Anxiety Go Away!

There are many different anxiety medications, ranging from benzodiazepines to antidepressants. But these medications, while effective, can be habit forming and might have serious side effects. Here we shall look at some of the medicines prescribed for anxiety disorders and some of their side effects.

: These are also known as tranquilizers. They are often prescribed as muscle relaxants and sleeping pills. The most common of all anti anxiety drugs is benzodiazepines which includes Xanax, Valium, Ativan and Klonopin. These drugs act very fast and relief comes within 30 minutes. They are effective for anxiety disorders like panic attacks. The side effects of tranquilizers and benzodiazepines are:

• Drowsiness

• Memory loss
• Blurred vision
• Clumsiness and slow reflexes
• Disorientation and confusion
• Slurred speech
• Nausea and upset stomach
• Dizziness
• Depression
• Emotional numbness

People over the age of 65, pregnant women and people with a history of alcohol or drug abuse should use anti anxiety medication with extreme caution.

Anti depressants: Since there are many risks related to anti anxiety medications, anti depressants are preferred for the treatment of anxiety disorders. These drugs do not work as fast as traditional anti anxiety drugs. They are more often used to treat chronic anxiety disorders in ongoing treatments. Anti depressants, like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa and Lexapro are used to treat generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorders. The side effects of antidepressants are:

• Nausea

• Headache
• Weight gain
• Sexual dysfunction
• Dizziness
• Stomach upset

Buspirone (BuSpar): This anxiety medication also acts as a light tranquilizer. It helps to reduce anxiety by increasing serotonin in the brain and decreasing dopamine. It takes time to act but has many advantages over traditional anti anxiety drugs. It does not affect memory and coordination, has no sedative effects, is not very addictive and the withdrawal symptoms are very few. BuSpar is a good choice for older people and people with a history of substance abuse. The downside is that its effectiveness seems limited to treating generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and no other anxiety disorders. The side effects of BuSpar are:

• Nausea

• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness

Beta blockers: These are generally used to treat heart problems and high blood pressure. They help alleviate anxiety by blocking the effects of norepinephrine, which is a stress hormone. This in turn combats the physical symptoms of anxiety like trembling, rapid heart beat, shaky hands, sweating and dizziness. Beta blockers are the most effective for performance anxiety and social phobia. The side effects of beta blockers are:

• Nausea

• Abnormally slow pulse
• Sleepiness
• Light headedness

As you can see, all medications have their advantages and disadvantages. Some side effects can be mild and others can be quite serious. So before you go on any anxiety medication, weigh the pros and cons carefully.