Mental Health Medications for Anxiety

Published November 16, 2005 updated February 6.-2013.

A number of drugs used to treat the symptoms of anxiety disorders. These symptoms are

• Irritability
• Discomfort
• Nervousness
• Feelings of anxiety
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• Stomach upset or nausea
• Discomfort
• Diseases of the respiratory tract.

If you have an anxiety disorder, which is sometimes helpful emotion can keep you from coping and can disrupt your daily life. Anxiety disorders are more than just a case of "nerves." They are diseases which frequently based on the composition and biological life experience of the person, and are common in families. There are a variety of anxiety disorders, each with its own characteristics. Read this article for more information on anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A high level of anxiety or prolonged state of anxiety can the activities of daily life difficult or impossible. Both antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are used to treat anxiety disorders. Many antidepressants are effective in anxiety disorders and depression. The first drug approved to treat OCD was the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine (Anafranil). SSRIs fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft) are approved for use. OCD Paroxetine has been is also approved for social anxiety disorder (social phobia), anxiety disorder and panic disorder; and sertraline is approved for panic disorder and PTSD. venlafaxine (Effexor) has been approved for GAD.

The largest group of anxiolytic benzodiazepines. This category includes clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). General, benzodiazepines relieve symptoms in a short time. They have relatively few side effects: drowsiness and loss of coordination are most common; Can also cause fatigue and mental slowing or confusion. These effects make it dangerous for people to drive the benzodiazepines or operate machinery. Other side effects are rare.

Different people react differently to benzodiazepines way. Some people may need two or three times a day, others only once per day, or on an "as needed". The dose is usually started low and gradually increased, until the symptoms are reduced or eliminated level. The dose varies greatly depending on the symptoms and your body chemistry.

You must avoid alcohol when taking benzodiazepines, because the interaction between benzodiazepines and alcohol can lead to serious or fatal complications. Make sure your doctor about other medications you are taking.

Benzodiazepines are often prescribed for a short time or weeks -days, which are sometimes given on an "as needed" just to stress or anxiety attacks. If you take these drugs for weeks or months, you can develop a tolerance or dependence. Tolerance means that you to take more drugs, for this to work. Dependence means that you develop withdrawal symptoms when they. Taking the drug Some people abuse these drugs to get high. Some patients with severe anxiety may require long term treatment. Represented more as clonazepam (Klonopin) and diazepam (Valium) can cause withdrawal symptoms milder than short-acting drugs such as alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan).

Make sure before you speak a benzodiazepine with your doctor. A withdrawal reaction may occur if treatment is stopped suddenly. Withdrawal symptoms can be,

• Anxiety
• Tremor
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Insomnia
• Anorexia
• Cramps.

Ironically, many of these symptoms are similar to symptoms of anxiety that a doctor has seen. To avoid these symptoms, your doctor will probably gradually lower your dose of the medication gradually.

Buspirone (BuSpar) is a drug, in particular for the benzodiazepines of anxiety disorders. It differs from the benzodiazepines which must be taken regularly for at least 2 work. Do not take buspirone on an "as needed".

Beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal, Inderide) are sometimes used to control "nervousness" or other forms of performance anxiety. These medications are often used to treat heart disease and hypertension.

Last modified: 17/11/05