Medications For Anxiety Disorder and Depression Many people discover that medications help them manage anxiety However they're not the only option Exercise and psychotherapy can also be effective treatments Some antidepressants, like SSRIs citalopram, Lexapro, fluoxetine, Prozac, paroxetine, Zoloft also treat anxiety Others, such as histamine blockers like Vistaril hydroxyzine can also provide relief Antidepressants If you've been diagnosed with depression, your doctor might prescribe medication as part of your treatment program Antidepressants are among the most commonly prescribed medications, come in many different types The type of antidepressant that your provider prescribes will depend on your symptoms, other medical conditions and treatment goals 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 do this by increasing the quantity of certain neurotransmitters, which helps improve mood and anxiety It can take several weeks for antidepressants start working and you should be patient The benzodiazepines are an alternative your doctor may recommend to treat anxiety and depression They are extremely fast-acting drugs and can be utilized as a short-term remedy to alleviate the immediate symptoms of anxiety and depression Examples of benzodiazepines include alprazolam and lorazepam They block the actions of adrenaline and noradrenaline which are hormones that play a role in the fight or flight reaction Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are an older antidepressant type that can be effective for treating anxiety and depression They are usually prescribed to patients who have not had a response to other antidepressants They also require dietary changes to prevent hypertensive interactions caused by the amino acid tyramine Tell your doctor if are taking an antidepressant with a prescription This includes supplements and vitamins You may need to decrease the dosage if you're taking other medications that affect how well antidepressants function or if they trigger side effects If you think you're having thoughts of suicide, seek help right away by a health professional https//wwwiampsychiatrycom/anxiety-disorders may have different symptoms for anxiety and depression or you may be suffering from comorbid anxiety and depression Patients with comorbid anxiety as well as depression have a poorer medical prognosis as compared to those with only one disorder Certain psychiatric drugs have been shown to be particularly helpful in treating both disorders in those who suffer from comorbid depression and anxiety Benzodiazepines Anxiety-related symptoms can be alleviated by drugs known as benzodiazepines These include alprazolam Xanax and 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 five transmembrane subunits which form a benzyl chloride channel in the middle The benzodiazepine receptors also have one that binds to the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma aminobutryic type A GABA A The benzodiazepines reduce nerve activity by increasing levels of GABA-A Benzodiazepines are known to have a quick time to begin their action, however they pose a chance of dependence and addiction Antipsychotics and antidepressants as well as anticonvulsants and buspirone, have a slower onset of action, however they are still better for long-term use because they do not produce tolerance or create addiction Depression and anxiety disorders are often co-occurring, and antidepressants may help reduce symptoms of depression that are linked with anxiety However, many people with depression experience a combination of both anxious and depressive symptoms and will need a combination of medication and therapy to manage all their symptoms In these instances, benzodiazepines may be utilized for a short period of time to control depression or anxiety symptoms while other medications are in effect Typically, these drugs are prescribed for only just a few weeks at a time, and are not prescribed daily If you take benzodiazepines for long periods of time may cause withdrawal symptoms such as shaking and sleeplessness and waking up, so these medications are only to be used according to the prescription of your doctor If you're thinking of taking benzodiazepines, tell your doctor about any previous substance abuse or dependence issues, as well as any other mental health problems you may have Your doctor can discuss possible side effects and recommend other medications to treat your depression, if needed Benzodiazepines can cause serious and even life-threatening problems if you take too much or have never previously used them If you are breastfeeding, pregnant or have a history of liver disease, respiratory or digestive disorders, your doctor may require lower doses or restrict the time you are treated with these drugs Alcohol can interact with benzodiazepines, and could increase the chance of developing side effects and dependence, therefore you should avoid drinking alcohol while taking these medications Beta-blockers Beta-blockers are a drug that can help control anxiety symptoms They are a type of medication distinct from benzodiazepines such as Xanax and they are effective by blocking the receptors that adrenaline bonds to They also slow down brain and nervous system activity They can be used as an alternative to benzodiazepines, which are more addictive and have an increased risk of dependency Beta blockers are frequently prescribed for heart conditions and may be beneficial in treating anxiety since they lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate However, they're not specifically approved by the FDA to treat of anxiety disorder They are often employed "off label" for this purpose and are a viable alternative when other anti-anxiety medications do not offer relief or have unacceptable side effects They are especially effective in situations of performance anxiety and social anxiety, where uncomfortable symptoms can arise in situations that cause anxiety They can also be used in combination with other treatment methods, such as CBT or SSRIs They are especially useful as an alternative therapy for people suffering from GAD GAD is characterized by constant and frequent anxiety that can hinder everyday activities They can also help manage physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heart or increased sweating While beta-blockers can help to alleviate physical symptoms of anxiety, they don't tackle the psychological issues that contribute to the anxiety They can be used to supplement other treatments, such as SSRIs or benzodiazepines Before taking beta-blockers, it is important to discuss with your doctor your medical history and any other health concerns These drugs are linked to reduced psychiatric admissions and suicidal behavior, however the results may differ based on the specific psychiatric diagnosis and past psychiatric histories In certain patients, they can increase the risk of heart attacks There are a few natural products that have beta-blocker properties, however, they aren't as effective as prescription medications They include antioxidants, garlic, Saffron and potassium These natural ingredients aren't fully comprehended Some of these products may cause serious adverse side effects, so it is recommended to consult a physician prior to taking them Monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs affect the way your brain works They inhibit the activity of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase It breaks down the chemicals norepinephrine and serotonin, which allow your brain cells to communicate with one with each other By blocking monoamine oxidase MAOIs help to keep more chemical messengers in your brain, which improves your mood by enhancing brain cell communication These medications are also effective for treating anxiety disorders This includes agoraphobia, mixed depression and anxiety states However, they are not as effective in pure anxiety states and may not be helpful in panic attacks The MAOIs' effectiveness has been linked to their capability to boost serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine levels within the brain These neurotransmitters are naturally produced in your body and 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 help 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 MAOIs can trigger severe withdrawal symptoms if suddenly stopped They may also cause dangerous interactions with food and drugs A newer version of MAOI, known as an irreversible and selective MAO-A inhibitor, is being studied for use in treatment resistant depression It is not recommended to use in bipolar disorder, since it may trigger manic symptoms Selegiline, a newer MAOI also known as Eldepryl or Zelapar, has been studied for treatment of Parkinson's disease It blocks monoamine oxidase, but it does not interfere with other enzymes which break down levodopa, the primary treatment for Parkinson's These medications can be taken alone or in combination with other antidepressants In certain patients, the MAOIs can cause a reaction that results in increased neuromuscular excitability and hyperreflexia This can manifest as muscle twitching, eyelid twitching and other signs These reactions are more frequent when these medications are used along with certain foods such as aged cheeses and preserved meats