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

Meds That Treat Anxiety Anxiety is one of the most frequent mental health problems affecting 40 million adults in the United States It is extremely treatable and there are numerous medications available 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 commonly used anxiety medications are selective serotoninreuptake inhibitors SSRIs which include citalopram Celexa escitalopram Lexapro and fluoxetine Prozac These drugs also treat depression and they can ease symptoms associated with other anxiety disorders like obsessivecompulsive disorder OCD It can take up one month for them to start working These drugs work by boosting the production of certain chemical messengers within the brain such as serotonin and norepinephrine These are typically the first choice to treat anxiety though doctors may also prescribe other types of antidepressants and benzodiazepines Antidepressants like duloxetine Cymbalta and venlafaxine Effexor are also used for anxiety They are a bit different from SSRIs since they reduce norepinephrine however at a lower level than SSRIs These medicines can take a while to begin taking effects and also are more expensive than SSRIs Tricyclic antidepressants TCAs such as imipramine Tofranil are effective in treating certain anxiety disorders including GAD Their drowsiness and other adverse effects make them less popular Another kind of antidepressant monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs can also be used to treat anxiety Their high toxicity risk and dietary restrictions make them unsuitable for use Benzodiazepines are often used to combat anxiety and panic attacks in the short term like when you wait for SSRIs or SNRIs to take effect These medications can cause tolerance and addiction sedation and apathy and withdrawal reactions that include rebound depression anxiety and even delirium The most commonly used benzodiazepines are alprazolam Xanax as well as Clonazepam Klonopin and lorazepam Ativan Therapy is a vital part of any anxiety treatment plan It aids you in better know your symptoms and their reasons Many people discover that both therapy and medication help them cope with anxiety Certain studies have proven that cognitive behavioral therapy is as effective as medication for anxiety Talk with your doctor about your options and which is the best option for you Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines have an calming effect which can reduce anxiety and relax muscles They also ease symptoms of fearrelated bodily arousal like heart rate and shaking and encourage sleep They work by binding to inhibitory neurons for example GABA or gamma aminobutryic acids and bind to receptors in the central nervous system They enhance the effects of GABA by activating its inhibitory effect on other neurotransmitters and reducing the amount of messages that are that are sent to the amygdala a region of the brain which detects threats and gives the sensation of fear These drugs can be used for short durations of time like when panic attacks occur or if you are experiencing extreme anxiety They may ease symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes of taking them Benzodiazepines are different from SSRIs dont stay in the body for long Theyre quickacting and typically take effect in just a couple of hours which makes them ideal for situations when immediate relief is required like during an airplane flight or before an address in public They can be addictive so it is recommended to only prescribe them for a maximum of 4 weeks at each time After that period they also cease to be effective One of the reasons why benzodiazepines are so popular is because they are effective and have fewer negative effects compared to predecessors such as barbiturates and meprobamate They are safe and have a rapid onset and can be used as anxiolytics to reduce anxiety They can also be used as sedatives anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants Benzos were blamed for the negative attitudes towards anxiety that were developed in the 1970s and 80s including the minimization of the disorder and the belief that benzodiazepine treatment result in physical dependence However they still play a significant role in the treatment of anxiety disorders particularly in combination with psychosocial interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy Benzos can interact with other drugs and trigger unwanted side effects like drowsiness or confusion It is recommended to inform 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 use with benzodiazepines through the British National Formulary AZ list of medication 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 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 health conditions as well including eating disorders some types of pain and bipolar disorder SSRIs are typically prescribed as a firstline treatment option for anxiety by doctors however they might not be effective for everyone If they arent working doctors may consider a different type of antidepressant known as a tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressant This includes amitriptyline nortriptyline clomipramine trimipramine dothiepin doxepin or imipramine Theyre less common than newer antidepressants but are still available You can ask your doctor to prescribe the sedating antidepressant trazodoneDesyrel at lower doses if youre experiencing anxiety or sleep problems Other antidepressants that may help include nefazodone Ferdinand and duloxetine Cymbalta These drugs are also available in generic forms If they arent working your physician might suggest a tranquilizing antidepressant mirtazapine Remeron or the antipsychotics quetiapine and olanzapine Other medications for anxiety disorders include beta blockers which reduce the heart rate and blood pressure by preventing the action of adrenaline These drugs arent usually used for anxiety alone however they can be beneficial when used in conjunction with psychological therapy treat generalized anxiety disorder can help you change negative thoughts and behavior that can cause anxiety It can teach you to manage your anxiety and teach you how to cope Depending on your health condition you could receive cognitive behavioural therapy or exposure therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches you to confront negative and fearful thoughts and overcome your avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety Exposure therapy involves increasing the anxiety provoking situations until they are manageable This can be done in a single session or in smaller groups In both instances results can take a while to show A combination of medication and psychological therapy is the best choice for certain people However others discover that medications alone are sufficient to treat their symptoms Tell your doctor how you manage your symptoms Other Medications Other medications can also aid in relieving your symptoms Beta blockers antihistamines and buspirone are all sometimes prescribed to reduce anxiety These drugs can help you alleviate your symptoms by reducing or blocking the signals that trigger stress and fear They are not a panacea Youll still have to do other things to reduce anxiety such as exercises or relaxation techniques as well as psychological therapy Your doctor might initially prescribe one of the first choice anxiety medication which includes SSRIs and SNRIs According to studies these medications are the most effective for treating anxiety disorders SSRIs are usually found in sertraline Zoloft and the fluoxetine citalopram and escitalopram These medications might have mild adverse effects like nausea or insomnia but they usually subside within 48 weeks They arent addictive and they do not increase the likelihood of suicidal ideas The benzodiazepines alprazolam diazepoxide and clonazepam Valium provide immediate relief from panic and anxiety attacks However they can cause adverse effects including dizziness and drowsiness They can also cause memory and coordination issues and even dependence Theyre not as popular than the older barbiturates but are just as efficient Antihistamines like Vistaril hydroxyzine were originally developed to relieve allergies However they can also be used to alleviate anxiety symptoms Hydroxyzine block histamine receptors within the brain and may cause a calming effect Its not a controlled drug which means it doesnt carry the same risks of addiction like benzodiazepines Another kind of medication that may help with anxiety is a group of medications called anticonvulsants Theyve been proven to reduce anxiety by inhibiting the release and production of serotonin and dopamine They might be prescribed in conjunction with other medicines or as a shortterm treatment for anxiety Your doctor will assess your symptoms and health history to determine whether these medications are right for you Theyll also discuss how long you should take them for and any potential adverse effects Anxiety medications are only available on prescription which means that a psychiatrist will be required to prescribe it

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