Anxiety Disorders Treatment

Read more about...

For many years, the drugs of choice for anxiety disorders have been members of the benzodiazepine class of tranquilizers. This group includes clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam (Serax), among others. They can be effective in reducing feelings of anxiety, but these drugs also have considerable potential for creating dependency, especially if used over a long period. They can also cause a range of more immediate side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, and memory impairment. In some people, they can cause liver damage. If you must take one of these drugs, you should avoid all alcohol.

Medication: Medication should be prescribed if the anxiety symptoms are serious and interfering with normal daily functioning. Psychotherapy and relaxation techniques can't be worked on effectively if the individual is overwhelmed by anxiety or cannot concentrate. The most commonly prescribed anti-anxiety agent for this disorder has historically been benzodiazepines, despite a dearth of clinical research that shows this particular class of drugs is any more effective than others.

Tricyclic antidepressants often are an effective treatment alternative to benzodiazepines and may be a better choice over a longer treatment period. Medication for this disorder should only be used to treat acute symptoms of anxiety. Medication should be tapered off when it is discontinued.

Buspirone (BuSpar) is an antianxiety drug that belongs to a different class than the benzodiazepines. It does not appear to have the dependency potential of the benzodiazepines, but it can take longer for its effects to be felt up to three weeks, in some cases. Possible side effects include dizziness, headache, nausea, ringing in the ears, and paradoxically anxiety.

There are a variety of psychotherapeutic and stress-reduction approaches that may be helpful, including traditional "talk" therapy or counseling, group therapy, relaxation techniques, and hypnotherapy. Your physician should be able to refer you to a qualified mental-health professional who can help.

Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy for anxiety disorder should be oriented toward combatting the individual's low-level, ever-present anxiety. Such anxiety is often accompanied by poor planning skills, high stress levels, and difficulty in relaxing. This

chemotherapy | genital warts
Medical Info