Several interventions can also be practiced in addition to taking medications.Įxamples of these interventions include: ExerciseĮxercise can help reduce stress and enhance your overall sense of well-being, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). There are a variety of at-home interventions that can help ease your anxiety symptoms. Using an MAOI with medications can dangerously increase your blood pressure and cause other potentially life threatening side effects. Some side effects include:Ĭertain medications, including SSRIs, some birth control pills, pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, cold and allergy medications, and herbal supplements can react with MAOIs. Like tricyclics, MAOIs are older drugs that cause more side effects than newer drugs. MAOIs that are FDA approved to treat depression but used off-label for anxiety include: They work by increasing the number of neurotransmitters that regulate mood. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are used to treat panic disorder and social phobia. Side effects can often be controlled by changing the dose or switching to another tricyclic. Tricyclics are older drugs that are used less often because newer drugs cause fewer side effects. Like SSRIs, tricyclics are started at a low dose and then increased gradually.Įxamples of tricyclics used for anxiety include: It’s thought that tricyclics work similarly to SSRIs. Tricyclics work as well as SSRIs do for treating most anxiety disorders, except obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If you have a concern about a particular side effect, talk with your doctor. SSRIs can cause a variety of side effects, but most people tolerate them well. SSRIs are typically started at a low dose that your doctor gradually increases.Įxamples of SSRIs used to treat anxiety include: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work by increasing levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, sexual desire, appetite, sleep, and memory. These drugs can be used to treat anxiety symptoms, but they usually take 4 to 6 weeks to produce noticeable effects. Instead, talk with your doctor about slowly tapering off your dosage to reduce your risk of seizure.Īntidepressant medications work by affecting neurotransmitters. If you’ve taken a benzodiazepine regularly for more than 2 weeks, it’s important to not stop the pills suddenly, as this could cause unwanted withdrawal symptoms. In addition to drowsiness and memory problems, taking benzodiazepines can also cause: However, if you have panic disorder, your doctor may prescribe benzodiazepines for up to 1 year. It’s important to only use these drugs until your doctor prescribes other treatment. There’s an increasing number of cases of substance use disorder involving benzodiazepine. This is because they can increase drowsiness and cause problems with balance and memory. Examples of these drugs include:īenzodiazepines are typically used for short-term treatment of anxiety. They work by increasing the effects of certain neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that relay messages between your brain cells.īenzodiazepines help treat many kinds of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Benzodiazepines are sedatives that can help relax your muscles and calm your mind.

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