How to Know if You Should Take Daily Anxiety Medication
Which anti-anxiety medication is right for me?
Understanding anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines, antidepressants and others is an of import footstep to successfully managing anxiety disorders
May 29, 2019
Anxiety disorders are the nearly common mental illness in the United States with 19 percent of the population affected every year. Though highly treatable, 63.1 percent of those suffering from an feet disorder do not receive handling.
Joy Alonzo, PharmD, MEng, specialist in the pharmacotherapy of mental disorders and a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the Texas A&Grand Higher of Pharmacy, explains the difference between common anxiety medications. "If you empathize the unlike types of medication, then you can become a better abet for your anxiety treatment. Anxiety is one of the nearly undertreated mental illness, and we need to talk more about it."
What are anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders touch on 31.9 percent of people between the ages of 13 and xviii, and women are twice equally likely to develop an anxiety disorder as men. Mutual examples of anxiety disorders include generalized feet disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, substance-induced anxiety disorder and specific phobias.
"An feet disorder does more than make yous anxious. They can touch your entire life. Plus, untreated anxiety can lead to other mental health disorders and physical conditions," Alonzo said. "We have no way of predicting what will cause someone to develop an anxiety disorder. Yet, yous can take steps to reduce the impact of symptoms such as getting assist from a wellness care professional early and avoiding the use of non-prescribed drugs and alcohol."
Practice I accept an feet disorder?
Common signs and symptoms of anxiety include nervousness, restlessness or tenseness, a sense of impending danger or doom, increased eye rate, breathing rapidly, sweating, trembling, feeling weak or tired, problem concentrating or sleeping, stomach aches and headaches and the urge to avoid things that trigger feet.
Anxiety disorders often develop from a complex set of take chances factors. The run a risk factors may include exposure to trauma, certain medical issues like thyroid disease or heart disease, stress due to a severe affliction and other mental health disorders like depression. The utilise or misuse of drugs and booze tin worsen symptoms of anxiety.
"Anxiety disorders are best treated with a combination of therapy and medication," Alonzo said. "It takes time to find the perfect combination for your symptoms. Your master intendance provider is the best place to start that journeying."
Benzodiazepines for anxiety
"For years, providers take prescribed benzodiazepines to treat symptoms of acute anxiety," Alonzo said. Benzodiazepines also treat severe muscle spasms, tremors and acute seizures.
Benzodiazepines, such every bit Xanax and Klonopin, provide rapid relief from a panic attack. Providers may too prescribe them to prevent cases of acute anxiety like those stemming from a plane ride, for those with a fear of flying, or the moments leading up to a surgery.
Unlike other anti-anxiety medications, benzodiazepines are controlled substances. You can develop a tolerance to benzodiazepines and a dependence to them over time. Additionally, trying to of a sudden stop taking a benzodiazepine tin cause life-threatening withdrawal that may include seizures. For these reasons, providers typically prescribe benzodiazepines at low doses for limited amounts of time.
Buspirone for anxiety
"Another common medication used to treat anxiety is buspirone, which is also known nether the make name Buspar," Alonzo said. "It interacts with certain neuroreceptors in the brain that command mood which can decrease anxiety symptoms."
Buspirone may assistance patients think more conspicuously and relax with less worry. It may also help anxiety symptoms similar irritableness, sweating and trouble sleeping.
Alonzo cautions about consuming alcohol and grapefruit or grapefruit juice when taking buspirone. "Tell your health intendance provider or pharmacist nigh other medications, vitamins and herbal supplements you have, as well as if you drink alcohol, smoke, vape or use illegal substances," Alonzo said. Mutual side furnishings of buspirone may include dizziness, nervousness, drowsiness and lightheadedness. "Avoiding anything that might make these side effects worse is a proficient strategy."
Hydroxyzine for anxiety
Hydroxyzine, besides known under the make names Atarax and Vistaril, is an antihistamine that has an effect on regulating the chemicals in your encephalon, which helps control feet on a brusque-term basis. These medications have a calming effect on the brain, and providers may prescribe it prior to a surgery to ease nerves and help sleep.
"Hydroxyzine tin can crusade drowsiness and decreased alertness," Alonzo said. "It is of import that patients take precautions not to drive and to be conscientious around the dwelling, so they exercise not fall."
The furnishings of hydroxyzine can happen quickly, unlike buspirone, which may take time to get effective. Hydroxyzine and buspirone are non controlled substances. They besides practice not cause tolerance, dependence or withdrawal.
Meclizine for anxiety
Meclizine, besides an antihistamine, is most often used to treat movement sickness and dizziness. The drug, sold under the brand proper noun Antivert, tin as well care for nausea and dizziness during panic attacks. Even so, in that location is no prove that meclizine decreases anxiety long term.
"Meclizine may take upward to an hour to become effective. It can aid with nausea and dizziness associated with panic attacks," Alonzo said. "Those with a specific anxiety trigger like air travel may take it earlier a flight, as the effects will last between eight and 24 hours."
What are SSRIs and SNRIs?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft and Prozac, and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) similar Effexor and Pristiq are antidepressant medications, but they can help with feet symptoms as well. For this reason, many providers volition prescribe an SSRI or SNRI if y'all have a combination of depression and anxiety.
"SSRIs and SNRIs are not an instant prepare for symptoms associated with an anxiety disorder, nor do they even provide immediate relief," Alonzo said. "They work by interacting with the neurotransmitters and receptors in your encephalon, which tin assist regulate mood, sleep and energy levels. It is of import for patients to understand that these medications may take 4 to six weeks for total effect."
Some patients may respond better to one of these medications than others. If later taking the medication for two weeks and symptoms accept not improved, talk to your provider to have your medication regimen adjusted. Treatment trials with more than one medication are not uncommon.
Combining anti-anxiety medications, opioids and alcohol
More than thirty percent of overdoses involving opioids also involve anti-anxiety medications. Alonzo said. "Benzodiazepines and opioids both cause sedation and suppress breathing. Alcohol plays a role in decreasing consciousness and cognitive ability. These substances together tin exist incredibly dangerous, fifty-fifty fatal."
Alonzo, an integral function of the Texas A&M Health Science Eye Opioid Task Strength, works to educate the customs near the risks of opioid misuse. "The opioid crisis is an incredibly complex problem with many driving factors," she said. "We need strategies to better educate both prescribers and patients alike on the dangers of sure prescription medications, particularly when taken in combination and with alcohol."
Patients who misuse prescription medications might believe that these substances are safer than illicit substances, which is not the example. Whatever patient under handling with a prescription medication for a mental health disorder should discuss the use of booze, over-the-counter medications and other substances with their pharmacist or provider.
Are anti-feet medications safe when significant or breastfeeding?
"Before taking whatsoever prescription medication, you should ever speak with your health care provider or pharmacist if yous are pregnant or plan to go pregnant," Alonzo said. "Certain medications like SSRIs and SNRIs take not been fairly studied in pregnancy. Everyone needs to accept an open conversation about those risks."
Generally, providers do not recommend benzodiazepines during pregnancy or during breastfeeding because they can get into chest milk. The nursing babe has the potential to experience symptoms like sedation, feeding difficulties and weight loss.
Yous and your health care team should evaluate the benefits of breastfeeding with the risk of potential babe drug exposure and an untreated or inadequately treated mental health disorder in the mother.
Which anti-feet medication is best?
Feet disorders are treated differently depending on the person. "Mental health disorder treatments are not a one-size-fits-all approach. You need to include your chief care practitioner, therapist and pharmacist to find which treatment works best for you lot," Alonzo said. "Information technology may have time to discover the right treatment. However, there is hope for your recovery and you are worth it."
If you are having problem managing your anxiety, then speak with a health care provider nearly your options.
Source: https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/which-anti-anxiety-medication-is-right-for-me/
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