Can You Buy Anxiety Medication Over The Counter
Anxiety medications require a prescription from a doctor and cannot be purchased over the counter.
Its important to speak with a doctor or psychiatrist before you receive anxiety medication.
The doctor can help determine which treatment method is best for you and if anxiety medication will be beneficial to your overall health. Then they can determine which specific anxiety medication is best for your case and prescribe you a starting dose.
You will want to check in with your doctor frequently to go over any side effects you may be feeling and discuss if the medication is working.
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Other Herbs And Natural Medicines For Anxiety
Many other natural medications have been prescribed for anxiety, but their success rates vary and are not entirely clear. St. John’s Wort, for example, is an herb meant for depression but believed to have an effect on anxiety. Nevertheless, the research hasn’t backed up this claim. The three above have been successfully used for anxiety for years with minimal side effects, and research has often supported their success as a natural treatment for anxiety.
Still, you need to remember that you should never depend on medication alone, otherwise your mind will lose out on its ability to cope further. That’s why you need to make sure you’re complimenting your natural medicine with some type of medication free anxiety reduction strategy. And always consult your doctor before considering any of these options.
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Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Youve probably thought of a million questions you want to ask your doctor. But when youre in the office, theyre easy to forget. Writing them down will help both you and your doctor, and save time. Its a good idea to put the most important questions at the top of the list in case there isnt time for all of them. Here are some questions you may want to ask. Add any others you think are important for your doctor to know.
- Do I have an anxiety disorder?
- Is there something else that might be causing my symptoms?
- What treatment do you recommend?
- Should I see a psychiatrist or a psychologist?
- Is there a medication that I can take? Does it have side effects? What can I do to prevent or relieve the side effects?
- Is there a generic medication I can take? How long will I need to take it?
- When will I feel better?
- What else can I do to relieve my symptoms?
The list of questions you make will help you be prepared to answer your doctors questions. Here are some questions your doctor will probably ask you:
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Questions About Improvement While On The Medication
You’re taking the medication to get better, so it’s important to have an idea of how you will improve and what the timeline for improvements will be.
What are the specific symptoms you’re aiming to treat with this medication?
How will we know if this medication is working? What should I see in terms of improvements?
How Do I Know If I Have Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal reaction to many things in life that may cause us to feel threatened, challenged or under pressure. Feeling anxious from time to time is no great cause for concern. However, if you experience persistent anxiety that feels overwhelming, unforgettable and interferes with your daily life, you may be dealing with the symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Always reach out to a mental health professional for expert advice on whether your symptoms meet the criteria for a diagnosis.
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Why Your Doctor Might Also Recommend Therapy
If therapy is a recommended option for your treatment, its likely the case that your mental healthcare provider will focus on one of two popular treatments that have shown the most benefits for anxiety disorder patients.
Anxiety disorders are known to generally respond well to therapy and therapeutic practices, and research shows that one of the most effective therapeutic methods is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy .
CBT is an effective treatment because it gives the patient a sense of control it helps people suffering from anxiety and other mental health disorders recognize the signs of their disordered thinking patterns.
CBT can help you recognize them as well, which may give you the advantage you need to employ coping strategies to mitigate future attacks and episodes.
Weve talked more about the benefits of CBT in our guide, What Is Psychotherapy & How Does It Work?. It has more resources and a deeper exploration of this effective practice.
The benefit of talking to multiple professionals might also be that your treatment takes on a more holistic .
A healthcare professional might ask you to explore the consequences of other factors in your mental health things like diet, exercise and substance abuse could very well be making things worse in your head, and addressing those issues could alleviate some of the symptoms youre struggling with.
Other Treatments And Lifestyle Changes
Medication is only part of the overall treatment for anxiety. To effectively treat anxiety, you want to make lifestyle changes, such as adding exercise to your daily routine, eating right, getting enough sleep and learning relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
In addition, therapy methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, have been found to be as effective, if not more effective, than medication for some people. Even if you choose to begin medication, you may want to begin this type of therapy. Many individuals have been able to lower or discontinue medication after completing CBT.
References:
“How to Get Help for Anxiety Disorders,” 2009, July 7, National Institute for Mental Health
“Medication,” Date Unknown, Author Unknown, Anxiety Disorders Association of America
“What Medications Are Used to Treat Anxiety Disorders,” 2011, Feb 25, National Institutes for Mental Health
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What To Ask Your Doctor Before Taking Anxiety Medication
If you have anxiety, its a good idea to tell your doctor, because anxiety is treatable, says Dr. Dubovsky. If your doctor recommends a medication, then ask the following questions, suggests the ADAA:
- Will this medication interact with any other medication, over-the-counter drug, or supplement Im taking?
- What side effects can I expect and what should I do if I notice them?
- How should I take this medication ?
- How long will it take to start working?
Anxiety can be a chronic or acute problem. Chronic anxiety often requires long-term treatment, says Dr. Dubovsky. Acute anxiety is a response to stress, and once that specific stress is over, then you may be able to stop the medication.
Before you do that, however, talk to your doctor before stopping any medication. Sometimes patients will say that theyre feeling better, but maybe the thing that was helping them was the medication, says Gallagher.
If you or someone you know has had thoughts of self-harm orsuicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline , which provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress.
Home Remedies for Natural Anxiety Relief
Everyday Things That Could Trigger Anxiety
How to Deal with Anxiety
What Helps Anxiety Naturally
In some cases, medication may not be necessary for anxiety treatment. There are several natural treatment methods that have been linked to anxiety improvement in some individuals.
Top natural anxiety treatments include:
- Prioritizing tasks
- Herbs such as lavender, kava kava, ashwagandha, valerian root
Before starting any natural remedies for anxiety treatment make sure to speak with a doctor to avoid any harmful side effects.
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Questions About Other Treatment Options
Medication is necessary for some people, and that’s nothing to be ashamed about. Sometimes, there are other approaches that can be used in conjunction with medication.
What other treatments do you recommend in addition to the medication?
Are you supportive of me trying non-medication options to treat symptoms while Im on medication?
You Just Need A Break
It’s OK to take medication as a way of giving your mind a break, while also allowing the chance to your thoughts patterns. “Medication can be helpful to take the edge off and make life more manageable,” says NYC-based therapist Kimberly Hershenson, LMSW. “This will allow you to develop healthy coping skills to deal better with your anxiety.”
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Different Medications For Different Anxiety Disorders
One of the issues that comes from recommending a medication is that doctors have found that each medicine works differently on each individual. It starts with determining the disorder you suffer from. What works for generalized anxiety disorder may not work for panic disorder, and what works for panic disorder may not work for obsessive compulsive disorder, and so on.
No one can truly recommend a medication without knowing your own personal history, and you must never take a medication that affects your mental health without a doctor’s supervision.
How To Know When Its Time To Take Medication For Anxiety
Until a couple years ago, I didnt think I was an anxious person. On the outside, Im easygoing. Im adventurous, spontaneous and social. Im not afraid of flying, public speaking or crowds.
But throughout my entire life, I have worried, silently and constantly, about almost everything. Ive worried about possibilities that I knew, deep down, werent at all rational. Ive always feared that worst-case scenarios would come true even though they hardly ever do.
I didnt realize that these thoughts stemmed from mental illness. Since I never had full-on panic attacks, I didnt think that I had anxiety. I thought it was normal to feel this way. I thought I was fine that is, until I went on anti-anxiety medication at 29 years old. And it changed my life.
Little did I know, I was one of the 40 million Americans adults dealing with an anxiety disorder about 18% of the population. And up until last year, I was also part of the majority of people with anxiety who dont receive treatment.
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Is Your Child Suffering From Anxiety
Take our 2-minute anxiety quiz to see if you may benefit from further diagnosis and treatment.
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors SNRIs work by increasing serotonin and norepinephrine and preventing brain cells from reabsorbing them. SNRIs can have side effects similar to SSRIs and can also take several weeks to achieve their full effects. Few studies have been conducted on SNRIs for treating anxiety disorders in teenagers, but venlafaxine XR has shown to be effective. Your teens doctor will choose between an SSRI and a SNRIs based on the potential side effects, the potential interaction effect with other medications they take, and your familys history of how these medications have been received.
Who Can Prescribe Anxiety Medication
Wondering who prescribes anti-anxiety meds? To receive a treatment plan and prescription for anxiety medication you will need to speak to a doctor or psychiatrist. You can meet with a doctor online here. The doctor will want to know why youre interested in taking anxiety medication as well as learn your medical history and other medications you may be taking.
Read: Online Psychiatrist Prescription
You can get many anxiety medications prescribed online from an online doctor at PlushCare. If our board-certified physicians think you may benefit from anxiety medication they can write you a prescription and send it electronically to the pharmacy of your choice.
You can also get refills online and receive a comprehensive treatment plan to combat your anxiety.
To speak with an online doctor about getting anxiety medication online, book an appointment here.
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You’ve Been Feeling It Physically
Anxiety can truly take a toll on your physical health, often causing all sorts of painful and annoying symptoms. Think along the lines of nausea, stomachaches, headaches, and even heart palpitations. When it reaches this level, psychologist Dr. Joshua Klapow recommends thinking about medication. If you find the right treatment, it can offer some much-needed relief.
Using Medication To Manage Anxiety
There are lots of ways to manage anxiety, including cognitive behavioral therapywhich focuses on finding and changing negative thoughtsas well as mindfulness and stress management strategies.
Your doctor or psychiatrist may also recommend anxiety medication. Almost 12 percent of adults in the U.S. take prescription medication for problems with emotions, nerves, or mental health, according to a research letter published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2017. Women are twice as likely as men to take these meds.
There are four different categories of anti-anxiety medicine: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors , serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors , benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants. These medications can also treat other conditions, like depression.
In addition, other medications are used off-label to treat anxiety. This means they are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat anxiety symptoms, but doctors may prescribe them anyway.
For example, beta-blockers, which are drugs used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions, are sometimes prescribed to treat anxiety.
Beta-blockers, such as propranolol and atenolol , can block physical anxiety symptoms, such as a racing heart or sweating. They are sometimes prescribed to treat short-term symptoms due to stage fright or social anxiety.
Here are the four main categories of anti-anxiety medications:
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Psychotropic Medications: What You Should Ask Your Doctor
The decision to take medication for mental health is a very important one, and it often takes place when symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues have intensified, which can make the decision process much harder. The following questions can help ease the process and guide you in your conversation with your doctor and in the ongoing treatment process.
Ask Your Doctor:
Questions to Ask About a New Drug/Treatment on the Market: