Depression And Anxiety

It is almost beyond belief how many people are suffering from anxiety disorders. While statistics may vary,reports are that 40 million people of all ages are in the throes of some form of the various anxiety disorders and are frantically looking for much needed relief. That relief may come with the medications for anxiety, herbal or natural treatments or some sort of therapy such as cognitive/behavioral therapy, relaxation therapy or faith based therapy to name a few. Although this is not intended to be a scholarly analysis of these various medications, our purpose is to give you an enlightening overview of what they are, their use and their effects.

Let me warn you, these tongue-twisting names may floor you, but just remember, it’s what they do for you, not their difficulty in pronouncing that counts. Our purpose is not to impress you with our medical knowledge, but to help you make important decisions about your health aided by information from the ADAA. We begin with these cautionary reminders: anxiety medications do not cure, they reduce symptoms basically so that other therapies may be administered; they should be used only with your doctor’s permission and care; and it is not for you to abruptly decide to stop any of the medications for anxiety, you do that at the direction of your doctor.

We’ll begin our descriptions of the medications for anxiety by reminding you of beta blockers, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety drugs. Then we’ll zoom in on the newest line of antidepressants which you already know: these three SSRIs are Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft. They are prescribed to treat generalized anxiety and social anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. How do they do it? They act by altering the serotonin level in the brain, which lowers the level of anxiety.

Tricyclics (TCA) are also antidepressants and these medications for anxiety are Sinequan (Doxeprin), Anafranil, and Vivactil, which, like the SSRIs, alter serotonin but also norepinepherine. Social anxiety is missing from the list of disorders treated by TCAs. Of all these classifications, SSRIs are the only ones federally approved; but generic equivalents are available for each of them.

This last group functions to prevent a brain enzyme from destroying the norepinephrine and serotonin, so they’re called blocking agents. Their name is Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors or (MAOI). The drugs in this classification are Parnate, Nardil and Marplan which are used primarily for social anxiety, posttraumatic stress and panic attacks. They have been effect but as with most medicines, the side effects must be carefully checked.

Although the SSRIs is the only group federally approved, they all have generic equivalents on the market. All antidepressants are prescribed with dosage strength based on the specific requirements of each individual. Your doctor and your pharmacist should be fully informed of the possible side effects of each drug and should inform you of that info as well. Other short term interventions are also available. Research them carefully before using.

For those of you who resisting taking medications for anxiety please understand that by following some sensible guidelines like choosing a doctor who is qualified to treat your particular type of anxiety, following his instructions, asking questions and being open about the severity of your anxiety and taking an active part in your own treatment, you should be assured that you will not be a victim of the destructive side effects.

Although this has not been a scholarlyy treatise on medications for anxiety, now you should know that anxiety disorders are very treatable, and should hopefully know a litttle more about what the medications are and how they work. The good news for you anxiety sufferers is that these interventions are very effective in bringing the relief you’re seeking.