10 Life Lessons We Can Learn From Medication For Anxiety Disorder And Depression
Medications For Anxiety Disorder and Depression
Many people have found that medication can help them manage anxiety. However, they are not the only option. Psychotherapy and exercise can be effective treatments too.
Certain antidepressants, such as SSRIs (citalopram, Lexapro, fluoxetine, Prozac, paroxetine, Zoloft) also treat anxiety. Other medications, such as histamine blockers like Vistaril (hydroxyzine), can also help relieve anxiety.
Antidepressants
Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat depression. Antidepressants are among the most commonly prescribed drugs, come in many different kinds. The type of antidepressant that your doctor prescribes will depend on your symptoms, additional medical conditions and the goals of your treatment.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are among the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. These medications alter the way your brain's nerve cells communicate. They work by increasing the number of neurotransmitters that are present in your brain, which helps improve your mood and reduces anxiety. It can take several weeks for antidepressants begin to work, so be patient.
Benzodiazepines are a different option that your doctor may recommend to treat depression and anxiety. They are fast-acting medicines, and they can be utilized as a short-term remedy to ease the immediate symptoms of anxiety and depression. The Benzodiazepines include lorazepam, alprazolam and other. They block the actions of noradrenaline and adrenaline which are hormones that play a role in the body's fight or flight.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are an older kind of antidepressant that can also be effective in treating anxiety and depression. They're typically reserved for people who don't respond to other antidepressants. They also require changes in diet to prevent hypertensive reactions triggered by interactions with the amino acid tyramine.
If you're taking an antidepressant prescription inform your doctor about all other medicines you're taking, such as supplements and vitamins. You may need to reduce the dose if other medications are affecting how well antidepressants work, or if there are adverse effects. Contact a doctor immediately if have thoughts of suicide.
You might have different symptoms for depression and anxiety or you may have comorbid depression and anxiety. People with comorbid anxiety and depression have a poorer medical prognosis than those who have only one disorder. Certain psychiatric drugs have been shown to be particularly effective in treating both disorders for people who suffer from comorbid depression and anxiety.
Benzodiazepines
Anxiety-related symptoms can be alleviated by benzodiazepines, including alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium) diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). These medications act on the central nervous system's benzodiazepine receptors, which are protein molecules comprised of 5 transmembrane subunits that create a benzyl-chloride channel in the middle. The benzodiazepine receptors also have a site that binds the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA A (GABA A). The benzodiazepines inhibit nerve activity by increasing levels of GABA-A.
Benzodiazepines have a rapid time to begin their action, however they pose a risk of dependence and addiction. Antidepressants, anticonvulsants and antipsychotics and buspirone have a longer time to take effect, but are more suitable for long-term use because they don't cause dependence or tolerance.
Depression can be a comorbidity of anxiety disorders, and antidepressants are able to help reduce the depressive symptoms associated with underlying anxiety. However, many people suffering from depression experience a combination of both anxious and depressive symptoms and will need a combination of medication and therapy for talk to manage all of their symptoms.
In these instances benzodiazepines can be utilized for a short period of time to treat depression or anxiety symptoms while other medications take effect. Typically, these medications are prescribed for only a few weeks at a time and are not prescribed daily. If you take benzodiazepines for long periods of time can lead to withdrawal symptoms, like shaking and sleeplessness and waking up, so these medications are only to be used according to the instructions of your doctor.
If you're considering taking benzodiazepines in the future, inform your doctor about any prior substance abuse or dependence issues and any other mental health issues you may have. Your doctor can talk to you about possible side effects, and recommend other medications if needed to treat depression.
Benzodiazepines can cause serious, even life-threatening complications if you take too much or have not previously taken them. If you are pregnant or nursing, or if you have a history with liver disease or respiratory or digestive diseases or liver disease, your doctor might limit the duration of treatment or prescribe lower doses. Alcohol can interact with benzodiazepines, and could increase the risk of side effects and dependence, so you should not drink alcohol while you are taking them.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers can be used as a medication to control anxiety symptoms. They are a different kind of drug from benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, and they are able to block receptors that adrenaline binds. They also slow brain and nervous system activities. They can be utilized as an alternative to benzodiazepines, which are more addictive and carry an increased risk of dependency.
Beta blockers are frequently prescribed for heart conditions and may be beneficial in treating anxiety as they reduce blood pressure and slow the heart rate. They aren't FDA-approved to treat anxiety disorder s. They are often used "off label" to treat this condition, and are a good alternative when other anti-anxiety medications don't provide relief or have unacceptable side effects. They are especially effective in situations of performance anxiety and social anxiety, where uncomfortable symptoms can arise during events that trigger anxiety.
They can be utilized in conjunction with other treatment methods such as CBT and SSRIs. They are particularly effective as an alternative therapy for people suffering from GAD. GAD is characterized by persistent and frequent anxiety that can hinder daily activities. They can also assist in managing the physical symptoms of anxiety, like the racing heart or the increased sweating.
Although beta-blockers can assist in helping reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, they cannot address the underlying mental issues that cause the anxiety. They are best used to complement other treatments like benzodiazepines or SSRIs. It is important to discuss your medical history and any other health issues with your doctor before taking beta-blockers.
The use of these medications is associated with reduced suicidal behavior and psychiatric hospitalisations, but the results vary by specific psychiatric diagnosis and the psychiatric history of the past. In addition they are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events in some patients.
There are some natural products that contain beta-blocker-like properties however, they aren't as effective as prescription drugs. They include antioxidants, garlic, saffron, and potassium. disorders anxiety are not entirely understood. Certain supplements could cause serious adverse side adverse effects, therefore it is best to consult an expert prior to taking them.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are used to alter the way your brain works. They interfere with an enzyme called monoamine oxide, which breaks down chemicals like serotonin, norepinephrine and other chemicals that allow your brain cells to communicate with one another. By blocking monoamine oxide, MAOIs allow more of these chemical messengers to stay in your brain. This improves brain cell communication, and improves your mood.
These medications are also effective in treating anxiety disorders, especially anxiety-related disorders such as agoraphobia, mixed depression and anxiety. However, they are less efficient in the case of anxiety that is pure and may not help with panic attacks. The MAOIs' effectiveness has been linked to their ability to increase dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine levels inside the brain. These neurotransmitters are naturally produced by the body and released into the bloodstream, where they are transported to nerve cells and act as messengers.
Iproniazid was one of the first antidepressants to be discovered in 1950. It inhibited monoamine oxidease. This led to the development of other MAOIs such as tranylcypromine and isocarboxazid, which have been used for a long time to combat depression. MAOIs are usually prescribed after other types of antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, have been tried without success. MAOIs could trigger serious withdrawal symptoms when abruptly stopped. They can also have dangerous interactions with food and drugs.
A newer MAOI called MAOA-A, a selective, irreversible inhibitor is being investigated for its use in treating depression resistant to treatment. It is not recommended to use in bipolar disorder as it may cause manic symptoms. Another newer MAOI, called selegiline (Eldepryl or Zelapar), is being studied for treatment of Parkinson's disease. It blocks monoamine oxidase but does not affect other enzymes that break down levodopa, the primary treatment for Parkinson's. These drugs can be taken either alone or in combination with other antidepressants. MAOIs can cause hyperreflexia and increased neuromuscular excitation in certain patients. This may manifest as eyelid twitching, as well as other symptoms. These reactions are more prevalent when these medications are used along with certain foods such as aged cheeses and preserved meats.