Anxiety Treatments Medication Anxiety can affect your daily life, so it's important to seek help if you have severe anxiety Lifestyle changes, such as decreasing your stress levels and taking part in regular physical exercise are a few options for treatment Your doctor may suggest psychotherapy The FDA has approved several medicines for anxiety disorders, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, which affect serotonin, the neurotransmitter that controls our brains Anticonvulsants, like pregabalin, can also reduce anxiety by affecting the GABA receptor Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines are drugs that act on the nervous system to create an calming effect They work by enhancing the effects of a neurotransmitter in the brain known as gamma aminobutyric acid GABA GABA blocks the activity of nerves within the brain and spinal cord and helps reduce anxiety Benzodiazepines can ease anxiety symptoms quickly unlike antidepressants that can take a long time to work Benzodiazepines are high-risk drugs for abuse and dependency The body becomes accustomed to benzodiazepines following regular use This can result in physical dependence Despite the risks, benzodiazepines can be a successful treatment for anxiety, even when other options aren't readily available or do not offer relief It is essential to speak with your doctor before taking benzodiazepines They can help you identify the cause of your anxiety, and suggest alternative options that could be more appropriate Talking therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy CBT as well as exposure therapy, and others can help you identify the root of anxiety They will also teach you coping techniques Benzodiazepines aren't typically employed as the first-choice medication for anxiety disorders because they can have dangerous side effects when combined with alcohol or other drugs They can also be addictive and have a significant risk of overdose The first benzodiazepines came out in the 1950s, starting with chlordiazepoxide Librium, Limbitrol followed by diazepam Valium and lorazepam Ativan All of these medications carry a black-box warning that warns they can cause life-threatening or serious side effects, including severe sleepiness and breathing problems SSRIs SSRIs selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a class of antidepressant drugs and are the first choice for many people with anxiety These medications increase levels of certain chemical messengers within the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine They also help regulate other essential chemicals, including those that regulate mood and sleep and decrease the level of stress hormones in your body The most commonly prescribed SSRI for anxiety is fluoxetine, which is better known by its brand name Prozac Other SSRIs include Lexapro, Zoloft, and Paxil as well as SNRIs such as Effexor XR, Cymbalta, and Pristiq Experts aren't certain exactly how SSRIs can help with anxiety, but they do know the meds improve your brain's functioning They increase BDNF brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor levels, increase the number of the glial cells brain cells that help nourish and protect your neuronal cells and increase serotonin levels It's unclear what is the precise mechanism of action of these supplements is however, it could be a combination of elements SSRIs, like other types of medication, can take up to a month to begin to work They require regular treatment to keep their benefits They can trigger side effects, such as diarrhea and nausea They can also result in low sodium levels in a few people, and they can affect libido for certain men Your physician will decide the amount of time you should take them, based on your condition and other treatments you're taking They may recommend that you keep taking them for a period of 6 to 12 months or help you to reduce or stop taking the medication They may also suggest other therapies like psychotherapy, herbal remedies and supplements to treat anxiety-related symptoms For example, Vistaril can be used for itching, or chamomile for sleep Beta-blockers Beta-blockers, also referred to as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, stop adrenaline from binding to the heart's receptors This allows your heart to relax and decreases your blood pressure They are typically prescribed for anxiety and can be an excellent alternative to conventional psychotropic medications that have some side effects Beta-blockers may help reduce physical symptoms of anxiety but they don't tackle the psychological causes of stress They are generally employed to control specific situations that can trigger anxiety, like public speaking or flying They can be utilized in conjunction together with therapy to treat anxiety disorders or as a long-term daily medicine Because of the way they work beta blockers can cause a number of adverse effects, such as bradycardia and hypotension They can cause you to feel shaky and sweaty Certain people who suffer from COPD chronic obstruction of the lung or diabetes should not take them Despite the negative side effects, beta blockers are still widely used and researched They have been on the market for decades and are considered safe for most adults They're also reasonably priced and accessible compared to other medications For a lot of people, the risk of side effects is a worthwhile trade-off in order to maximize their effectiveness Beta-blockers are a good option for mild to moderate anxiety They are more effective than benzodiazepines, which are best for those suffering from life-threatening or severe anxiety disorders They won't fix your underlying issue and are best used to ease anxiety in the short term, like prior to an important event such as the flight or speech In addition to decreasing anxiety, they can help you sleep better and control your blood sugar Monoamine oxidase inhibitors Monoamine oxide inhibitors MAOIs inhibit the enzyme that breaks down monoamine neurotransmitters They prevent the breakdown of serotonin Melatonin, epinephrine, as well as norepinephrine within neurons and increase their ability to transmit They are typically used in the form of antidepressants, but they also have some effectiveness in treating anxiety disorders They can be used as a single drug or in combination They are also used to treat Parkinson's disease as well as certain other conditions Eugenol is an essential oil found in bud, leaf and stem of clove Syzygium aromaticum and in the bark of cinnamon Cinnamomum verum In a test tube, Eugenol was found to block MAOI activity and may interact negatively with these medications MAOIs can have severe adverse effects and aren't usually the first medicine that doctors prescribe to treat anxiety or depression They are typically prescribed for those who have failed to respond to other treatments They can also be used to treat a variety other disorders like Parkinson's disease and fibromyalgia They can lead to low blood pressure when standing from a lying or sitting in a sitting position, a condition known as orthostatic hypotension MAOIs are widely used to treat anxiety disorders as well as atypical depression and tranylcypromine Phenelzine is used for the treatment of atypical anxiety and depression It has limited research on panic disorder These medications aren't as efficient as SSRIs for most patients however they are effective in treating certain types of anxiety and depression The older MAOIs may not be as secure as the more recent reversible MAOIs such Moclobemide and Selegiline They are also more effective than the older MAOIs at increasing the levels of monoamines implicated in depressive disorders They are less likely than older MAOIs to trigger high blood pressure, however they still carry a risk of developing a pharmacological dependence Buspirone For people suffering from anxiety using a combination of medications and psychological therapy is typically the best option for treatment The use of medications can reduce symptoms but only under the supervision of a physician There are many medications that can be used to combat anxiety They may work differently for each person To determine which one is right for you, talk with your doctor and explain your symptoms Buspirone, an FDA-approved anxiety drug, works by modulating neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin It can reduce anxiety and mood disorders without sedation It is less likely to become addictive than other sedatives like benzodiazepines This makes it a great choice for those trying to control their anxiety, but do not need to take a drug like Xanax SSRIs or SNRIs are often the first treatment option for generalized anxiety disorder These antidepressants are able to regulate mood and boost serotonin levels These are often prescribed along with anxiety medications like benzodiazepines However, https//wwwiampsychiatrycom/anxiety-treatment are generally not recommended for long durations since they can be addictive and may have side effects like drowsiness Psychological treatments for GAD that include medication have been proven to be efficient on a short-term basis and can improve the results over time These include cognitive behavioural therapy CBT, exposure therapy, as well as art or creative therapies Psychological therapy can assist people learn techniques to better manage their anxiety and depression This will allow them to live a more full life and reduce symptoms A majority of these treatments are accessible online, and some may be covered by insurance For instance, Brightside is an online therapy service that provides various treatments for depression and anxiety including CBT