Anxiety Treatments Medication Anxiety can interfere with daily life, so it is important to seek out help if you have extreme anxiety Treatment options include lifestyle changes like decreasing stress and engaging in regular physical exercise Your doctor might recommend psychological therapy The FDA has approved several medicines for anxiety disorders, including the SSRIs and SNRIs that affect serotonin, the neurotransmitter that controls our brains Anticonvulsants like pregabalin can also reduce anxiety by altering the GABA receptor Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines are drugs that work on the nervous system to produce an calming effect They work by enhancing the effects of a neurotransmitter named gamma-aminobutyric acids GABA in the brain GABA inhibits nerve activity in the brain and spinal cord and helps to reduce anxiety Unlike antidepressants, which can take weeks to begin working, benzodiazepines have the ability to reduce anxiety symptoms almost immediately These are highly-risk medications for abuse and dependence The body develops a tolerance to benzodiazepines following regular use This can result in physical dependence Despite the risks they are a reliable treatment for anxiety, even when other options aren't readily available or do not offer relief While benzodiazepines can be a powerful treatment for anxiety, it is important to consult with your doctor before using these medications They can help you identify the cause of your anxiety, and discuss alternative options that could be more appropriate For example, talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy CBT and exposure therapy can help you address the root of anxiety and teach you strategies for coping Benzodiazepines aren't commonly employed as the first-choice medication for anxiety disorders, as they can cause dangerous side effects when combined with alcohol or other drugs They are also addictive, and carry a high chance of overdose The first benzodiazepines were introduced in the 1950s with chlordiazepoxide Librium, Limbitrol followed by diazepam Valium and lorazepam Ativan All of these medications come with a black box warning, indicating that they can cause serious or life-threatening adverse effects such as extreme sleepiness, breathing issues or coma and even death when combined with opioids or illegal drugs SSRIs SSRIs selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a class of antidepressant drugs and are the first choice for a lot of people who suffer from anxiety These drugs boost the levels of certain chemical messengers, including serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain They also regulate other crucial chemicals such as those that control mood and sleep and lower stress hormones in the 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 While experts aren't sure exactly how SSRIs can help alleviate anxiety but they do know that these drugs enhance the way your brain functions They increase the glial cell's function these are the brain cells that nourish, support, nourish, insulate and protect your neurons, increase BDNF levels brain-derived neurotrophic factor and increase levels of serotonin itself It's unclear what is the exact mechanism of these supplements is however it could be a combination of different factors Similar to other types of medicines, SSRIs can take 1 month to kick in and require frequent treatment to ensure that the benefits are maintained They can trigger adverse effects, including diarrhea and nausea Some men might experience a decrease in libido as well as sodium levels Your doctor will decide the duration of time that you should take them based on your symptoms and other treatments you're taking They may recommend that you continue to use them for a period of 6 to 12 months or help you to decrease the dosage and end the medication They may also suggest other treatments, such as 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 called beta-adrenergic blocks stop adrenaline from binding with your heart's receptors This helps your heart relax and lowers blood pressure They are often prescribed for anxiety and can be an excellent alternative to traditional psychiatric medications that carry some side effects Although beta-blockers can alleviate physical symptoms of anxiety, they do not tackle the root causes of your stress They are typically used to manage certain situations that trigger anxiety, like public speaking and flying They may be used in combination with therapy to treat the underlying anxiety disorder, or on their own as a long-term daily medication Beta blockers can cause a range of adverse effects because of their way of working, such as hypotension, bradycardia and other conditions You might also feel shakey or sweaty Certain people who suffer from COPD chronic obstruction of the lungs or diabetes shouldn't take them Despite their negative effects Beta blockers are widely used and studied They've been on the market for a long time and are considered safe for most adults They are also fairly inexpensive and easily accessible when compared with other medications For many, the side effects are worth it in exchange for their effectiveness Beta-blockers are a great option for those suffering from mild to moderate anxiety They are more effective than benzodiazepines which are ideal for people with severe or life-threatening anxiety disorders But they aren't able to solve the root of the problem They are best for short-term anxiety like prior to major events like an airplane flight or speech In addition to reducing anxiety, they can aid in sleeping better and regulate your blood sugar Monoamine oxidase inhibitors Monoamine Oxase inhibitors MAOIs block the enzyme responsible for breaking down monoamine neurotransmitters They increase the availability of serotonin and other neurotransmitters such as the epinephrine and melatonin to transmit by preventing their breakdown in neurons They are primarily known as effective antidepressants and possess some efficacy in anxiety disorders They can be used as a stand-alone or in conjunction with other medications They can also be used to treat Parkinson's and other conditions Eugenol is an essential oil found in bud, leaf, and the stem of clove Syzygium aromaticum and in the bark of cinnamon Cinnamomum verum Eugenol has been found to inhibit MAOI in a test tube and could interact with these medications MAOIs can have severe adverse effects, which is why they are not the primary medications that doctors recommend for treating depression or anxiety Typically, they are prescribed for those who have failed to respond to other medication They can also be used for various other conditions like Parkinson's disease and fibromyalgia They can cause low pressure when you get up from a lying or seated position This is called orthostatic hypertension Common MAOIs include phenelzine tranylcypromine, and isocarboxazid Phenelzine is used for the treatment of atypical anxiety and depression It has small studies on panic disorder These drugs aren't as effective as SSRIs but they are useful in treating certain kinds of anxiety and depression The more recent reversible MAOIs that are reversible like selegiline or moclobemide are more secure than the older irreversible MAOIs They are also more effective than older MAOIs in increasing the levels of monoamines that are involved in depressive disorders They are less likely than older MAOIs in causing high blood pressure, but still carry a risk of developing pharmacological dependency Buspirone Combining medication with psychological therapy is the best method to combat anxiety Medications can help alleviate symptoms however they should only be used under the supervision of a physician There are many different medicines for anxiety, and they can work differently in each person Talk to your doctor about the symptoms you are experiencing and he'll prescribe the right medication for you Buspirone is an FDA-approved anti-anxiety medication that works by altering the neurotransmitters serotonin as well as dopamine It helps reduce anxiety and mood disorders without the feeling of sedation It is also less likely to turn into more habit-forming than other sedatives like benzodiazepines This makes it a great choice for people who are looking to manage their anxiety, but do not need to take a drug such as Xanax SSRIs or SNRIs are usually the first treatment option for generalized anxiety disorder These antidepressants can regulate mood and increase serotonin levels https//wwwiampsychiatrycom/anxiety-treatment are often prescribed as a part of anxiety-related medications like benzodiazepines They are not usually prescribed for prolonged durations of time due to the fact that they can be addictive and cause adverse effects like drowsiness Besides medications and psychological treatments, psychological treatments for GAD have been shown to be effective in the short run and can improve outcomes over time These include cognitive behavioural therapy CBT exposure therapy, and art or creative therapies Psychological therapy can help people learn techniques to better control their depression and anxiety, which can help them manage symptoms and live a full life In addition that a lot of these treatments are now accessible online and could be covered by insurance Brightside is one example It is an online therapy program that offers CBT, as well as other treatments for depression and anxiety