Anxiety Treatment Medications Psychotherapy and medication can aid people suffering from anxiety disorders https//wwwiampsychiatrycom/anxiety-treatment used to treat anxiety include benzodiazepines such as Xanax alprazolam, Klonopin clonazepam and Valium diazepam Antidepressants also help treat anxiety SSRIs like citalopram Celexa and fluoxetine Prozac work by blocking nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing serotonin, a chemical that influences mood Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines benzos are powerful medications that treat anxiety very well and can be used quickly However, they can be physically addictive and they pose serious safety risks when used for long durations They should be taken only under the supervision of a medical professional They can be used as an "as needed" treatment for panic attacks and other severe anxiety episodes Benzos can be used in conjunction with antidepressants, psychotherapy and other medications to treat anxiety disorders Benzos are extremely effective in treating anxiety for a short duration, and they can help you sleep better They can be harmful when used in excess and are not recommended to be used with other drugs When combined with sedatives like alcohol or opioid pain medications, benzodiazepines can increase the risk of an overdose and even death They can also interact with some antidepressants, which can cause severe and life-threatening withdrawal symptoms If prescribed by a physician When prescribed by a doctor, benzodiazepines are safe and effective at treating anxiety disorders Many doctors are cautious when prescribing them because they can cause addiction and have adverse side effects, including memory loss Long-term use can cause severe withdrawal reactions and those who are dependent on them are often not able to stop taking them without experiencing severe symptoms such as seizures and depression The key to long-term benzo use is to prescribe them only to those who might benefit from their use, making use of them in settings that are likely improve anxiety symptoms, avoiding prolonged withdrawal or abrupt discontinuation and reducing the risk of abuse and combing them with a psychological treatment Anxiety medications, like benzodiazepines can help alleviate anxiety by blocking certain nerve signals and stopping them from firing in the brain These drugs can make you sleepy and less anxious, but they do not address the root issue that is making you worry There are some natural ways to ease your anxiety, like meditation, exercise and yoga Cognitive behavioral therapy is a different treatment You learn to overcome anxiety and worries that are not rational Antidepressants SSRIs selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a viable alternative for those suffering from anxiety as they affect the brain to regulate mood However, they could take anywhere from four to six weeks or more to begin working If one doesn't feel better in the time frame, they should talk with their doctor about changing medications Newer antidepressants like mirtazapine and nefazodone are also effective in treating anxiety They can work faster than older drugs like venlafaxine or XR It is important to be aware that these drugs can cause severe reactions in certain people If you have this reaction, call healthdirect at 1800 022222 to speak to an experienced nurse Monoamine Oxase Inhibitors, also known as MAOIs, are a different kind of antidepressant that can be used to treat anxiety They block the action of enzymes that degrade brain chemicals such as dopamine and noradrenaline This causes levels of these chemicals, which have an impact positive on mood, to rise MAOIs are typically reserved for patients who are not improving on other antidepressants, but they can be effective in treating anxiety Among the most effective antidepressants for anxiety are the tricyclic antidepressants They are similar to SSRIs in their approach to treating anxiety and other mental disorders, however they are not as prone to negative side effects These medicines start at a lower dose and their effectiveness improves as the dosage is increased Tricyclics are effective in treating anxiety, panic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder However, they may not be as effective when treating generalized anxiety disorder Buspirone, an antidepressant that is newer, is also used for anxiety It is a mild tranquilizer, but does not have the same negative side effects as benzodiazepines It also doesn't hinder memory or coordination It works by increasing serotonin in the brain, and reducing dopamine As high as 70 of people who take the drug find it effective The adverse effects are likely to decrease as the medication is used for longer periods of time Talk therapy, like exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, can be incorporated with these medications to improve their effect Buspirone Buspirone is used to treat anxiety disorders It is taken orally typically twice daily It is not a controlled drug however, there is a chance of abuse Doctors aren't certain of the exact way it operates, but they believe that buspirone reduces the amount and action of a chemical known as serotonin that is found in certain areas of the brain This makes the nervous system less responsive to anxiety and stress Buspirone is generally regarded as safe by doctors for the majority of people It is generally believed to be less harmful and has a lower chance of addiction than benzodiazepines as well as barbiturates Like other medications, it may cause adverse effects The most common ones are nausea and dizziness Buspirone can interact with other medicines, supplements, and ingredients Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these before starting the drug If you're older than 65, your doctor might prescribe buspirone in a lower dosage This is due to the fact that older people tend to respond to drugs differently than younger individuals do This is particularly true for drugs that affect the nervous system It's also important to inform your doctor if taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor such as isocarboxazid Marplan, linezolid Zyvox, the phenelzine Nardil, selegiline Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar or tranylcypromine Parnate Buspirone can cause serious adverse side effects by increasing the dosage of these drugs Tell your doctor whether you suffer from liver disease, kidney problems, stomach problems, are breastfeeding or pregnant Certain medications, like SSRIs are not suitable for you under these circumstances If buspirone isn't effective, or you can't use it due to an illness or interaction with a different medication, your doctor will prescribe an alternative method of treatment for anxiety This could be a new kind of antidepressant like Lexapro, Prozac, a beta-blocker, such as propranolol or a benzodiazepine like Xanax The PIL for each drug will provide more details on how to take it and possible adverse effects Other Medical Treatments There are other options that can reduce anxiety Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a possible option Psychotherapy can help you change the way you think about anxiety and teach you strategies for coping to manage anxiety Other options include learning relaxation techniques and maintaining a regular workout routine, and abstaining from using drugs and alcohol Herbal medicines can be helpful for sufferers with anxiety-related symptoms If you've tried these alternatives and they aren't working, talk to your doctor Antidepressants andbenzodiazepines are the two main types of drugs used to treat anxiety Benzodiazepines, such as Ativan lorazepam are able to increase the function of gamma-aminobutyric acids, or GABA, in your brain to promote calmness They can provide quick relief, but they can also become addictive if they are used for a long time Antidepressants take longer to work but they help stabilize the levels in your brain of certain neurotransmitters, chemicals that influence your mood Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are the most common type of antidepressant for anxiety They increase the level of the chemical messenger serotonin in your brain, which can boost your mood and help you feel less anxious Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake inhibitors SNRIs are another antidepressant that stops the reabsorption both of serotonin as well as norepinephrine out of your brain This boosts the levels of these chemicals in your body, which makes you feel more energized Monoamine oxide inhibitors MAOIs are an additional class of antidepressants that is often prescribed by people who don't respond to SSRIs to treat anxiety There are a number other medicines that can be used to treat anxiety These include azapirones alpha- and Beta-blockers and antihistamines such as Clonidine, hydroxyzine and These medications have a lower percentage of success than SSRIs or benzodiazepines Although medication can be an effective treatment for anxiety, it shouldn't be the only option to be used If you're suffering from an underlying reason for your anxiety such as debt, a poor diet, or a problematic relationship, non-medicative treatments could be more efficient Other options include cognitive behavior therapy CBT biofeedback which teaches you how to regulate your brain's activity by using a device to monitor them and mindfulness meditation