Mental health is a serious issue in the country. In fact, 46 million American adults experience mental health issues annually, ranging from depression to anxiety. In particular, anxiety is quite problematic due to how common it is today. Fortunately, this condition is something that can be treated through the use of psychotherapy and medication.
However, there’s still a lack of information regarding anxiety medication. This can cause some people to develop a disdain for medication despite its ability to be extremely helpful for people who are living with anxiety. To help remedy this, we have put together a short discussion about anxiety medication. If this is something you’re interested in, read on as we break down everything you need to know about anxiety medication! You can also check out our list of the best medications for anxiety and depression.
Common Anti-Anxiety Medications
To better understand more about the topic, it’s important to know which ones are the most commonly used prescriptions. To help get you started, here’s a list of anxiety medications that are being used today:
- Valium (diazepam): Diazepam increases the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Individuals who don’t get enough GABA cause their body to be in a heightened state which could be the cause for anxiety.
- Xanax (alprazolam): Alprazolam comes in both immediate-release and extended-release forms. It is attached to the benzodiazepine receptors in your brain and nervous system to produce a calming effect.
- Klonopin (clonazepam): Clonazepam also increases the GABA activity in your body. This puts your body in a more relaxed state and can help fend off anxiety and panic attacks.
- Ativan (lorazepam): Lorazepam is a tranquilizing medication that treats anxiety symptoms. This is usually used by people who suffer from severe insomnia.
Types of Medication Used to Treat Anxiety
There are also different types of medication that aren’t specifically made for anxiety but help deal with specific aspects of the condition:
- Antidepressants: While antidepressants are mainly used to treat depression, they can also be used to stabilize your mood. When taking antidepressants, be sure to consistently take them as they require quite a bit of time to take effect. Generally, it will take around six weeks before any noticeable changes are seen in a person’s mood.
- Beta-Blockers: What many people often fail to consider is that anxiety also comes with physical effects, such as rapid heartbeat, shaking, and trembling. This is where beta-blockers come in. While this type of medication is usually reserved for heart conditions, it can also be used to keep the physical effects of anxiety in check.
Choosing the Right Medication
The difficult thing about anxiety medication is that the condition differs on a case-to-case basis. Everyone experiences anxiety in different ways, which means they’ll need to be treated differently to effectively address the problem. The best advice we can give is to be extremely communicative with your psychiatrist or doctor so that they can prescribe you the best medication available.
Conclusion
What you have to understand about anxiety medication is that it isn’t really that different from other types of medication that you’ve already taken in your life. In the end, there’s very little to worry about. Just be sure to take your medicine consistently, and you should experience improvements when it comes to your anxiety.
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