What Is The Best Medication For Panic Attacks And Anxiety
There are several anxiety attack medications, and what works best for you is completely personal.
Benzodiazepines are a fast acting class of controlled substances that may help to quickly ease symptoms of ananxiety attack. However, they will not prevent them in the future. Our doctors are unable to write prescriptionsfor benzodiazepines as they are classified as a controlled substances. Benzodiazepines have potential foraddiction and abuse and can lead to overdose.
SSRIs are also considered top medications for anxiety attacks and are commonly prescribed. With long term use,they have the potential to prevent panic and anxiety attacks.
The top SSRI medications for anxiety attacks are:
-Prozac
-Sexual Problems
-Headaches
These are just a few examples of common side effects in certain medications for anxiety attacks.
Each different anti-anxiety medication has its own list of potential side effects, and even then, eachindividual may experience none of them, some of them, or all of them. This is why it is so important to discussanti-anxiety medications with your doctor or pharmacist, understand the risks, and be open to trying a newmedication if the first one you try doesnt work out.
Personalize Your Treatment Plan
If your clinician recommends an anti-anxiety medication, ask if pharmacogenetic testing can help personalize your treatment plan based on your genes.
Pharmacogenetic testing with Genomind, for example, looks at 24 genes related to mental health treatment. It provides guidance across 10+ mental health conditions, including anxiety, and 130+ medications to help clinicians determine:
- Which medications may be more likely to be effective
- Which medications may have side effects
- How you metabolize medications for personalized dosing guidance
The Genomind test requires a prescription. Wondering if it can help you? Learn more about Genomind here.
How Do You Know If You Should Take Anxiety Medication
There is no right or wrong time to start anti-anxiety medication it varies from person to person. However, experts agree that when anxiety starts to interfere with your functioning in daily life, it is time to think about taking anxiety medication. If you feel paralyzed by worrying thoughts, are unable to focus on work, or your anxiety has started to affect your relationships, you should consider seeing a mental health professional who can treat your symptoms of anxiety.
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Referral To A Specialist
If you have tried the treatments mentioned above and have significant symptoms of GAD, you may want to discuss with your GP whether you should be referred to a mental health specialist.
A referral will work differently in different areas of the UK, but youâll usually be referred to your community mental health team.
These teams include a range of specialists, including:
- occupational therapists
An appropriate mental health specialist from your local team will carry out an overall reassessment of your condition.
Theyâll ask you about your previous treatment and how effective you found it.
They may also ask about things in your life that may be affecting your condition, or how much support you get from family and friends.
Your specialist will then be able to devise a treatment plan for you, which will aim to treat your symptoms.
As part of this plan, you may be offered a treatment you havenât tried before, which might be one of the psychological treatments or medications mentioned above.
Alternatively, you may be offered a combination of a psychological treatment with a medication, or a combination of 2 different medications.
How Long Does It Take Anxiety Medication To Work
How quickly you feel the effects of medication will depend on the specific medication you are taking. Generally, medications for short-term anxiety, like benzodiazepines, beta blockers, and hydroxyzine will provide anxiety relief within minutes, but may take up to one hour3,6,8 Medications prescribed for chronic anxiety, like antidepressants and buspirone, may take four to six weeks to feel the effects.7
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With All These Options How Can You Choose
Your doctor can recommend the best medication to help control your anxiety. There are different types of anxiety disorders, so different medications may be better choices for your type. Your doctor will also consider your other health conditions and medications, and whether you have a family history of responding better to a certain medication. Since you might be taking medication long-term, you may want to factor in affordability.
Causes And Risk Factors For Depression
There is no single cause of depression. Various risk factors have been identified as contributors to clinical depression. When there are several risk factors, the likelihood of developing depression increases.
Additionally, women are more likely to develop depression than men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, this disparity in depression levels may be partly due to the difference in reporting. A 2021 study concluded that females are more likely to report symptoms of depression than males. A National Health and Nutrition study found that 5.5% of men report symptoms, while 10.4% of women do. Note that this study was based on self-reported data. More research is needed to fully explore the differences.
There are also racial differences in depression rates. While white Americans tend to report higher initial levels of acute depression than Black Americans, 56% of Black Americans experience chronic depression compared to 38.6% of people who are white. Treatment rates are also lower in BIPOC populations potentially due to stigma and lack of access to treatment.
In addition to risk factors for depression, some triggers can contribute to a depressive episode. Common triggers for depression include but are not limited to:
- Stressful life events like the loss of a family member, loss of a job or significant relationship changes
- A diagnosis of a medical condition
- Previous incomplete treatments for depression
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What Can You Do In Addition To Taking Medication
There are additional steps you can take to help manage your anxiety while on medication. Meditation for anxiety is an effective tool for helping to decrease anxiety and improve your mood and overall wellbeing.11 You can practice meditation by attending a class, listening to a guided video, exploring a meditation app, or just finding a quiet place to sit and focus on your breathing. A moderate amount of regular exercise has been well-documented to both help with anxiety symptoms and to reduce their emergence.
You Just Need A Break
Itâs OK to take medication as a way of giving your mind a break, while also allowing the chance to your thoughts patterns. âMedication can be helpful to take the edge off and make life more manageable,â says NYC-based therapist Kimberly Hershenson, LMSW. âThis will allow you to develop healthy coping skills to deal better with your anxiety.â
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You’ve Started Having Problems At Work
AsHershenson says, “It is a problem when your anxiety begins taking a toll on your mental and physical health, affecting work and relationships.” This means your anxiety is likely getting out of control and going beyond the “normal” anxiety we all feel every day. So, are you having trouble making it through a work day? Or are you too nervous to travel on business trips? Take these as signs.
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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How To Ask Your Doctor For Anti
So you think you might benefit from anti-anxiety medications. How do you initiate the conversation?
Its normal to worry about this exchange with your doctor. Many people worry about advocating properly for themselves when asking for medication.
Asking your doctor about anti-anxiety medication is a simple process, though they may have questions about your symptoms and elements of your lifestyle that may need addressing.
They may, for instance, ask about other medications youre taking or your daily caffeine intake, as those things may affect your anxiety.
Before starting you on medication, they may have you make other changes to avoid putting you on a medication that isnt necessary.
If youre drinking six lattes a day, cutting back on the excess caffeinated beverages may solve some of your problems.
This is a good time to ask your own questions and get an expectation for how your treatment may work.
A doctor will be able to explain different medication options and make recommendations based on your particular symptoms.
Theyll also be able to explain how long you can expect medications to take to start working, and how to take them properly.
They will also explain the effects of medications for anxiety, including what may happen as a result of long-term use, and resulting withdrawal symptoms if you discontinue use.
Do I Have An Anxiety Disorder
Common signs and symptoms of anxiety include nervousness, restlessness or tenseness, a sense of impending danger or doom, increased heart rate, breathing rapidly, sweating, trembling, feeling weak or tired, trouble concentrating or sleeping, stomach aches and headaches and the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety.
Anxiety disorders often develop from a complex set of risk factors. The risk factors may include exposure to trauma, certain medical problems like thyroid disease or heart disease, stress due to a severe illness and other mental health disorders like depression. The use or misuse of drugs and alcohol can worsen symptoms of anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are best treated with a combination of therapy and medication, Alonzo said. It takes time to find the perfect combination for your symptoms. Your primary care provider is the best place to start that journey.
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When Is It Time To Consider Depression Or Anxiety Medication
It is normal for all of us to experience ups and downs as part of life, and as part of being human. Some of us may also experience periods of depression or anxiety as well. So how do we know when to seek professional treatment, and also when to consider medications? It can be a complex and complicated question, and the right answer is different for each person. But here are some initial considerations.
Speaking With A Professional
A mental health professional can help you identify the specific coping strategy and lifestyle changes that can help you manage your symptoms. Although it can be difficult, make sure to be as honest as possible about the symptoms and challenges that you face. Together, you and your mental health professional can work toward developing customized coping strategies.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion Guide
Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment.
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Hg: What Are Panic Attacks And How Can I Tell If Im Having One
: Panic attacks are discrete periods of anxiety , which are characterized by a number of physiological symptoms, such as heart palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate sweating trembling sensations of shortness of breath or smothering a feeling of choking chest pain or discomfort nausea or abdominal distress feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint chills or hot flashes numbness or tingling derealization or depersonalization .
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Side Effects Of Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines reduce anxiety and induce feelings of calm and relaxation.2,3 They can help . While they provide many benefits for short-term anxiety and panic, they can also cause uncomfortable and even dangerous side effects. Because of the possibility of developing a dependence or addiction on benzos, you should always be closely monitored by your healthcare provider while taking these medications, and let them know how these medications are impacting you and making you feel.
When youre benefiting from benzodiazepines, you should feel:10
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You Feel Constantly Restless Or On Edge
Feeling restless and on-edge can mean more than just worrying.
You may experience panic attacks. Your heart rate and breathing may become rapid, and you may feel a constricting sensation in your chest.
While not usually life-threatening, panic attacks can be so alarming that you start to worry about having them. This fear can prevent you from going about your daily routines.
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How Does An Abortion Pill Work
Abortion pills, also known as Plan C, are a two-part process that includes two different medications, technically only available by prescription in California as of this writing. Your options are grey market in other states.
Within 48 hours of taking Misoprostol, your body will expel the pregnancy tissue. You may feel tired and achy, similar to if you had the flu, but it can vary from person to person. Its possible to have a fever and/or chills. After a day or two, you should begin feeling back to yourself.
If you do not, please contact a physician. You may notice some milky discharge from your breasts for a few days as well this is normal and should stop over time. If youre still feeling nauseous, feverish, or vomiting more than 24 hours after taking the 2nd set of pills, contact your doctor as this can be a sign of infection.
How Is Depression Treated
There’s no cure for depression. It’s an ongoing disorder, though treatable, with up to 90% of people eventually responding to treatment. Treatment is an ongoing journey, and remission is the goal. Relapses do happen.
Feeling comfortable with your treatment plan and feeling empowered to advocate for yourself when things aren’t working is essential. Depression treatment is a marathon, not a sprint. You should expect treatment to evolve and change as your life does. Even severe depression is treatable. However, seeking treatment as early as possible will often yield the most effective results.
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Is Anxiety Medication Available Over The Counter
No. Anxiety medications are only available by prescription after consultation and evaluation with a doctor.Book an appointment with a PlushCare doctor for evaluation and diagnosis, and to discuss a treatment plan foryour anxiety. If our doctors think that you may benefit from a prescription after an online medical evaluation,they will electronically send one to the pharmacy of your choice. They can also assist with referrals forpsychotherapy.
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.
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