The Benefits Of Medication For Anxiety Disorder And Depression At A Minimum, Once In Your Lifetime
Medications For Anxiety Disorder and Depression
Many people find that medications aid in managing anxiety. However they're not the only solution. Psychotherapy and exercise can be effective treatments.
Some antidepressants, like SSRIs (citalopram, Lexapro, fluoxetine, Prozac, paroxetine, Zoloft) also treat anxiety. Other medications, like histamine blockers such as Vistaril (hydroxyzine) may also provide relief.
Antidepressants
If you're diagnosed with depression, your doctor might prescribe medication as part of your treatment program. Antidepressants, among the most commonly prescribed drugs are available in a variety of kinds. IamPsychiatry of antidepressant that your doctor prescribes will depend on your symptoms, other 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. They work by altering the way that nerve cells in your brain communicate. They do this by increasing the amount of certain neurotransmitters that improves mood and anxiety. Antidepressants may take a few weeks to yield results, so take your time and stick with your regimen.
Benzodiazepines may also be prescribed by your doctor to treat depression or anxiety. They are fast-acting medicines and can be employed as a temporary solution to ease the immediate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Benzodiazepines include alprazolam, lorazepam and other. They block the actions of noradrenaline and adrenaline which are hormones involved in the fight or flight response.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are an antidepressant of a different type that is effective in treating depression and anxiety. They're often reserved for people who don't respond to other antidepressants, and they require changes in diet to prevent hypertensive reactions that result from interactions with amino acids like tyramine.
If you're taking a prescription antidepressant be sure to inform your doctor of the other medications you're taking, including vitamins and supplements. You may need to lower your dosage if you're using other medicines that can affect the way antidepressants function or if they trigger side effects. Seek help immediately if you are thinking of suicide.
You may have different signs of anxiety and depression, or you may have a comorbidity of depression and anxiety. People with comorbid anxiety and depression are more likely to have a negative medical prognosis than those with only one disorder. Certain psychiatric drugs have been proven to be particularly effective in treating both disorders in people with comorbid depression and anxiety.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines can relieve anxiety symptoms, including alprazolam, clonazepam, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam and lorazepam. These medications act on the benzodiazepine receptors of the central nervous system that are transmembrane proteins that form an benzylchloride channel in the central. The benzodiazepine receptors have an association site for the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutryic acid type A (GABA-A). The benzodiazepines decrease nerve activity by increasing the levels of GABA-A.
Benzodiazepines are known for their rapid onset, but also for their high risk of dependence and addiction. Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics and buspirone have a longer duration of action, but are more suitable for long-term use because they do not cause tolerance or create addiction.
Depression is frequently found to be a comorbidity of anxiety disorders, and antidepressants are able to help alleviate the symptoms of depression associated with underlying anxiety. However, many people suffering from depression experience a combination of depressive and anxious symptoms and require a combination of medication and talk therapy to control all of their symptoms.
In these instances benzodiazepines may be used for short intervals of time to control anxiety and depression symptoms until other medication takes effect. Typically, these medications are prescribed for only several weeks at a time, and are not used on a daily basis. These medications should not be used for extended periods of time because they can trigger withdrawal symptoms, such as shaking or difficulty sleeping.
If you are considering taking benzodiazepines in the future, inform your doctor about any prior substance abuse or dependence issues and any other mental health issues you have. Your doctor can discuss possible side effects and recommend other treatment options for your depression, if needed.
If you've never taken benzodiazepines before or if you are taking them in excess, they can cause serious and even fatal complications. If you are breastfeeding or pregnant or have a history with liver disease or respiratory or digestive disorders or liver disease, your doctor might limit the duration of treatment or require lower doses. Alcohol can interact negatively with benzodiazepines, increasing the risk of side-effects and dependence. You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking these drugs.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers can be used as a medication to control anxiety symptoms. They are a different kind of drug than benzodiazepines such as Xanax, and they block receptors that adrenaline bonds to. They also reduce the activity of the nervous system and brain. They could be a good alternative to benzodiazepines which come with a higher risk of addiction and dependence.
Beta blockers are frequently prescribed to treat heart problems and may be beneficial in treating anxiety since they lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. However, they're not specifically approved by the FDA for the treatment of anxiety disorders. They are frequently employed "off label" for this purpose and are a great alternative if other anti-anxiety drugs do not provide relief or do not have acceptable side effects. They are particularly effective in cases of social and performance anxiety, where uncomfortable physical symptoms can be experienced in situations that cause anxiety.
They can be utilized in conjunction with other treatment modalities such as CBT and SSRIs. They are particularly effective as an alternative therapy for those suffering from GAD. GAD is characterized by persistent and frequent anxiety that can hinder everyday activities. They can also aid in managing physical symptoms of anxiety, like an increased heart rate or sweating.
Beta-blockers may help manage physical symptoms of anxiety but they don't address the underlying psychological issues which contribute to the condition. They are best used to complement other treatments, such as SSRIs or benzodiazepines. It is essential to discuss your medical history and any other health concerns with your physician prior to taking beta-blockers.
These drugs are associated with decreased psychiatric admissions and suicidal behaviors, however the results can vary depending on the specific psychiatric diagnoses and past psychiatric histories. Additionally they are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events in some patients.
There are a few natural ingredients that have beta-blocker-like properties, however, they aren't as effective as prescription medications. They include antioxidants, garlic, saffron and potassium. The effectiveness of these natural products is not fully known. Certain of these products could cause serious adverse side effects, so it's best to consult a doctor before taking them.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
MAOIs work by altering the way your brain works. They inhibit the monoamine oxide enzyme, which breaks down chemicals like norepinephrine, serotonin and other chemicals that help your brain cells 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 drugs are also effective in treating anxiety disorders, specifically anxiety-related disorders such as agoraphobia, mixed depression and anxiety. However, they are less effective in pure anxiety states and may not help with panic attacks. The effectiveness of MAOIs has been linked to their capability to increase serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine levels inside the brain. These neurotransmitters are naturally produced in your body and then released into the bloodstream, where they are transported to nerve cells, and act as a messenger between neurons.
Iproniazid was the very first antidepressant to be developed in the year 1950. It blocked monoamine oxidease. This led to the development of other MAOIs, like tranylcypromine or isocarboxazid, which have been around for decades to treat depression. MAOIs are usually prescribed after other types of antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, have been tried without success. Because they can have drug and food interactions and may cause serious withdrawal syndrome if they are stopped suddenly, MAOIs are typically only used for patients who fail to respond to other treatments.
A newer MAOI, a selective, irreversible MAOA-A inhibitor is being studied for its potential use in treating depression that is not responding to treatment. It is not recommended to use in bipolar disorder as it can cause manic symptoms. Another MAOI that is newer, selegiline (Eldepryl or Zelapar), is being studied for treatment of Parkinson's disease. It blocks monoamine oxidase but it does not affect other enzymes that break down levodopa, the main treatment for Parkinson's. These medications can be used either alone or in conjunction with other antidepressants. In some patients, the MAOIs could trigger a reaction that causes increased neuromuscular excitability and hyperreflexia. This may manifest as muscle twitching, eyelid twitching, as well as other signs. These reactions could be more common when the drugs are consumed in conjunction with certain foods like aged cheeses or cured meats.