Anti Anxiety Drug – Is It The Answer?

Many people usually equate an anti anxiety drug prescription as the equivalent to treatment for depression. But is it? For some, it is absolutely necessary. Those suffering from severe mental illness or depression need medication. Sometimes, however, anti-depressants can be over-prescribed. Even those suffering from minor mental ailments are given medication when simple psychotherapy will do. Anti anxiety drug treatments are not the only answer.

Anti Anxiety Drug – A Brief Look

Anti depressants have been used for treating anxiety disorders, and take a longer time to see the effects, ranging from 4 to 6 weeks. They are often prescribed in place of anti anxiety drugs as there is less risk of addiction, but they have severe side effects including suicidal thoughts and agitation. They may also increase depression.

The first types of antidepressants to emerge are monoamine oxidase inhibitors. These antidepressants prevent certain enzymes that break down monoamine oxidase from forming, leading to a greater availability of monoamine oxidase. This substance is responsible for providing individuals with a good mood. Heterocyclics are another form of antidepressant. It works similarly by increasing the availability of monoamine oxidase.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to assist neurotransmitters by acting on the serotonin in the brain. They have severe withdrawal effects as well as side effects, although these are of a lesser magnitude than the older varieties of anti depressants. They are commonly prescribed for OCD, GAD and panic disorders.

Tricyclics and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are older classes of antidepressants. Tricyclics can be combined with SSRIs for anxiety disorders except for OCD. However, MAOIs should not be taken with SSRIs as they react to produce hallucinations, seizures and blood pressure changes.

Antidepressants are extremely effective in alleviating mental disorders. However, they are also highly addictive. Even the more recent drugs available still have the potential to be habit-forming. Aside from the dangers of developing addictions, antidepressants can also induce a variety of side-effects. These include headaches, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and more. Many have a sedating effect which makes a variety of activities such as driving very dangerous.

It has been found that psychiatrist often prescribe antidepressants even when normal cognitive behavioral therapy will suffice. Antidepressants are not the only treatment available and there are a host of alternatives available for anxiety disorder sufferers. The best alternative would be psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy deals with behavior modification. Fears, anxieties and phobias are rooted in incorrect stimulus-responses of the mind. The individual fears or gets agitated way out of proportion to an event. The objective of psychotherapy is to break the fear habit. Simple mental conditioning or exercises may be employed. The success rate of psychotherapy is very high, making it a great alternative to anti anxiety drug treatments.