Information on Anxiety Medications
Anxiety medications treat and alleviate symptoms associated with anxiety disorders ranging from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to panic disorder and social phobia. Anxiety medications have a higher success rate when administered in combination with cognitive behavior psychotherapy, stress-reduction techniques such as yoga, Tai chi, laughter and meditation, lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and sleep habits, and meaningful, emotionally satisfying relationships with family and friends.
Types of Medications
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants to treat patients with anxiety disorder. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil), and citalopram (Celexa), which are routinely prescribed to treat social phobia, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. General is usually treated with venlafaxine (Effexor) or bupropion (Wellbutrin). Tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine (Tofranil) is widely prescribed for panic disorder and general anxiety disorder, while clomipramine (Anafranil) reduces symptoms associated with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Monoamine oxidase inhibitos (MAOIs) such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan) are also prescribed for anxiety disorder, as are benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety medications) such as clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan) and alprazolam (Xanax).
Food Interactions
According to the U.K.-based Food & Drug Interactions, avoid caffeine and alcohol when taking anti-anxiety medicine. Also, it's important to be extremely cautious about the effects of herbal products when combined with anti-anxiety medication. For example, individuals taking sertraline must avoid St. John's Wort since the herb could result in serotonin toxicity, leading to loss of consciousness and even death. According to "Point of Return: Drug Interaction Pocket Guide," patients on certain anti-anxiety medication must avoid taking foods including but not limited to grapefruit, kiwi fruit, passion flower, kava, ginseng, chamomile, milk thistle, diet drinks and barley grass.
Drug Interactions
The National Institute of Mental Health cites an FDA warning to avoid combining SSRI or SNRI antidepressants with "triptan" medications for migraines, since interactions between the drugs could cause serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening condition characterized by high fever, hallucinations, euphoria, blood pressure changes, and loss of consciousness.
SSRIs, SNRIs and MAOIs should never be administered in combination.
Safety Record
Antidepressants are safe and effective. However, they may lead to adverse reactions in some people. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a "black box" warning on the label of all antidepressants, urging caregivers of patients taking antidepressants to watch out for a spike in suicidal behavior.
According to a study partly funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, pediatric trials conducted between 1988 and 2006 showed that the benefits of antidepressants exceed the risks.
Side Effects
According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America and the National Institute of Mental Health, the most common side effects of anti-anxiety medication are headaches, an upset stomach, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, grogginess, nightmares and changes in sexual arousal. If you experience any of the above, the association advises that you meet with your psychiatrist for an adjustment in dosage. Abruptly discontinuing the medication could lead to several complications. Other side effects tha are not so common include weight gain, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, severe muscle pain, liver and kidney impairment, tremors, a change in behavior traits, and loss of consciousness. Plus, the risk of addiction and dependency is high.
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