Anxiety Treatments Medication Anxiety can affect your everyday life, which is why it's important to seek help if you have extreme anxiety Treatment options include lifestyle changes such as reduction of stress and regular exercise Your doctor may also suggest psychotherapy FDA approved a range of medications to treat anxiety disorders These include SNRIs and SSRIs which affect the neurotransmitter serotonin Anticonvulsants such as pregabalin can help reduce anxiety by altering GABA receptors Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines calm the nervous system by acting upon it They function by increasing the effects of a neurotransmitter known as gamma-aminobutyric acid GABA in the brain GABA reduces the function of nerves in the spinal cord and brain and, consequently, helps reduce anxiety Benzodiazepines can relieve anxiety symptoms almost instantly unlike antidepressants, which can take weeks to begin working They are high-risk substances for abuse and dependence This is because the body adapts to benzodiazepines through regular use, which can lead to physical dependence Despite the dangers they are a reliable treatment for anxiety when other treatments are not available or do not provide relief It is crucial to talk with your physician prior to taking benzodiazepines They can help you determine the cause of your anxiety and suggest other treatments that may be more appropriate For instance, talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy CBT and exposure therapy can help you address the root of anxiety and teach you coping skills Benzodiazepines do not usually come first in the treatment of anxiety disorders because they can have harmful effects when paired with other substances or alcohol They are also highly addictive and carry a significant risk of overdose The first benzodiazepines were introduced in the 1950s, with chlordiazepoxide Librium, Limbitrol followed by diazepam Valium and lorazepam Ativan All of these drugs come with a black box warning, indicating that they may cause serious or life-threatening side effects, such as extreme sleepiness, breathing issues as well as coma and death when combined with opioids or illegal drugs SSRIs SSRIs selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a class of antidepressant medications and are the first choice for many people with anxiety These drugs increase the levels of certain chemical messengers, namely serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain They also regulate other essential chemicals, such as those that regulate mood and sleep, and reduce the levels of stress hormones in your body Prozac is the most frequently prescribed SSRI 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 treat anxiety but they do know the drugs help improve the functioning of your brain They boost glial cell function these are the brain cells that help, nourish, insulate and protect your neurons, increase BDNF levels brain-derived neurotrophic factor and boost levels of serotonin itself It's not known what the precise mechanism of action of these supplements is however, it could be a combination of different factors SSRIs, like other types of drugs, can require up to a month to begin to work They require regular treatments to maintain their effectiveness They can cause negative effects like nausea and diarrhea They can also result in low sodium levels in a few individuals, and may affect libido for some males Your doctor will decide the length of time you should be taking them based on your symptoms and other treatments you are using They may advise you to keep taking them for a period of 6 to 12 months, or assist you to taper down and end the medication They may also suggest alternative treatments, including psychotherapy or herbs and supplements that treat anxiety-related symptoms such as Vistaril for itching or the chamomile herb for sleep Beta-blockers Beta-blockers, also referred to as beta-adrenergic blockers, prevent adrenaline from binding to your heart's receptors This allows your heart to relax and decreases your blood pressure They are typically prescribed for anxiety and are an excellent alternative to conventional psychotropic medications that have some side effects Beta-blockers may reduce physical symptoms of anxiety but they do not solve the mental causes of stress They are generally used to deal with 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 their method of operation, beta blockers can have various negative effects, including hypotension and bradycardia They can cause you to feel shaky and sweaty Certain people suffering from asthma, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or diabetes shouldn't be taking them Beta blockers are extensively researched and utilized despite the negative side effects They've been on the market for decades and are considered safe for adults They're also reasonably priced and easily accessible when compared with other drugs For a lot of people who are concerned about the risk of side effects is worth the trade-off for their effectiveness Beta-blockers are an excellent option for mild to moderate anxiety They can be more effective than benzodiazepines, which are best for those who suffer from severe or life-threatening anxiety disorders They will not fix the underlying problem, and are recommended for anxiety that is short-term, such as before an important event like a flight or speech In addition to reducing anxiety, they can also help you sleep better and control your blood sugar Monoamine oxidase inhibitors Monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs block the enzyme responsible for breaking down monoamine neurotransmitters https//wwwiampsychiatrycom/anxiety-treatment prevent the breakdown of serotonin, Melatonin, epinephrine, as well as norepinephrine in neurons and increase their ability to transmit They are typically used in the form of antidepressants, but they also show some effectiveness in anxiety disorders They can be taken alone or together They can also be used to treat Parkinson's and other conditions Eugenol, an essential oil, is found in the bud, leaves, and stems of clove Syzygium Aromaticum and the bark of cinnamon Eugenol has been shown to have MAOI inhibitory activity in a test tube, and could interact with these drugs MAOIs can have serious side effects, and therefore they aren't the first medicines that doctors recommend for depression or anxiety They are typically prescribed for patients who have failed to respond to other medication They also help treat a variety of conditions, such as Fibromyalgia and Parkinson's disease They can lead to low blood pressure when standing in a sitting or lying in a sitting position, a condition known as orthostatic hypotension MAOIs are commonly used to treat panic disorder, atypical depression, and tranylcypromine Phenelzine is used for atypical depression and panic disorder It has small studies on panic disorder These drugs are not as potent as SSRIs, but can be beneficial in treating certain types of anxiety and depression The older MAOIs aren't as safe as the modern REVERSIBLE MAOIs like selegiline and Moclobemide They are more effective in increasing the levels of monoamines involved in depression disorders than older MAOIs They are less likely than older MAOIs in causing high blood pressure, but still carry a risk of developing a dependence on pharmacological drugs Buspirone Combining psychological therapy with medication is the best method to treat anxiety Certain medications can ease symptoms, but they should be used only under the supervision of a physician There are many different medicines for anxiety, and they can work differently in each person To determine the best medication for you, talk with your doctor and explain your symptoms Buspirone is an FDA-approved anti-anxiety medication that works by modulating the neurotransmitters serotonin as well as dopamine It helps reduce anxiety and mood disorders without sedation It is also less likely to become habit-forming than other sedatives such as benzodiazepines This makes it a great choice for people who want to manage their anxiety, but don't want to use drugs such as Xanax SSRIs or SNRIs are typically the first option for treating generalized anxiety disorder They are antidepressants that increase the levels of serotonin in a person and help regulate mood They are usually used in conjunction with other anxiety medications like benzodiazepines They are not usually prescribed for long periods of time because they are addictive and can cause side effects such as drowsiness Psychological treatments for GAD that include medication have shown to be effective in the short-term and can improve the outcome over time These include cognitive behavioural therapy CBT as well as exposure therapy, and art or creative therapies Psychological therapy can assist people learn techniques to better manage their anxiety and depression This can allow them to live a fuller life and manage symptoms In addition that many of these treatments are available online and may be covered by insurance For instance, Brightside is an online therapy service that provides a range of anxiety and depression treatments that include CBT