Side effects of Anxiety Medicines
February 25, 2010 by admin
Filed under Featured, Panic Attack Help
Anxiety and depression are one of the most common health problems in the United States. Doctors prescribe medications such as the antidepressants to ease the anxiety symptoms, however the side effects of these anxiety relieving drugs can be worse than the anxiety attacks – especially the rebound anxiety and withdrawal problems when the patients stop taking these pills.
These anxiety medications will not cure your disorder, but it will help you to be better equipped to help you deal with it. There are various types of anxiety medications available. These are usually either antidepressants, benzodiazepines or beta-blockers. Your doctor will only describe these sorts of powerful drugs after a thorough look at your history, physical health and lifestyle. Because these drugs can often have strong side effects it is vital that your doctor conducts these checks first.
An antidepressant will increase your brain’s level of serotonin, which is what helps to fight anxiety. These are most commonly known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They are FDA approved to be used as anxiety’s first line of treatment. The 3 that are used are paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) and venlafaxine (Effexor XR).
Benzodiazepines are also used as an anxiety medication. They can quickly calm your anxiety because they act quickly. However, they do not have a long-term effect and your body can easily build up a tolerance to them. These include Xanax, Kalma, Restoril, Tranxene and Valium.
Medication can relieve some of the symptoms of anxiety, but it doesn’t cure the underlying problem and it’s usually not a long-term solution. Anxiety medications also come with side effects and safety concerns, such as the risk of addiction. In order to decide whether medication is right for you, it’s important to weigh the drug benefits against the drawbacks.
The antidepressants most widely prescribed for anxiety are the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). The SSRIs include drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa. The SSRIs have been used to treat panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Common side effects are:
* Nausea
* Nervousness
* Headaches
* Sleepiness
* Sexual dysfunction
* Dizziness
* Stomach upset
* Weight gain
Although physical dependence is not as quick to develop with antidepressants, withdrawal can still be an issue. If discontinued too quickly, antidepressant withdrawal can trigger symptoms such as extreme depression and fatigue, irritability, anxiety, flu-like symptoms, and insomnia.
