Health Conditions

What is on the horizon?

A new study funded by the National Institute for Mental Health is investigating the cost and benefits of excluding benzodiazepines, a common class of drugs used in anxiety, from the new Medicare Part D plans. When Medicare Part D formularies were developed, benzodiazepines were excluded from coverage because it was felt that they contributed to worsening overall health in the elderly by increasing falls and fractures and worsening conditions such as emphysema and depression. This research aims to uncover how the exclusion of benzodiazepines has affected overall health, as well as the treatment of anxiety disorders, in older adults. It is not clear at this time whether the results of this study could change the formulary decisions for Medicare Part D.

Today, SSRIs are usually the 1st line medications for most anxiety disorders. Current research focuses on developing new drugs that will correct imbalances in the chemistry of the brain causing anxiety disorders. Around 50% of persons with anxiety can be treated with an SSRI. The question remains, how should the others be treated? Many drugs are being tested for their use in anxiety. Strattera is a drug that has been used for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and is currently being studied for the possible treatment of anxiety. Another new drug, duloxetine (Cymbalta), commonly used for depression and diabetic neuropathy, is also being studied for its potential use in anxiety. For alcoholics who suffer from anxiety, levetiracetam (Keppra), an anti-seizure medication, is also being tested.