15 Things You've Never Known About Medication For Anxiety Disorder And Depression

Medications For Anxiety Disorder and Depression Medications help many people manage anxiety, but they're not the only option. Exercise and psychotherapy can be powerful treatments too. Certain antidepressants, including SSRIs (citalopram, Lexapro, fluoxetine, Prozac, paroxetine, Zoloft) also help with anxiety. Others, like histamine blockers like Vistaril (hydroxyzine) can also provide relief. Antidepressants If you're diagnosed with depression, your doctor might prescribe medication as part of your treatment plan. Antidepressants are one of the most common prescription drugs, and there are many types to choose from. The type you choose by your doctor will depend on the severity of your symptoms as well as any other medical conditions you have, and the goals of your treatment. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are among the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. They work by altering the way nerve cells within your brain communicate. The drugs increase the number of neurotransmitters that are present in your brain, which improves your mood and anxiety. Antidepressants can take several weeks to produce results, so be patient and stick with your regimen. Benzodiazepines are a different option that your doctor might use to treat anxiety and depression. These drugs are fast-acting and can help relieve anxiety and depression symptoms within a short amount of time. Benzodiazepines include alprazolam, lorazepam and others. They inhibit the actions of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are hormones that play a role in the body's fight or flee response. Monoamine inhibitors of oxidase are a type of antidepressant which can also be effective in treating anxiety and depression. They are usually prescribed to those who have not responded to other antidepressants. They also require changes to diet in order to avoid hypertensive effects caused by the amino acid tyramine. Inform your doctor if are taking an antidepressant with a prescription. This includes vitamins and other supplements. You may need to lower your dosage if you're using other medications that can affect the way antidepressants work, or if they cause negative side effects. If you suspect you're having thoughts of suicide, seek assistance right away from a health care professional. You might have different symptoms of depression and anxiety or you might have comorbid depression and anxiety. People who have comorbid depression and anxiety suffer from a worse medical prognosis than people who have either disorder alone. Certain psychiatric drugs have been shown to be particularly helpful in treating both disorders for people with a comorbidity of anxiety and depression. Benzodiazepines Anxiety symptoms can be relieved through benzodiazepines. These include alprazolam (Xanax) and the clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). These medications act on the central nervous system's benzodiazepine receptors which are proteins that consist of five transmembrane subunits which form a benzyl chloride channel in the middle. The benzodiazepine-receptors also possess one that binds to the inhibitory neurotransmitter, Gamma aminobutryic type A (GABA A). The benzodiazepines reduce nerve activity by increasing the levels of GABA-A. Benzodiazepines have a rapid start of action, but they are also at risk of dependence and addiction. Antidepressants and antipsychotics, as well as anticonvulsants and buspirone, have a slower onset of action, but are still beneficial for long-term usage, since they do not produce dependence or tolerance. Anxiety and depression are often comorbid, and antidepressants may help reduce depression symptoms that are associated with anxiety. Many people suffering from depression suffer from an amalgamation of depressive and anxious symptoms. They'll need to combine medication and therapy to control their symptoms. In these situations, benzodiazepines can be used for brief intervals of time to control depression and anxiety symptoms until another medication takes effect. The medications are typically prescribed for a short period of time, and not daily. Taking benzodiazepines for extended periods of time may cause withdrawal symptoms, like shaking and trouble sleeping, so these medications should only be used according to the instructions of your doctor. If you are considering taking benzodiazepines, tell your doctor about any past dependency or substance abuse issues as well as any other mental health problems you suffer from. Your doctor can discuss possible side effects and recommend other treatments for depression, if required. If you've never taken benzodiazepines before or if you are taking them in excess they could cause serious and sometimes fatal side effects. If you are nursing, pregnant or have a history of liver disease, digestive or respiratory disorders your doctor may suggest lower doses or limit the duration of your treatment with these medications. Alcohol can interact negatively with benzodiazepines and increase the chance of adverse effects and dependence. It is recommended to avoid drinking alcohol while taking these medicines. Beta-blockers Beta-blockers are a medication that can help control anxiety symptoms. They are a type of medication that is different from benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and are effective by blocking the receptors that adrenaline bonds to. They also slow down brain and nervous system activity. They can be utilized as an alternative to benzodiazepines which are more addictive and have greater risk of dependence. Beta blockers are typically prescribed for heart conditions and are effective in treating anxiety because they reduce blood pressure and slow the heart rate. They are not FDA-approved for treating anxiety disorder. They are often employed “off label” for this purpose, and are a good option if other anti-anxiety medications don't provide relief or have intolerable adverse effects. They are especially effective in cases of social anxiety and performance anxiety, where unpleasant symptoms can occur when you are experiencing events that trigger anxiety. They can be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities like CBT and SSRIs. They are especially effective as an add-on therapy for people suffering from GAD, which is characterized by constant and persistent anxiety that interferes with daily life activities. They can also aid in managing physical symptoms of anxiety such as a racing pulse or increased sweating. Beta-blockers can ease anxiety-related physical symptoms, but they do not address underlying mental issues that contribute to the condition. They can be used to complement other treatments, like benzodiazepines and SSRIs. It is crucial to discuss your medical history as well as any other health concerns with your doctor before taking beta-blockers. The use of these drugs has been linked to a reduction in psychiatric hospitalisations and suicidal behaviour however, the outcomes vary depending on the specific psychiatric condition and past psychiatric history. In certain patients, they can increase the risk of having cardiovascular events. Some natural ingredients contain similar properties to beta-blockers but aren't as effective. These include antioxidants, as well as garlic, saffron and potassium. The effectiveness of these natural supplements isn't fully understood. Certain of these supplements can cause serious adverse side adverse effects, therefore it is recommended to consult an expert before taking them. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs alter the way your mind works. They interfere with the activity of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase. It breaks down the chemical norepinephrine and serotonin, which enable brain cells to communicate with one other. By blocking monoamine oxide, MAOIs allow more of these chemical messengers to remain in your brain. This improves brain cell communication, and improves your mood. These drugs are also effective for treating anxiety disorders . This includes anxiety mixed depression and anxiety states. However, they are less effective in pure anxiety states and may not be helpful in panic attacks. The effectiveness of MAOIs has been due to the fact that they increase levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain. These neurotransmitters are naturally produced in your body and then released into the bloodstream, from where they travel to nerve cells, and act as messengers between neurons. Iproniazid was the first antidepressant to be discovered in 1950. It inhibited monoamine oxidease. This led to the development of other MAOIs such as tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, and fluoxetine, that are known to 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. Because they may cause drug and food interactions and may cause serious withdrawal syndrome if stopped abruptly, MAOIs are typically only prescribed to patients who are unable to respond to other treatments. A newer version of MAOI, dubbed an irreversible and selective MAO-A inhibitor, is being studied for use in treating resistant depression. It is not recommended to be used in bipolar disorder because it can cause manic symptoms. Another newer MAOI, selegiline (Eldepryl or Zelapar), is being studied to treat Parkinson's disease. It blocks monoamine oxidase, but does not affect the other enzymes which breakdown levodopa, which is 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 may manifest as muscle twitching, eyelid twitching, as well as other signs. These reactions are more common when these drugs are taken in conjunction with certain food items like aged cheeses and preserved meats.