to take effect These drugs can trigger tolerance addiction sedation as well as withdrawal reactions that can cause rebound depression anxiety and even delirium Common benzodiazepines include alprazolam Xanax clonazepam Klonopin and lorazepam Ativan Therapy is an essential component of a treatment plan for anxiety as it helps you understand your symptoms and their reasons Many people discover that both therapy and medication help them cope with anxiety Some studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy can be just as effective as medications for anxiety Speak to your doctor to find out whats best for you Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines have a calming effect decrease anxiety and relax muscles that are tense They also reduce symptoms of bodily arousal due to fear like heart racing and shaking and promote sleep The way they work is by binding to inhibitory neurotransmitters like gammaaminobutryic acids or GABA and interacting with receptors in the central nervous system They boost the effects of GABA by facilitating the inhibitory effects of GABA on other neurotransmitters and reducing the number of messages sent to the amygdala This is a region of the brain that is able to detect threats and creates a sense of fear These medications are typically used for short periods for instance during a panic attack or severe anxiety episode They can help relieve symptoms in 30 to 60 minutes Benzodiazepines unlike SSRIs arent able to remain in the body for long They are fastacting and often take effect in just a couple of hours making them ideal for situations when you require quick relief like during an airplane flight or prior to giving a public presentation They are addictive and people are generally only prescribed them for up to 4 weeks at one time They also lose their effectiveness after a period of time One of the reasons why benzodiazepines were so popular was that they were effective and had a few adverse effects when compared with their predecessors such as barbiturates or meprobamate They are effective and have a rapid onset and can be used as anxiolytics in order to reduce anxiety They can also be employed as sedatives anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants Benzos were blamed for negative attitudes towards anxiety that developed in the 1970s and 1980s including the minimization of the disorder and the belief that benzodiazepine treatment lead to physical dependence However they continue to play an important role in the treatment of anxiety disorders particularly when used in combination with psychosocial interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy Benzos can interact with other drugs and cause undesirable sideeffects such as drowsiness or confusion It is essential to inform your doctor know about any other prescription nonprescription or herbal medications youre taking or thinking about taking You can find out which medications are safe to take along with benzodiazepines by checking the British National Formulary AZ list of medication interactions Antidepressants Antidepressants are effective in treating anxiety and other mental disorders According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America antidepressants like SSRIs and serotoninnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs can help reduce chronic anxiety disorder obsessivecompulsive disorder OCD panic disorders and generalized anxiety disorder GAD The FDA has approved several antidepressants for other health conditions too such as eating disorders certain kinds of pain and bipolar disorder SSRIs are usually prescribed as a firstline treatment option for anxiety by doctors but they may not work for all people If they arent working doctors may try the older type of antidepressant known as a tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressant These include amitriptyline and nortriptyline clomipramine trimipramine doxepin and dothiepin or imipramine These antidepressants arent as common but they are still readily available You can also ask your doctor to prescribe the sedating antidepressant trazodoneDesyrel in lower doses in case you are experiencing sleep issues or anxiety Other antidepressants that can help include Nefazodone Ferdinand and duloxetine Cymbalta These medications are also available in generic form If they dont work your doctor might suggest a sedating antidepressant mirtazapine Remeron or the antipsychotics olanzapine and quetiapine Beta blockers are used to treat anxiety disorders They lower blood pressure and heart rate by blocking adrenaline These drugs arent usually used to treat anxiety by themselves however they can be helpful when combined with psychological therapy Psychotherapy can help you to change negative thoughts and behavior that contribute towards your anxiety It can help you manage your anxiety and develop coping skills Based on your specific situation you may undergo exposure or cognitive behavioural therapy Cognitive behavioural therapy assists you to develop the ability to confront negative fearful thoughts and overcome the fear of situations that trigger anxiety Exposure therapy involves gradually increasing the severity of anxietyprovoking situations until you are able to manage the stressors It can be carried out either in a group or by yourself In both cases it takes time to achieve results Some people find that a combination of medication and psychotherapy is the best option Some people find that medication alone is sufficient to treat symptoms Its important to tell your doctor what youre doing to control your symptoms Other Medications Other drugs can also help relieve your symptoms Antihistamines beta blockers and buspirone are all prescribed to reduce anxiety These drugs can help you alleviate your symptoms by lowering or blocking the signals that cause anxiety and stress However theyrent the only solution Youll still need to do other things to reduce your anxiety including physical exercise as well as relaxation techniques and psychotherapy Your doctor could initially prescribe one of the first first anxiety medications which include SSRIs and SNRIs They are the most effective drugs for treating anxiety disorders according to research studies The most commonly used SSRIs include sertraline Zoloft as well as the fluoxetine Prozac and Citropram Celexa and escitalopram Lexapro These medications may have minor side effects like insomnia or nausea however they usually subside within 48 weeks They are not addictive and they do not increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts The benzodiazepines such as alprazolam clonazepam and diazepoxide Valium are a quick relief from anxiety and panic attacks However they could cause adverse effects including dizziness and drowsiness They can also cause problems with coordination and memory and even dependence Theyre not as popular over the more traditional barbiturates but are just as effective Antihistamines like Vistaril hydroxyzine were developed to relieve allergies however theyre also employed to alleviate anxiety symptoms Hydroxyzine has a calming affect by blocking histamine receptors Its not a controlled drug and therefore doesnt carry the same addiction risks as benzodiazepines Anticonvulsants are another kind of medication that can aid in reducing anxiety They have been found to reduce anxiety through interfering in the production and release of dopamine and sérotonin These medications may be prescribed as part of a combination therapy or to treat anxiety in the short term Your doctor will review your health history and symptoms to determine if these drugs are suitable for you They will also discuss the length of time youll need to take these medications as well as any possible negative side effects that might occur Anxiety medications are only available through prescription and youll need a psychiatrist to prescribe it