When diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, you probably have questions about medication. Should you take it? Will it help? If you take medication, do you need to do anything else? Are there side-effects of medications? Is it worth it?
While we can't answer the last question or even decide for you whether anxiety medication is a good option for you, we can give you some information to help you and your doctor decide whether medication will be a part of your treatment.
Many people with anxiety disorders choose to use medication to help reduce symptoms. But medication does not cure anxiety and often doesn't entirely get rid of your anxiety. It can, however, help to reduce the symptoms, allowing you to implement some lifestyle changes and begin other treatment options so you can learn how to manage your anxiety symptoms. According to Philip G. Levendusky, Ph.D. , when responding to a question about anxiety medications on ABC News, "Medication is one component of an effective treatment program for anxiety disorders. Most typically, the combination of medication with other psychological interventions is looked at as the ultimate strategy for dealing with anxiety disorders."
Types of Medications
In order to decide if medication is right for you, it is important to understand what types of medications are commonly used to treat anxiety.
Anti-anxiety medications - These medications, benzodiazepines, are often called tranquilizers. They work by slowing down the central nervous system and make you feel calm and relaxed. Besides anxiety, these types of medications are used as sleep aids and muscle relaxers. Benzodiazepines are fast-acting, which means you do not need to let them build up in your system before feeling relief from anxiety symptoms. Usually, these medications begin working about one half hour after you take it.
Antidepressants - Medications that have been approved to treat depression have also been found to decrease symptoms of anxiety. These medications must be taken daily and it takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks of use before feeling the full effect of the medication, unlike the anti-anxiety medication, which can be taken as soon as you begin to feel anxious. Antidepressants, however, have a lesser chance of being abused and the risk of dependency is lower than the anti-anxiety medications.
Beta-blockers - These medications have traditionally been used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions. They work by blocking norepinephrine, the stress hormone that is involved in the fight or flight response. These types of medications work best for phobias, such as social anxiety, performance anxiety or fear of flying. These medications can be taken prior to an anxiety-producing event to help calm you.
Side-Effects of Anxiety Medications
Just as it is important to know about how the different types of medications can help, it is also important to be aware of possible side effects. All medications have some side-effects, although not all people have difficulty taking medications. Some may not feel side-effects at all, others may have only mild side-effects and some may find the side-effects disappear after a few weeks. You will need to weight the benefits of taking the medication to the potential for side effects.
