Types of Pills to Treat Anxiety
Anxiety in some degree can be a normal reaction to what is happening in your life. If your anxiety is debilitating and prevents you from sleeping or performing normally, you might need medication to manage it.
Treatments for anxiety include benzodiazepines and beta-blockers. Antidepressants SSRIs or SNRIs may be beneficial.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are among the most commonly used types of medications prescribed to treat anxiety. They help by increasing the function of GABA in the brain, which calms the body. They also cause the feeling of drowsiness that can help you fall asleep and sleep throughout the night. Benzodiazepines can be used in conjunction with other medications, such as antidepressants or pain relief medications. However, they are not suitable for all. Patients with a history of substance abuse, who have trouble getting or staying asleep, or have a medical condition that causes breathing difficulties should only take this medication under strict supervision. They should not be used by children or pregnant women.
Drugs such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium (diazepam), are quick-acting. They can provide instant relief from anxiety symptoms. They can be addictive and should not be used for long periods of time. Long-term benzodiazepine use can result in serious complications including respiratory depression, low blood pressure and death.
It's important that you speak to a doctor when you are suffering from anxiety. Psychiatrists can assess your mental and emotional health and recommend the best treatment. They may also recommend therapy and psychotherapy to address the root causes of your anxiety. This is an essential element in the treatment of the condition.
Antidepressants are used to treat anxiety in various ways, but only doctors can prescribe them. SSRIs are a good example. They are effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder and can also help with anxiety attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder. SNRIs are also beneficial in treating anxiety and can boost the levels of serotonin as well as noradrenaline in the brain. These medications can enhance the quality of sleep and can reduce anxiety symptoms such as muscle tension and dizziness.
While SSRIs are an excellent choice to treat anxiety, they can have negative side effects, like nausea, stomach upset, and drowsiness. These side effects are most noticeable in the first one or two weeks of treatment. However, they should be less noticeable once your body has used to the medication.
Buspirone
The brand name Buspar is no longer available however, the generic drug is available as an option for treating anxiety. The medication is anxiolytic. It assists in easing anxiety disorders and symptoms such as sweating or the pounding of your pulse. It works by altering the levels of certain natural substances within the brain.
Researchers believe that neurotransmitters play a role in the process. It is effective as an anti-anxiety drug however, it is not effective for conditions that involve anxiety episodes that are severe, like panic disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It is not effective in treating psychosis or depression. The pill is typically taken orally, usually every day twice. It can be taken without or with food but it is crucial to adhere to a regular routine so that the body becomes used to the medication.
Patients with liver or kidney disease may need to take lower doses of this medication since their bodies process it slower. This medication is not recommended for nursing or pregnant mothers. Avoid alcohol and other drugs which can affect the medicine. It is also essential to inform a doctor of any other health issues or medications the patient is taking.
If BuSpar does not help with anxiety, or you cannot take it due to other medical conditions, your doctor may recommend another form of treatment. These might include SSRIs, like Prozac and Lexapro as well as antidepressants such as Cymbalta and Effexor, or benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium. Other drugs that are effective in the short-term are beta blockers, such as propranolol and SNRIs like duloxetine.
If you need to, Klarity's online physician can prescribe these medications and others to treat your anxiety symptoms. We can even set up a face-to-face appointment with a doctor if you need to discuss your treatment options in person. You can then get back to your normal routine and getting better faster. Contact Klarity today to find out more about how we can help you manage your anxiety.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers can be used to reduce anxiety and heart problems. www.iampsychiatry.com work by blocking the receptors that receive signals from the heart from stress-related chemical like adrenaline. When adrenaline binds to these receptors, it causes the body to react by increasing the heart rate and blood pressure. The drugs block the receptors and decrease the amount of adrenaline rushing through the heart, thus reducing its effects such as shaking. They are the most effective in dealing with the symptoms of anxiety that are somatic such as palpitations or trembling. They are particularly effective in the treatment of acute stress reactions and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic attacks. They are not as effective in cases of extreme trembling such as the trembling experienced by a violinist performing or a person who is experiencing an anxiety attack.
Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved beta-blockers to treat anxiety, many psychiatrists prescribe these medications "off label" to treat anxiety. One example is propranolol, which is a medication that helps alleviate physical symptoms of anxiety, such as sweating, flushing and a racing heartbeat. It can ease symptoms for up to four hours. It can be taken in the event of need or on a short term basis, such as prior to a medical procedure.
Contrary to benzodiazepines beta-blockers don't slow down the brain or nervous system activity, and they are less prone to chance of developing addiction. Certain supplements in the diet, such as antioxidants, garlic, and saffron, have been proven to have beta-blocker-like effects, however, they aren't FDA-approved and the research on them is mixed.
It isn't clear how effective beta-blockers are against social anxiety or phobias, which have more psychological elements. However, it is known that if someone with social anxiety takes beta-blockers prior to an event that is stressful they will feel faster and more lasting symptom reduction than if they don't take them. This is because they can disrupt the process of the mind reacting to the body's reactions, which in turn triggers the physical symptoms of anxiety.
Beta blockers can alter the way that the body responds to and recalls fearful memories. This may be the reason why sufferers of PTSD or specific phobias experience improved symptoms when taking the beta blockers.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), were among the first antidepressants to be discovered. They proved effective in treating depression, but they fell out of favour due to the adverse effects that can be caused by certain foods or drug interactions. The knowledge of MAO, and its physiological function in the regulation of neurotransmitter metabolism rate, has allowed the development of selective inhibitors that avoid the cheese reactions' that prompted many to discontinue the drug.
MAOIs interfere with the enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine and serotonin in neurons, thereby increasing their concentration within the brain. This increases the amount of neurotransmitters that may affect brain circuits that are responsible for anxiety and mood disorders.
These medications are typically prescribed to treat bipolar disorder conjunction with depression, but they can also be used as a treatment for anxiety or other psychiatric disorders. They can be especially useful for patients who do not respond to other antidepressants or who are resistant to them.
MAOIs can cause a variety of adverse effects, including diarrhea, dry mouth, sleepiness, sedation, and changes in appetite. They can also cause low blood pressure when transferring from a sitting position to standing position and vice versa, a condition referred to as orthostatic hypotension. They may also interact with a variety of medications such as antipsychotics.
MAOIs are not recommended to patients suffering from pheochromocytoma. This is a cancer of the adrenal gland, which can lead to high blood pressure. MAOIs are generally prescribed only for short durations and with careful monitoring. Patients who are taking MAOIs must adhere to the guidelines for diet, which include avoiding certain foods that can cause a high level of tyramine levels in blood, which could cause a serious side effect referred to as the 'cheese reaction'. MAOIs shouldn't take more than two weeks before surgery. Patients with an antecedent of addiction disorders should avoid them since MAOIs could cause relapse. They are not recommended for individuals with an history of suicidal thoughts or other mental health issues. They can also increase the risk of seizures in epilepsy sufferers.