Anxiety
How is it treated?
A number of different medication classes are used to treat anxiety disorders. Certain drug classes have greater effectiveness on specific anxiety disorders than others. For an acute anxiety attack, short-term treatment with benzodiazepines is generally used first. To help prevent episodes of anxiety, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or buspirone are generally tried first. Other choices may include tricyclic antidepressants, beta-blockers, and, rarely, monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Some of these drugs may be used together if needed to control anxiety.
Each drug class has their benefits and risks. For instance, elderly patients may have to take different doses compared to younger patients due to changes in how the body metabolizes medications. Some medications may have dietary restrictions, while other medications may have important drug interactions that the patient needs to be aware of. In addition, there are sometimes side effects with the use of anti-anxiety medications. With all of these precautions, doctors must carefully evaluate the patient?s condition before prescribing an anti-anxiety medication. Additionally, because treatment may take several weeks to work best, the physician should closely monitor the patient?s condition and treatment strategy for effectiveness, side effects, and toxicity.
Drug classes used to treat Anxiety Benzodiazepines Beta Blockers Miscellaneous Anxiolytics Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI) Tricyclic Antidepressants
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How is it treated?
