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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 Unlike benzodiazepines theyre not addictive SSRIs The most common anxiety medication is selective serotonin inhibits SSRIs which include citalopram escitalopram and fluoxetine These drugs can also be used to treat depression as well as relieve symptoms of anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder They can take up to a month for them to start working These drugs work by boosting the production of certain chemical messengers in the brain such as serotonin and norepinephrine These are typically the first option to treat anxiety but doctors can also prescribe other kinds of antidepressants or 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 as they reduce norepinephrine but at a lower level than SSRIs These medicines can take a while to take effects and they tend to be more expensive than SSRIs Tricyclic antidepressants TCAs such as imipramine Tofranil are effective in treating certain anxiety disorders including GAD Their drowsiness as well as other side effects make them less popular Another kind of antidepressant monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs can be used to combat anxiety However their strict dietary restrictions and the high risk of toxicity limit their usage Benzodiazepines can be used to combat panic attacks and anxiety in the shortterm while waiting for SSRIs and SNRIs These medications can trigger addiction to tolerance sedation and dependence and withdrawal symptoms such as a rebound anxiety depression and delirium Common benzodiazepines include alprazolam Xanax and Clonazepam Klonopin and lorazepam Ativan Therapy is a crucial component of any treatment plan for anxiety It aids you in better be aware of your symptoms and root causes Many people find that both therapy and medication aid them manage their anxiety treat anxiety iampsychiatrycom suggest that cognitive therapy is just as effective as medication for anxiety Speak to your doctor to determine what is the best option for you Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines produce an calming effect which can reduce anxiety and relax muscles They also alleviate symptoms of fearrelated bodily stimulation like heart rate or trembling and promote sleep The way they function is through binding to inhibitory neurotransmitters like gammaaminobutryic acid or GABA at receptors in the central nervous system They enhance GABAs effects by facilitating the inhibitory effect of GABA on other neurotransmitters and decreasing the amount of messages sent to the amygdala This is a part of the brain that evaluates threats and creates a sense of anxiety These drugs can be used for short durations for instance when a panic attack occurs or when you experience extreme anxiety They can help relieve symptoms in 30 to 60 minutes Benzodiazepines are different from SSRIs dont stay in the body for long Theyre quickacting and typically perform in just a few hours making them ideal for situations where you require quick relief like during an airplane flight or before an address in public They are addictive and it is recommended to only prescribe them for a maximum of 4 weeks at one time They also lose their effectiveness after that time One of the main reasons benzodiazepines are so popular is that they are safe and have fewer negative effects compared to predecessors like barbiturates and meprobamate They are fast in the time to begin their action and are extremely effective as anxiolytics antianxiety sedatives and anticonvulsants as well as for muscle relaxants Benzos are often blamed for the negative perceptions of anxiety that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s This included the trivialization of the disorder and the belief that benzodiazepine treatment leads to physical dependence However they still play a crucial role in the treatment of anxiety disorders specifically 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 important to inform your doctor about any prescription nonprescription or herbal medications that you are currently taking or plan to take You can find out which medications are safe to use with benzodiazepines by checking the British National Formulary AZ list of drug interactions Antidepressants Antidepressants can be effective in treating anxiety and other mental conditions 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 antidepressants to treat other health issues such as bipolar disorder eating disorders and certain kinds of pain Most doctors prescribe SSRIs as a firstline treatment for anxiety however these drugs may not be suitable for all people If the antidepressants do not work the doctor may try an older version known as a tetracyclic or tricyclic antidepressant They include amitriptyline nortriptyline and Clomipramine These antidepressants are less common but still accessible Your doctor may also prescribe the antidepressant with a sedating effect trazodone Desyrel in lower doses for anxiety or sleep Other antidepressants that can help include nefazodone Ferdinand and duloxetine Cymbalta These drugs are also available in generic forms If they do not work your doctor might suggest a antidepressant that is sedating mirtazapine Remeron or the antipsychotics olanzapine and quetiapine Beta blockers are used to treat other anxiety disorders They lower blood pressure and heart rate by blocking adrenaline These drugs are not usually used to treat anxiety alone but they can be effective when combined with psychotherapy Psychological therapy can help you change negative thoughts and behavior patterns that contribute to your anxiety It will help you learn to manage your anxiety and develop coping skills Based on the severity of your health condition you could be treated with exposure or cognitive behavioural therapy Cognitive behavioural therapy can help you overcome negative fearful thoughts and overcome avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety Exposure therapy involves increasing the anxiety provoking situations until they are manageable It can be performed in a group or on your own In both cases it takes time to achieve results Some people believe that a combination of medication and psychotherapy is the best choice Some people find that medication alone is sufficient to treat symptoms Its crucial to tell your doctor about the things youre doing to control your symptoms Other Medicines Other medications can aid in relieving your symptoms Beta blockers antihistamines and buspirone are all prescribed to alleviate anxiety These medications can help ease your symptoms by reducing or blocking signals that cause stress and fear Theyre not a cureall Youll have to take steps to control anxiety like exercises as well as relaxation techniques and psychotherapy Your doctor could initially prescribe one of the first choices anxiety medication which includes SSRIs and SNRIs According to research these medications are the most effective in treating anxiety disorders The most common SSRIs include sertraline Zoloft and fluoxetine Prozac and Citropram Celexa and escitalopram Lexapro These medications may cause mild side effects like nausea and insomnia but they usually disappear within 48 weeks They arent addictive and they do not increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts The benzodiazepines such as alprazolam diazepoxide and clonazepam Valium offer immediate relief from anxiety and panic attacks However they can cause side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness They can also trigger memory and coordination issues and even dependence Theyre a less popular choice than the older barbiturates but are just as effective Antihistamines such as Vistaril hydroxyzine were initially developed to relieve allergies However they can also be used to ease anxiety symptoms Hydroxyzine has a calming effect by blocking the histamine receptors Its not a controlled substance and therefore doesnt carry the same addiction risks like benzodiazepines Another kind of medication that can help with anxiety is a class of medications known as anticonvulsants Theyve been proven to reduce anxiety by interfering with the release and production of serotonin and dopamine They can be prescribed in combination with other medicines or as a shortterm treatment for anxiety Your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms to determine if these drugs are suitable for you They will also discuss the duration of time you should take these medications as well as any possible negative side effects that might occur Anxiety medication is only available on prescription so youll have to see a psychiatrist before you can get these medications