Prescription of an anxiety drug is one of the most viable approaches doctors feel they have at their disposal when a patient comes to them with complaints of anxiety.
There are many that are considered effective for mild to moderate anxiety including GAD, social anxiety and anxiety attacks. The question is, is an anxiety drug right for you? If so, which one and what about those side effects? you definitely want to minimize those… here’s a quick low down.
Alprazolam (Xanax) is prescribed many times to treat anxiety and panic attack symptoms. This drug is part of the benzodiazepines class of drugs and act on the central nervous system and brain to calm you down.
The most common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness and a decrease in concentration or coordination.The largest problem doctors cite with benzodiazepines is the development of drug dependency (addiction). For that reason they’re not typically prescribed in less another anxiety drug has failed.
Desipramine (Norpramin) is a drug that can be prescribed for depression and anxiety. This drug has been known to improve how you sleep,
lift your moods, increase your energy levels and make your appetite better along with giving you a renewed interest in living your life. This drug is a member of the tricyclic antidepressants. This drug balances the norphinphrine which is a natural substance contained in your brain.
However at this time, Desipramine is considered to be problematic with proof of causing cardiac arrhythmia and breast cancer in women. For this reason it’s not normally recommended by physicians.
Another ANXIETY DRUG that is widely used and popular is SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), brand named escitalopram (Lexapro),Sertraline (Zoloft) and Paroxetine (Paxil), and it is commonly prescribed to relieve anxiety and depression. Through increasing the amount of serotonin available for use in the brain. It does this by not allowing the body to “use up” or “deplete” its existing serotonin. Users report good results and is considered by most to be an effective anxiety drug when dealing with the symptoms, especially mild to moderate symptoms. This anxiety drug ( which is also commonly prescribed for depression) can control excessive nervousness while increasing energy levels and often gives users a sense of well-being throughout the day.
There are a large number of side effects listed by the manufacturers of all SSRI’s. You should monitor yourself and make sure none of the following occur within the first one to four weeks. If they do, consult your physician.Urinary retention, apathy, vomiting or nausea, drowsiness, bruxism, fatigue, mydriasis, insomnia, loss of appetite, weight gain, bone fractures depression, lack of libido, tremors, suicidal tendencies, photosensitivity and headache.
Diazepam (Valium) is not only for use in relieving anxiety, but also for treating seizures and the withdrawal from alcohol. This drug is from the group of medications called benzodiazepines derivative, which gives you a calming sensation by acting on your nerves and brain. Because it’s in the benzodiazepines derivative class, dependency and addiction can result.
Another popular and effective ANXIETY DRUG group, is the Monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Normally prescribed for depression (but also for anxiety) MAOI’s are considered a powerful class of drug and particularly tricky when other drugs are being taken by the patient for any reason because of its propensity to interact negatively with many other drugs. For that reason, it’s typically prescribed after other anxiety drug or drugs have failed and the patient is typically monitored closely. Also side effects are significant including potential liver damage, dependency (addiction) and severe drug interaction leading to coma or death.
The group of drugs called azapirones can be effective in relieving anxiety. Some of the drugs in this group are Buspirone , Enilospirone and Gepirone. These drugs have a wide range of side effects, but are consided rare; and include confusion, headaches, vertigo and nervousness.
They also can interact with other drugs and can cause dependency.
Beta-blocker class of anxiety drug, interestingly started out being prescribed for (and continues to be) cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack
and hypertension. There was also interest in testing the drug for its ability to reduce anxiety and now there is clear evidence that beta-blockers are effective for anxiety. However, all the studies performed seem to indicate that its primary effectiveness is for “performance anxiety” (public speaking, stage fright etc.) Other types of anxiety like GAD and anxiety attack are still in question.
