When our bodies respond to stress, we generally feel anxiety. Anxiety is a common disorder that many people deal with, but just because it’s common doesn’t mean that we should put this issue under the rug.
We trigger anxiety when we are feeling fear, apprehension, or feeling overwhelmed. With that, we experience panic, sometimes get paralyzed, or feel enormous fatigue from sleepless nights. Fortunately, there is a way to manage anxiety, and it’s through therapy and medication.
There are various treatments for anxiety, but one of the most effective methods is through medication. Medicinal treatments for anxiety include anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines, which are often for short-term use, and SSRI antidepressants, which are an effective solution for long-term anxiety. Although they can provide patients with temporary relief, know that there are some side effects and safety concerns to take note of.
Although this can’t cure anxiety disorders completely, medication effectively manages and controls symptoms of anxiety. For this reason, it’s important to keep track of your medications using a medication tracker that keeps your symptoms at bay.
Getting Relief Through Anxiety Medications
As mentioned earlier, anxiety medications can provide relief to people who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety. However, even with relief, you’re still prone to experiencing side effects and complications. With that being said, you should know that you should be mindful of when and where you take your anxiety medication.
People with severe anxiety may have difficulty doing daily tasks and could experience limitations in their ability to function. When this happens, anxiety medication can be beneficial, especially when used as short-term treatment.
Although medication can ease anxiety symptoms, know that other forms of treatment could be effective, such as therapy, exercise, and self-help strategies. Of course, it’s best to speak to a professional to know the best treatment for you.
How Benzodiazepines Help With Anxiety
Tranquilizers or benzodiazepines are one of the most common prescription medications for anxiety. These drugs include Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, and Ativan — all of which work rapidly to bring relief to a patient who’s experiencing anxiety.
Because these medications kick in within the first 30 minutes, it’s an effective medication for people who are experiencing overwhelming anxiety episodes and panic attacks.
Benzodiazepines slow down the nervous system, allowing you to relax both physically and mentally. However, higher doses may lead to intense side effects that could affect your motor skills and ability to do daily tasks. For this reason, it’s best to keep track of your doses with a medication tracker to ensure you do go overboard with your anxiety meds.
Safety Concerns of Benzodiazepines
Like any medication, it pays to know the risks and safety concerns to ensure you don’t misuse and abuse medications. With benzodiazepines, when you’ve been using this medication for a long time, you can build up a tolerance, pushing you to take higher doses.
However, when you take higher doses of this medication, it may lead to physical dependence. And when you suddenly stop taking medication, you may experience withdrawal, especially when you’re used to taking higher doses.
The Bottom Line: Keep Track of Your Anxiety Medications to Ensure You Have Control Over Your Symptoms
Although anxiety episodes can sometimes be unpredictable, you must have your medication ready to ensure that you get instant relief from these discomforts. Having your anxiety meds with you by keeping track of your medication with a medication tracker, you’ll keep your anxiety symptoms at bay, leading to a happier and better you.
How Can Med Manage Help You?
If you’re looking for a medication tracker to help log and manage your medication or to provide assistance for your loved ones, MedManage is the perfect app for you.
Our app can help you monitor chronic diseases, elder and geriatric care management, birth control pill, and control opioid use and potentially dangerous substance abuse.
Take control of your health with us today!