Meds That Treat Anxiety
Anxiety affects more than 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. In contrast to benzodiazepines, they're addictive.
SSRIs
The most common anxiety medication is selective serotonin reuptake inhibits (SSRIs), including citalopram, escitalopram, and fluoxetine. These medications can also be used to treat depression as well as relieve symptoms of anxiety disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder. It could take up to one month for them to start working.
These medications are effective by increasing the quantity of certain chemical transmitters in the brain. This includes serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These are typically the first option to treat anxiety, although doctors may also prescribe other types of antidepressants or benzodiazepines.
Another class of antidepressants known as serotonin and norepinephrine receptor inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are used to treat anxiety. They operate a bit differently from SSRIs in that they reduce the reabsorption of norepinephrine and serotonin, but at lower levels than SSRIs. They may take some time to start taking effects, and they are more expensive than SSRIs.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as imipramine (Tofranil) are effective in treating certain anxiety disorders, notably GAD. However their drowsiness and other adverse reactions make them less well-known. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are another type of antidepressant used to combat anxiety. However, their strict dietary restrictions and high risk of toxicity limit their use.
Benzodiazepines can be used to treat anxiety and panic attacks in the short-term in the meantime, while waiting for SSRIs and SNRIs. These medications can cause addiction to tolerance, sedation, and dependence as well as withdrawal symptoms like a depression, anxiety, and delirium. Benzodiazepines can be found in alprazolam, clonazepam, as well as lorazepam.
Therapy is an important part of an anxiety treatment plan as it can help you understand your symptoms and their root causes. Many people find that both therapy and medication help them cope with anxiety. In fact, some studies suggest that cognitive behavior therapy is just as effective as anxiety medications. Talk with your physician about your options and which could be the best choice 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 rate or shaking), and promote sleep.
They work by binding inhibitory neurons, for example GABA or gamma aminobutryic acid, at receptors within the central nervous system. They enhance GABA's effects by facilitating the inhibitory effect of GABA on other neurotransmitters and decreasing the amount of messages sent to amygdala. This is a region of the brain that evaluates threats and creates a sense of anxiety.
These medicines are often used for short periods like a panic attack or severe anxiety episodes. They can relieve symptoms within 30 to 60 minutes. Benzodiazepines are, in contrast to SSRIs aren't able to remain in the body for a long time. They're quick-acting and can be effective within a few hours. This makes them perfect for situations when immediate relief is needed (such as on an airplane or before giving a presentation in public).
As they are addictive, patients are typically prescribed for a period of up to four weeks at a go. After that time they cease to be effective.
One of the main reasons benzodiazepines were so popular was that they were effective and had a few adverse effects when compared with their predecessors, such as meprobamate or barbiturates. They are efficient and have a rapid start, and can be employed as anxiolytics to decrease anxiety. They can also be used as sedatives, anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants.
Benzos are often blamed for the negative attitudes towards anxiety that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s, including the stigmatization of anxiety and the belief that benzodiazepine treatment causes physical dependence. Despite this they still play a crucial role in the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially in combination with psychosocial interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.
Benzos may interact with other medications and cause undesirable side effects, like drowsiness or confusion. It is important to inform your doctor about any prescription, nonprescription, or herbal medications that you currently take or are planning to take. Take a look at the British National Formulary A to Z list of medication interactions to determine which medications are safe with benzodiazepines.
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 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 antidepressants for other health conditions, such as eating disorders, bipolar disorder and certain kinds of pain.
SSRIs are usually prescribed as a first-line treatment option for anxiety by doctors, but they might not work for everyone. If they don't work doctors can consider a different type of antidepressant, known as a tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressant. These include amitriptyline, nortriptyline, clomipramine and trimipramine, dothiepin, doxepin or imipramine. They're not as popular as the latest antidepressants but are still readily available. You may also ask your physician to prescribe the sedating antidepressant, trazodone(Desyrel) at lower doses if you're having sleep problems or anxiety.
Nefazodone, a.k.a Ferdinand (Cymbalta) and duloxetine can also be useful. These medications are also available in generic form. If they don't work, your doctor may suggest the tranquilizing antidepressant mirtazapine (Remeron) or the antipsychotics quetiapine or olanzapine.
Medications for other anxiety disorders include beta blockers that reduce the heart rate and blood pressure by blocking the action of adrenaline. These drugs aren't commonly used for anxiety alone, but can be helpful when used in conjunction with psychological therapy.
Psychotherapy can help you change negative thoughts and behavior that cause anxiety. It can teach you to manage your anxiety and teach you how to cope. Depending on the severity of your condition, exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy might be recommended. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps you develop the ability to confront negative thoughts, fears and avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety. herbal treatment for anxiety involves increasing the anxiety provoking situations until they become manageable. This can be done in a single session or in small groups. In both cases, results will take time to manifest. A combination of medication and psychological therapy is the best option for certain people. Some people find that medication alone is enough to manage symptoms. Inform your doctor about how you manage your symptoms.
Other Medications
While benzodiazepines and antidepressants are the most frequently prescribed medications to treat anxiety, other medications can help ease your symptoms as well. Antihistamines and beta blockers are sometimes prescribed to relieve anxiety.
These drugs can help you reduce your symptoms, by reducing or blocking signals that cause anxiety and stress. They're not a panacea. You'll still need to do other things to control your anxiety, including physical exercise or relaxation techniques, as well as psychotherapy.
SSRIs or SNRIs are the most commonly prescribed anxiety medications that your doctor can prescribe. These are the most effective medicines for treating anxiety disorders, according to research studies. SSRIs are usually found in sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine, citalopram, and escitalopram. These drugs can cause minor side effects, such as nausea and insomnia, but they usually disappear within 4-8 weeks. They are not addictive, and they do not increase the risk of suicidal thoughts.
The benzodiazepines alprazolam (Xanax) and Clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepoxide (Valium) provide immediate relief from panic attacks and anxiety, but they can have negative effects such as dizziness, drowsiness and coordination problems, and dependence. They're a less popular choice over the more traditional barbiturates but they're just as efficient.
Antihistamines like Vistaril (hydroxyzine) were originally created to treat allergies. However they can also be used to ease anxiety symptoms. Hydroxyzine block histamine receptors within the brain and can cause an energizing effect. It is not a controlled drug and does not carry the same addiction risks as benzodiazepines.
Another type of medication that may help with anxiety is a class called anticonvulsants. They have been proven to reduce anxiety by interfering with the release and production of dopamine and serotonin. These medications are often prescribed as part of a combination therapy or to treat anxiety in the short term. Your doctor will assess your health history and symptoms to determine if these medications are appropriate for you. They will discuss the length of time you should take these medications as well as any possible side effects that may occur. Anxiety medications are only available through prescription, which means that a psychiatrist will be required to prescribe it.