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

Meds That Treat Anxiety Anxiety affects 40 million people in the United States There are a variety of medications 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 popular anxiety medications are selective serotoninreuptake inhibitors SSRIs like citalopram Celexa escitalopram Lexapro and fluoxetine Prozac These medications also help with depression and can alleviate the symptoms of other anxiety disorders such as obsessivecompulsive disorder OCD They may take up to a month before they start working These drugs are effective by increasing the quantity of certain chemical transmitters within the brain This includes serotonin norepinephrine and dopamine Theyre usually the first treatment option for anxiety but doctors may also prescribe other kinds of antidepressants and benzodiazepines Another class of antidepressants called serotonin and norepinephrinereuptake inhibitors SNRIs like duloxetine Cymbalta and venlafaxine Effexor are also used to treat anxiety They are a bit different from SSRIs since they reduce norepinephrine but at a lower rate than SSRIs They may take a few days to take effects and also tend to be more expensive than SSRIs Tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine Tofranil are effective for treating anxiety disorders However their drowsiness and other side effects make them less popular Monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs are a different kind of antidepressant that can be used to combat anxiety However their strict dietary restrictions and the high risk of toxicity limit their use Benzodiazepines are used to combat panic attacks and anxiety in the shortterm in the meantime while waiting for SSRIs and SNRIs These drugs can lead to addiction tolerance and sedation as well as withdrawal symptoms such as a rebound anxiety depression and delirium Benzodiazepines can be found in alprazolam clonazepam and lorazepam Therapy is an essential component of the treatment for anxiety as it helps you understand your symptoms and the reasons Many people find that medication and therapy both aid in coping Certain studies have demonstrated that cognitive behavioral therapy is as effective as anxiety medications Talk with your doctor about your options and what might be best for you Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines can have a calming effect that reduces anxiety and relaxes muscles that are tight They also ease symptoms of bodily stimulation related to fear like heart racing or trembling and help promote sleep They work by binding inhibitory neurons for example GABA or gamma aminobutryic acids and bind to receptors in the central nervous system They increase the effects of GABA by facilitating the inhibitory effects of GABA on other neurotransmitters and by reducing the volume of messages that are sent to the amygdala It is a part of the brain which assesses threats and produces a feeling of fear These medications can be used for short periods of time like when a panic attack occurs or if you are experiencing severe anxiety They may ease the symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes of taking them Benzodiazepines are in contrast to SSRIs arent able to remain in the body for long They are fast acting and can work within a few hours This makes them suitable for situations when immediate relief is needed such as on an airplane or before giving a presentation in public They are addictive which is why people are usually prescribed them for up to 4 weeks at each time They also lose effectiveness after that time 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 or barbiturates They have a rapid onset of action and are very useful as anxiolytics antianxiety as well as sedatives and anticonvulsants as well as as muscle relaxants Benzos are often blamed for the negative perceptions of anxiety that developed in the 1970s and 1980s which included the stigmatization of anxiety and the belief that benzodiazepine treatment leads to physical dependence Despite this they play a significant role in the treatment of anxiety disorders particularly when used in conjunction with psychosocial interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy Benzos can interact with other drugs and cause unwanted sideeffects such as drowsiness confusion or drowsiness It is recommended to inform your doctor about any prescription nonprescription or herbal medications that you currently take or are planning to take Check the British National Formulary A to Z list of medication interactions to find out what medications are safe with benzodiazepines Antidepressants Antidepressants can ease anxiety and other mental health problems 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 a variety of antidepressants to treat other conditions as well including eating disorders some types of pain and bipolar disorder SSRIs are typically prescribed as a firstline treatment for anxiety by doctors but they might not work for all people If the antidepressants do not work the doctor might suggest an older version called a tetracyclic or tricyclic antidepressant These include amitriptyline and nortriptyline clomipramine dothiepin doxepin trimipramine or imipramine These antidepressants are not as popular but they are still available Your doctor can prescribe the sedating antidepressant Trazodone Desyrel at lower doses to treat anxiety or insomnia Nefazodone aka Ferdinand Cymbalta and duloxetine can also be useful These drugs are also available in generic form If they arent helping your doctor you can try the antipsychotics quetiapine and Olanzapine or the tranquilizing antidepressant Mirtazapine Beta blockers are used to treat other anxiety disorders They reduce blood pressure and heart rate by blocking adrenaline These drugs are not usually used to treat anxiety by themselves however they can be effective when used in conjunction with psychotherapy Psychological therapy can help you overcome negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your anxiety It will help you learn to control your anxiety and develop coping strategies Depending on the severity of your condition exposure therapy or cognitive behavior therapy might be recommended Cognitive behavioural therapy helps you learn to challenge unhelpful thoughts fearful thoughts and to overcome the fear of situations that cause your anxiety Exposure therapy involves gradually increasing the severity of anxietyinducing situations until can cope with them It can be performed in a group or on your own In both instances it takes time to show results Some people believe that the combination of medication and psychotherapy is the best choice Some people find that taking medication alone is enough to manage symptoms Its important to tell your doctor about the things youre doing to manage your symptoms Other Medicines While benzodiazepines and antidepressants are the most frequently prescribed medications to treat anxiety other drugs can ease your symptoms as well Beta blockers and antihistamines are often prescribed to ease anxiety These drugs can correct an imbalance in your brains chemical balance and can help alleviate your symptoms by reducing or blocking signals that trigger anxiety and stress Theyre not a cureall Youll still have to do other things to reduce your anxiety including physical exercise or relaxation techniques as well as psychological therapy Your doctor could initially prescribe one of the first choices anxiety medication which includes SSRIs and SNRIs According to research these drugs are the most effective in treating anxiety disorders Common SSRIs include sertraline Zoloft fluoxetine Prozac and Citropram Celexa and escitalopram Lexapro These medications might have minor adverse effects like insomnia or nausea but they typically disappear within 48 weeks Contrary to benzodiazepines theyre not addictive and dont increase your risk of having suicidal thoughts The benzodiazepines alprazolam clonazepam and diazepoxide Valium offer immediate relief from panic and anxiety attacks However they may cause side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness They can also trigger problems with coordination and memory and even dependence These medications are less wellknown than the older barbiturates but they are equally effective Antihistamines like Vistaril hydroxyzine were initially developed to relieve allergies However they can also be used to reduce anxiety symptoms Hydroxyzine may have a relaxing affect by blocking histamine receptors It is not a controlled drug and doesnt have the same addiction risks as benzodiazepines Another kind of medication that can aid with anxiety is a class of medications known as anticonvulsants They have been shown to ease anxiety by inhibiting the release and production of serotonin and dopamine They can be prescribed in conjunction with other medicines or as a shortterm treatment for anxiety Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and health history to determine whether these medications are appropriate for you Theyll also talk about how long you should take them for and any possible adverse effects Anxiety medications can only be purchased on prescription which means youll have to see a psychiatrist to get these medications