Anxiety medication
Anxiety medication is used to ease the symptoms of anxiety. 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.
There are also beta-blockers, which are used whenever the way in which you act whenever faced with anxiety is predictable. These anxiety medications will alleviate your heart palpitations, tremors, sweating, blushing and other physical symptoms. Unfortunately, you will have to take these anxiety medications an hour before you know that you will be in a situation that will cause you to have anxiety.
Over time however your anxiety levels should decrease and ultimately the goal is for you not to have to take any medication at all.
