Anxiety disorders are the most common and prescribed mental illness in the United States. Anxiety refers to a specific group of mental disorders that involve extreme fear, nervousness, worry, apprehension, and panic.
The National prevalence data indicate that approximately 40 million people experience some sort of anxiety disorder, in America, in just one year.
Here are some symptoms associated with anxiety disorders of all kinds:
- Intense Fear and Worry: Individuals with anxiety disorders often experience intense and excessive fear or worry about various aspects of their lives. This fear can be persistent, pervasive, and difficult to control, leading to a sense of dread or impending doom (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
- Anticipation of Threats: Anxiety disorders are characterized by an exaggerated perception of threat or danger. Individuals may have constant worries about potential harm, negative outcomes, or catastrophic events, even in situations where the threat is minimal or nonexistent. This anticipation of threats contributes to the sense of dread (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
- Physical Symptoms: Anxiety disorders commonly involve physical symptoms that contribute to the overall sense of dread. These symptoms may include rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest tightness, sweating, trembling, and gastrointestinal discomfort. The presence of these physical sensations can intensify feelings of fear and apprehension (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
- Impact on Daily Life: Anxiety disorders can significantly impact an individual’s daily life, leading to avoidance behaviors and disruptions in personal, social, and occupational functioning. The fear and dread associated with anxiety disorders can lead to avoidance of situations or activities that are perceived as anxiety-provoking, further perpetuating the cycle of anxiety (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
- Co-occurring Conditions: Anxiety disorders frequently co-occur with other mental health conditions such as depression, substance use disorders, and sleep disturbances. The presence of these comorbid conditions can contribute to an increased sense of dread and worsen overall functioning and quality of life (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Let’s continue on to learn more about conventional medications for this mental disorder.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are sedative psychiatric medications that can help relax your muscles and calm your mind. They work by increasing the effects of certain neurotransmitters, such as GABA, which are chemicals that relay messages between your brain neurons.
Benzodiazepines help treat many kinds of the disorder, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Examples of these drugs include:
alprazolam/ Xanax
lorazepam/ Ativan
diazepam/ Valium
clonazepam / Klonopin
chlordiazepoxide / Librium
CAUTION
May Come with Side Effects
Benzodiazepine medications are mostly used for the short-term treatment of panic disorders. They can be habit-forming and addictive.
They increase drowsiness and cause problems with balance and memory.
These medications can cause confusion, vision problems, headaches, and feelings of depression and sedation.
If you’ve taken a benzodiazepine regularly for more than two weeks, it’s important not to stop immediately, as this could cause a seizure in some people. Instead, talk to your doctor about slowly tapering your dosage.
Buspar for Anxiety
Buspar is also known as Buspirone, is used to treat both short-term and chronic disorders. It is thought to affect chemicals in the brain that regulate mood.
One downside of Buspar is it can take several weeks to become fully effective.
CAUTION
May Come with Side Effects
Side effects of Buspar can include dizziness, headaches, and nausea. Some people also report strange dreams, nightmares, or difficulty sleeping when on buspirone.
SSRI’s for Anxiety
SSRI medications work by affecting neurotransmitters.
These medications are used to treat anxiety symptoms, but a down side is they take four to six weeks to produce noticeable effects.
Types of antidepressants include:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
SSRI’s work by increasing levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, sexual desire, appetite, sleep, and memory. SSRIs are usually started at a low dose. Your doctor will gradually increase your dosage to reach your therapeutic level.
Examples of SSRIs used include:
fluoxetine / Prozac
paroxetine / Paxil
sertraline / Zoloft
escitalopram / Lexapro
CAUTION
May Come with Side Effects
SSRIs can cause a variety of side effects. Side effects can include nausea, dry mouth, muscle weakness, dizziness, diarrhea, drowsiness, and even sexual problems.
Tricyclics
for Anxiety
Tricyclics work, as well as SSRIs, do for treating most anxiety disorders. They do not work well for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s also thought that tricyclics work similarly to SSRIs.
Examples of tricyclics used for anxiety include:
Clomipramine / Anafranil,
Imipramine / Tofranil.
Tricyclics are an older class of medications. they are used less often because the newer drugs, such as SSRIs, usually cause fewer side effects.
CAUTION
May Come with Side Effects
Side effects of tricyclics may include dizziness, drowsiness, lack of energy, and dry mouth. They can also include nausea, vomiting, constipation, blurred vision, and weight gain.
It is important to note that anxiety disorders are treatable, and effective interventions are available. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medications, and other therapeutic approaches can help alleviate the sense of dread associated with anxiety disorders and improve overall well-being.
Stop the suffering today and visit mytelemedicine for a consultation with a physician.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ THE PRIVACY POLICY FOR MORE INFO.