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Medications For Anxiety Disorder and Depression Many people use medication to manage anxiety, but they're not the only option. Exercise and psychotherapy can also be effective treatments. Certain antidepressants can treat anxiety, as well as SSRIs like citalopram (Celexa) and the escitalopram (Lexapro) and the fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft). Other medications, such as histamine blockers such as Vistaril (hydroxyzine), can also help relieve anxiety. Antidepressants If you've been diagnosed with depression, your doctor could prescribe medication as part of a treatment plan. Antidepressants are among the most common prescription drugs and there are a variety of kinds to choose from. The type of antidepressant your doctor prescribes will be based on your symptoms, additional medical conditions and treatment goals. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are among the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. These medications alter the way your brain's nerve cells communicate. The drugs increase the number of neurotransmitters that are present in your brain which enhances your mood and reduces anxiety. It could take up to several weeks before antidepressants begin working therefore, be patient. The benzodiazepines are an alternative your doctor may recommend to treat anxiety and depression. These are very fast-acting medications and are used as a short-term solution to alleviate the immediate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Examples of benzodiazepines are alprazolam and lorazepam. They inhibit the actions of noradrenaline and adrenaline hormones, which are involved in the body's fight or flight response. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are an older antidepressant type that is effective in treating depression and anxiety. They are usually prescribed to patients who have not responded to other antidepressants. They also require changes to diet in order to avoid hypertensive reactions caused by the amino acid tyramine. If you're taking an antidepressant prescription inform your doctor about any other medications you're taking, including vitamins and supplements. You may have to decrease the dosage if other medications are affecting how well antidepressants work or if they cause adverse effects. Seek help immediately if you have thoughts of suicide. There are many different signs for depression and anxiety or you may be suffering from comorbid depression and anxiety. Patients with comorbid anxiety as well as depression have a poorer medical prognosis than those with only one disorder. Certain psychiatric medications have been shown to be particularly effective in treating both disorders in those with comorbid depression and anxiety. Benzodiazepines Anxiety-related symptoms can be alleviated by drugs known as benzodiazepines. These include alprazolam (Xanax) and Clonazepam (Klonopin) as well as chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). These drugs act on the central nervous system's benzodiazepine receptors which are proteins that consist of 5 transmembrane subunits that create a benzyl-chloride channel in the center. The benzodiazepine receptors also possess a binding site for the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutryic acid type A (GABA-A). The benzodiazepines reduce nerve activity by increasing GABA-A levels. Benzodiazepines are known for their rapid onset, but also for their high risk of dependence and addiction. Antipsychotics and antidepressants, as well as anticonvulsants and buspirone have a slower time of action, but are still beneficial for long-term usage, since they don't cause tolerance or addiction. Depression and anxiety disorders are often co-occurring, and antidepressants may help reduce depression symptoms that are associated with anxiety. However, many people with depression suffer from a mix of depressive and anxious symptoms and require the combination of medication and therapy to manage all their symptoms. In these situations benzodiazepines are often employed for a brief period to manage anxiety or depression symptoms while other medications take effect. Typically, these medications are only prescribed for just a few weeks at a time, and are not used on a daily basis. If you take benzodiazepines for long periods of time could cause withdrawal symptoms such as shaking and trouble sleeping and waking up, so these medications should only be used according to the instructions of your doctor. Discuss with your doctor if have ever had issues with substance abuse, dependence or mental health. Your doctor will be able to discuss potential side effects and recommend alternative treatments for depression, if needed. Benzodiazepines can cause serious, potentially life-threatening issues when you take too much or haven't used them before. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have any history of liver disease, digestive or respiratory disorders Your doctor may recommend lower doses or restrict the duration of treatment with these medications. Alcohol can interact with benzodiazepines and could increase the risk of adverse effects and dependence, therefore it is advised not to drink alcohol while taking them. Beta-blockers Beta-blockers are a medication to control anxiety symptoms. They are a different kind of drug from benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, and they are able to block receptors that adrenaline bonds to. They also slow down brain and nervous system activity. They could be a good alternative to benzodiazepines that come with a higher risk of addiction and dependence. Beta blockers are often prescribed for heart ailments and are effective in treating anxiety since they reduce blood pressure and slow the heart rate. However, they're not specifically approved by the FDA for the treatment of anxiety disorder. They are prescribed “off-label” to treat anxiety disorders. They are a good option if other antianxiety medications don't work or have unacceptable adverse side consequences. They are particularly effective in cases of performance anxiety and social anxiety, in which uncomfortable symptoms can arise during events that trigger anxiety. They can also be utilized in conjunction with other treatment modalities like CBT or SSRIs. They are especially useful as an alternative therapy for people with GAD. GAD is characterized by constant and frequent anxiety that affects everyday activities. They can also be helpful in managing the physical symptoms of anxiety, like an increased heart rate or sweating. Although beta-blockers can assist in helping alleviate physical symptoms of anxiety, they do not address the underlying psychological issues that contribute to the condition. They are designed to complement other treatments such as SSRIs or benzodiazepines. It is important to discuss your medical history as well as any other health issues with your doctor before taking beta-blockers. These medications are associated with lower psychiatric admissions as well as suicidal behavior, however the outcomes can differ based on the specific psychiatric diagnosis and past psychiatric histories. In some patients, they can increase the risk of heart attacks. There are panic anxiety disorder that have beta-blocker properties, but they are not as effective as prescription medications. These include antioxidants as well as garlic, saffron and potassium. The effectiveness of these natural supplements isn't fully understood. Some of these products may cause serious side-effects, so it's best to consult with a physician before taking them. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are used to alter the way that your brain functions. They inhibit the function of an enzyme known as monoamine oxidase, which breaks down the chemical serotonin and norepinephrine, which enable brain cells to communicate with one other. By blocking monoamine oxide, MAOIs allow more of these chemical messengers to stay in your brain. This improves brain cell communication, and elevates your mood. These drugs are also effective for treating anxiety disorders . This includes anxiety, mixed depression and anxiety states. They are less effective for pure anxiety and might not help with a panic attack. The effectiveness of MAOIs has been linked to the fact that they increase levels of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. These neurotransmitters, naturally produced by the body, are released into the bloodstream, where they travel to nerves cells and act as messengers. Iproniazid was one of the first antidepressants to be developed in 1950. It blocked monoamine oxidease. This led to the creation of other MAOIs, such as tranylcypromine and isocarboxazid. These have been around for decades to combat depression. MAOIs are usually prescribed after other types of antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, have been tried without success. Because they may cause interactions with food and drugs and may cause serious withdrawal syndrome if stopped abruptly, MAOIs are typically only used for patients who fail to respond to other treatments. A newer form of MAOI, called a selective and irreversible MAO-A inhibitor, is being investigated for use in treatment resistant depression. It is not recommended for use in bipolar disorder, because it could trigger manic symptoms. Another newer MAOI, selegiline (Eldepryl or Zelapar) is being investigated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It blocks monoamine oxidese but does not affect other enzymes that break down levodopa – the primary treatment for Parkinson's. These medications can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with other antidepressants. In certain patients, the MAOIs can trigger a reaction that causes hyper-reflexia and neuromuscular excitability. This can manifest as muscle twitching or eyelid twitching. These reactions are more frequent when these drugs are taken together with certain foods such as aged cheeses and preserved meats.