What You Need to Know About Anxiety Medication
You may have experienced the feeling of dread, uneasiness, or overwhelming worry one way or another at one point in your life. The general sense of uncertainty and lingering fear is what anxiety is all about. Anxiety is a common mental condition that can affect children and adults alike. It is often unrelenting in choosing its victims too. You can develop anxiety regardless of age, ethnicity, or social status.
Over 6.8 million in the United States alone suffer from anxiety. However, only 43.2% receive medical treatment. Although anxiety is a common condition affecting your quality of life, it is highly treatable and manageable with medication and therapy.
This blog post is about the facts you need to know about anxiety, its treatment, and how to get anxiety medication. So, if you’re ready to learn what you need to know about anti-anxiety medication, continue reading below.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is the feeling of dread accompanied by lingering fear and uneasiness. However, it can also be your normal stress reaction. One example is when you are about to make a critical decision at work, school, or in your personal life. For some individuals, anxiety boosts energy, which helps them focus. On the other hand, people with anxiety disorders tend to get overwhelmed.
What Are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders are mental conditions that often worsen over time and do not naturally go away. The symptoms typically lead to negative thoughts that can affect your performance at work, school, family, or in romantic relationships.
What Are the Types of Anxiety Disorders?
Below are the most common types of anxiety disorders.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder is the most common type. Individuals with GAD worry about ordinary things, such as family, financial status, relationships, problems at work, and health. Moreover, their worrying is often temporary and should not last over 6 months.
Phobias
Individuals with phobias experience an intense and overwhelming sense of fear over things that don’t have a real threat. Some examples are:
- Fear of spiders – arachnophobia
- Fear of flying – aerophobia
- Fear of crowded places – agoraphobia
- Fear of clowns – coulrophobia
Panic Disorder
Panic attacks often occur in people with panic disorder. They typically experience repeated fear without real danger. Panic attacks last several minutes or more.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Anxiety?
Do I need anxiety medication? Possibly. The answer depends on many factors, such as the severity of the anxiety and response to treatment.
Here are the common symptoms of anxiety as observed by medical experts worldwide.
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Palpitations
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden and unexplained pains and aches
- Behavioral changes
How to Get Anxiety Medicine?
What does anxiety medication do? Medications are efficient in treating anxiety disorders. Below are some of the different anxiety medications that health providers may prescribe to treat and manage anxiety. Starting anxiety medication is your first step toward recovery.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are typically recommended for another mental condition called depression. However, these medications are useful in treating anxiety too.
Two common groups of antidepressant medications for anxiety are:
Examples of SSRIs
- Paroxetine
- Fluoxetine
- Sertraline
- Escitalopram
- Citalopram
Examples of SNRIs
Many psychiatrists and NPs consider the anxiety medications mentioned above the first choice in treating anxiety symptoms. They are safe and efficient. Is anxiety medication worth it? The answer is yes. They are worth your time and effort. Moreover, when to take anxiety meds and seek medical help can be challenging for some to come to terms with. There are many sigmas associated with anxiety and taking anxiety medications. But the fact is most people have anxiety. Some people you may know have undiagnosed anxiety and should seek treatment for anxiety also. Only a few will put the stigmas aside and take steps to improve their mental health and lifestyle.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are perhaps another common anti-anxiety medication in healthcare today. These medications are fast-acting and very effective. Here are the symptoms that they treat. When these medications are prescribed, these should generally only be used for short periods of time, for 2-3 weeks, due to the potential for tolerance to the medication. Tolerance occurs when higher amounts of medication are needed to produce the same effect on the body.
- Fear
- Worrying
- Panic attacks
Are There Other Medications for Anxiety?
Below is a compilation of the other anxiety medications used in treating anxiety. They are not as popular as the medications we discussed above. However, they are potent and effective.
Buspirone
This anxiety medication is classified as an anxiolytic. It works by blocking certain chemicals in the nervous system. Buspirone can decrease the feeling of dread and uneasiness. Doctors often recommend this medication to treat chronic anxiety. Buspirone can be given as an add-on treatment to certain antidepressants to enhance its effectiveness.
Hydroxyzine pamoate
Doctors typically suggest hydroxyzine pamoate to individuals with poor response to benzodiazepines or people who previously struggled with substance abuse. These anxiety medications work well in controlling tension and anxiety. They also induce sleep and alleviate allergy symptoms.
Beta Blockers
Some beta-blockers, like propranolol, efficiently control other anxiety symptoms, like palpitations and involuntary shaking. This medication can also be good for physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heart and sweating. In some cases, it may actually help to prevent panic attacks.
Bupropion
Bupropion is an actual antidepressant medication. However, it is not generally solely used for the treatment of anxiety. There is some evidence that when patients have depressive symptoms with anxiety, it can indirectly benefit the anxiety by treating the depression.
How Long is the Treatment Duration for Anxiety?
Does anxiety medication work? How long does anxiety treatment last? The answer depends on the individual’s reaction to the medication and the severity of the condition. In addition, it also depends on the medication dosing and class.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants typically take 1 to 2 weeks before beginning to work on treating anxiety symptoms. In addition, it may take up to 4 to weeks to achieve their full effects, and in some cases, it may take longer. It is important to note that the optimal dosage of the antidepressant may vary from person to person, which can account for the difference in the time it takes for the medication to work. Some people’s responses are quick, whereas others may take longer to see an optimal response
Benzodiazepines
One advantage of benzodiazepines in treating anxiety is their fast-acting capabilities. You can experience improvements from your usual anxiety symptoms less than an hour after taking them.
Is There a Holistic Approach to Treating Anxiety?
Medications are not your only option for managing anxiety. Certain supplements may work well too. Below are some examples.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb used by our ancestors since ancient times. Today, you can buy them over the counter. Studies suggest that this miracle herb calms and controls anxiety symptoms.
Valerian Root
Valerian root is another natural alternative for treating anxiety. It induces sleep, which helps calm the constant uneasiness from anxiety attacks. Moreover, rest and sleep are essential in managing anxiety, stress, and depression.
Magnesium
Magnesium helps your body produce and release melatonin and serotonin. These substances make you “feel good” over extended periods throughout the day. In addition, magnesium suppresses cytokine and cortisol production. As a result, it reduces inflammation and stress.
Manage Anxiety With Your Preferred Schedule
We understand the challenges of living with anxiety. Our services offer safe and effective treatment options that work with your schedule.
You’re on the right page if you’re looking for an online psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner for your mental health needs. We offer online psychiatry to residents in San Diego, California.
We accept various insurances and offer convenient online medication prescriptions for anxiety and depression.
Don’t wait for anxiety to take over your life. If you would like help with your anxiety or maybe a second opinion, feel free to reach out to us by simply self-scheduling an online psychiatry appointment with one of our highly experienced online psychiatry providers. You will be well on your way to a more comprehensive treatment.
During your appointment, your psychiatry provider will listen carefully to your concerns and collaboratively develop a treatment plan that moves you from symptom management to mental health wellness.
Starting your journey to a healthier mind is just one click away! You can easily schedule an appointment online or connect with us at (619) 771-0083 today.
