Nature of Anxiety

It is a very common experience and is associated with our present work conditions. It may be just apprehensive behavior while facing situations or tension before doing important things. This may be just a normal body reaction while facing a task and may exist in milder form in everybody.

The signs of anxiety are nervousness, irregular heartbeats, heart palpitations, nausea, respiratory problems, feeling of uneasiness, throbbing in the head, etc. These feelings may recur occasionally or increase in frequency, disturbing the tranquil state of a person’s mind. An extended phase of anxiety will be regarded as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The other disorders are obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, fear psychosis, etc.

The determination of anxiety disorder depends upon identification of symptoms by medical professionals by talking to affected people. They may prescribe medicines if they are convinced that the untreated symptoms may deteriorate into serious disorder. A person may also suffer from some other mental illness along with anxiety disorder. The symptoms of the former may be more prominent. Medications will be based on combined effect on the person.

Antianxiety Medications

Generally, mild anxiety disorders can be treated without resorting to medicines. Therapies and counseling can relieve symptoms of anxiety. For more serious cases of disorders, medication may be necessary. The course of treatment consists of antianxiety and antidepressant medications. Antidepressant medications such as tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, MAOIs, etc., are effective treatment options for OCD.

Tricyclic depressant medications are employed in treating neurotic disorders. Clomipramine is one such medicine. There are some other drugs, categorized as SSRIs, are also used for treating anxiety related problems. Fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, etc., are some of the medications belonging to SSRIs. Generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety syndrome can be cured with paroxetine. And sertraline has uses for post traumatic stress disorders.

There is another class of medications that are very effective in treating anxiety. They are known as benzodiazepines, and they help in relieving symptoms of anxiety disorders fast. They carry marginal consequences also which are mild in nature. Incoherence of thought and action, and sleepiness are the consequences of these medications. People are advised to avoid tasks that require concentration and coherent action. Dosages of benzodiazepines have varying effective durations in different people. The dosage is based on the response of the user and on the reduction of anxiety symptoms. Body composition and immunity to the medication decide the dosage and duration for a person.

Alprazolam, diazepam, and chlordiazepoxide are some of the benzodiazepine medications available to medical professions to treat antianxiety disorders. These act rapidly on the user, sometimes within hours of ingestion. Benzodiazepines and alcohol are potent combination and the user will suffer from disorientation and lose self-control. It may even become life threatening combination. This medication can not be used in combination with antihistamines, sedatives, antipyretic medications, muscle relaxants and anesthetics.

Now-a-days, there emerged a new class of medications called anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medication) which are used for anxiety disorder medications, such as selective beta blockers, the propronolol. Over time, users become immune to the potency, so it becomes necessary to keep on increasing the dosage and frequency of the medication. These anti-anxiety medications can not cure the problem as such, but they give good relief to the user. Propanolol is the most prescribed medicine that is used to treat cardiac problems such as palpitations, tachycardia, angina pectoris, and heart seizures. A new class of anti-anxiety medication is known as azipirones which is administered in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders.

When pregnant mothers take benzodiazepines to get relief from anxiety problems, then there is a tendency that the baby may be born with birth defects.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Anti-anxiety drugs should not be used for longer periods. User may become dependent and habituated, and any future withdrawal becomes difficult. Medications once given can not be stopped suddenly or dosage reduced without the advice of treatment provider, since symptoms of withdrawal happen. Sometimes, anxiety disorder may set in after sudden withdrawal of sleep disorder medications. Sudden stoppage of medications may trigger the onset of original symptoms back. The symptoms on withdrawal are sleeplessness, headache, bad temper, anxiety, exhaustion, memory loss, nausea, perspiration, tachycardia, loss of body mass, diarrhea, etc.