10 Tips To Build Your Treat Anxiety Empire

Meds That Treat Anxiety

Anxiety affects 40 million adults in the United States. It's extremely treatable with various types of medication available.

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 inhibits (SSRIs), including citalopram, escitalopram, and fluoxetine. These medications are also used to treat depression and alleviate symptoms of other anxiety disorders like obsessive compulsive disorder. They can take up to a month for them to start working.

These drugs help by increasing the levels of certain chemical transmitters within the brain. This includes serotonin and norepinephrine as well as dopamine. These medications are typically the first choice to treat anxiety, although doctors may also prescribe other types of antidepressants and benzodiazepines.

Another class of antidepressants called serotonin and norepinephrine receptor inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are used to treat anxiety. They are a bit different from SSRIs since they reduce norepinephrine, however at a lower level than SSRIs. These medications may take a few days to start taking effects, and also tend to be more expensive than SSRIs.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as imipramine (Tofranil), can be effective in treating some anxiety disorders, including GAD. However, their drowsiness and other adverse reactions make them less popular. Another form of antidepressant is monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), can also be used to treat anxiety. However, their strict dietary restrictions and the high risk of toxicity restrict their use.

Benzodiazepines can be used treat anxiety and panic attacks in the short-term in the meantime, while waiting for SSRIs and SNRIs. These medications can trigger dependence to tolerance, sedation, and dependence as well as withdrawal symptoms like a rebound anxiety, depression, and delirium. Benzodiazepines are commonly found in alprazolam, clonazepam, and lorazepam.

Therapy is a vital part of any anxiety treatment plan. It helps you to better know your symptoms and their causes. Many people discover that medication and therapy help them to cope. Some studies suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy is as effective as medications for anxiety. Talk with your doctor about your options and determine what could be the best drug to treat anxiety and depression choice for you.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines produce an calming effect, which can reduce anxiety and relax muscles that are tense. They also ease symptoms of bodily arousal due to fear (like heart rate and trembling) and promote sleep.

The way they function is by binding to inhibitory neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutryic acid or GABA, at receptors in the central nervous system. They increase the effects of GABA by activating its inhibitory effect on other neurotransmitters, and reducing the number of messages that are transmitted to the amygdala, which is the brain's region which detects threats and gives the feeling of fear.

These medicines are often used for short periods for instance, during a panic attack or severe anxiety episodes. They can help relieve symptoms in 30 to 60 minutes. In contrast to SSRIs which are a long-lasting medication, benzodiazepines do not stay in the body for long. They're fast-acting and usually work in a matter of hours, making them suitable for situations where you require quick relief (like during an airplane flight or before a public presentation).

They are addictive, and people are generally only prescribed them for a maximum of 4 weeks at a time. They also lose effectiveness after a period of time.

One of the reasons why the benzodiazepines became so well-known is that they were effective and had minimal side effects when compared to their predecessors, such as barbiturates or meprobamate. They are effective and have a rapid onset, and can be used as anxiolytics to reduce anxiety. They can also be employed as sedatives, anticonvulsants, and muscle relaxants.

Benzos are often blamed for the negative attitudes toward anxiety that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s. This included the stigmatization of anxiety and the belief that benzodiazepine home treatment for anxiety attack can lead to physical dependence. Yet however, benzodiazepines still play a major role in the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially when combined with psychosocial interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapies.

Benzos may interact with other medications and cause undesirable side effects, such as drowsiness and confusion. It is important to inform your doctor know about any other prescription, non-prescription or herbal medication you're currently contemplating or are taking. You can determine which medications are safe to take with benzodiazepines by looking up the British National Formulary A-Z list for medication interactions.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are effective in treating anxiety and mental illnesses. 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 a variety of antidepressants to treat other ailments, too, such as eating disorders, certain kinds of pain, and bipolar disorder.

The majority of doctors prescribe SSRIs as a first-line treatment for anxiety, but these medications may not be effective for everyone. If they don't work doctors can look at the more traditional antidepressant, known as a tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressant. These include amitriptyline, nortriptyline, clomipramine and dothiepin, doxepin, trimipramine or imipramine. These antidepressants are not as popular but are still readily available. Your doctor can prescribe the sedating antidepressant Trazodone (Desyrel) in lower doses for anxiety or sleep.

Other antidepressants that could help include Nefazodone (Ferdinand) and duloxetine (Cymbalta). These medications are also available in generic forms. If they don't work your doctor, you can try the antipsychotics quetiapine or olanzapine or the sedative antidepressant Mirtazapine.

Beta blockers are used to treat anxiety disorders. They lower heart rate and blood pressure 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.

Psychotherapy can help you to alter negative thoughts and behaviors that can cause anxiety. It will help you learn to manage your anxiety and build coping skills. Based on the severity of your condition, you might receive exposure or cognitive behavioural therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches you to challenge negative and fearful thoughts and to overcome your aversion to situations that cause anxiety. Exposure therapy involves increasing the anxiety provoking situations until they become manageable. It can be carried out in a group or individually. In both cases it takes time to achieve results. A combination of medications and psychological therapy is the best treatment for generalised anxiety disorder option for some individuals. Some people find that medication alone is sufficient to treat symptoms. Inform your doctor about how you manage your symptoms.

Other Medical Treatments

Although benzodiazepines and antidepressants are the most common treatments for anxiety, other medications can ease your symptoms as well. Antihistamines and beta blockers are often prescribed to ease anxiety.

These drugs correct an imbalance in your brain's chemical balance and can help alleviate your symptoms by reducing or blocking the signals that can cause anxiety and stress. They are not a panacea. You'll still need to do things to reduce anxiety, like exercises, relaxation techniques and psychological therapy.

SSRIs or SNRIs are your first choice of anxiety medications that your doctor might prescribe. According meds to treat anxiety research, these medications are the most effective in treating anxiety disorders. Common SSRIs include sertraline (Zoloft), the fluoxetine (Prozac), Citropram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro). These drugs may cause mild side effects, like insomnia or nausea, but they typically subside within 4-8 weeks. They aren't addictive, and they do not increase the likelihood of suicidal ideas.

The benzodiazepines, alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepoxide (Valium) provide immediate relief for panic attacks and anxiety However, they can cause adverse effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, memory and coordination issues, and dependence. These medications are less well-known than older barbiturates but are equally effective.

Antihistamines, such as Vistaril (hydroxyzine) are created to treat allergies, but they're also sometimes employed to alleviate anxiety symptoms. Hydroxyzine blocks the histamine receptors in the brain and may cause the body to relax. It's not a controlled substance which means it doesn't carry the same risks of addiction like benzodiazepines.

Another kind of medication that can aid with anxiety is a class of medications known as anticonvulsants, which have been shown to ease anxiety by interfering with the release and production of serotonin and dopamine. They can be prescribed in combination with other drugs or as a temporary treatment for anxiety. Your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms to determine if these drugs are appropriate for you. They'll also discuss the length of time you should take them and any possible side effects. Anxiety medication is only available on prescription, which means that you'll need a psychiatrist to prescribe it.