Doctors would usually prescribe therapy along with medication. The common medication for anxiety consists of benzodiazepines or benzos as they are otherwise known. You will find this medication under the trade name of Xanax, Niravam and Xanor – this is a short acting benzodiazepine. Because it is such excellent relaxant, the benzos (especially Xanax) is liable to be abused by teenagers who are out for a “going on a trip”.
This is also an anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant, anti-depressant, muscle relaxant hypnotic sedative, which is meant to slow down the central nervous system. The benzos are often used for treating stress/ anxiety induced muscular pain, insomnia, withdrawal symptoms (mostly caused by alcohol addiction) and seizures among others. Simply put, they induce mild amnesia and sedation, which relaxes the mind. This is also a medication used for treating hallucinations caused by acute panic attacks.
Of course, many more drugs are used for treating anxiety attacks. Some examples of SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) medication – especially meant to fight the symptoms caused by anxiety are as described under:
1. Paxil is very common for the treatment of OCD
2. Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac and Luvox among others are especially recommended for GAD
3. Xanax is the best medication for PTSD, and
4. Buspar is a good choice for SAD
5. Tricyclic antidepressants are normally prescribed for intense panic attacks. Other potent anti-depressants are the MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), though these are reserved for SOS or last line of action measures.
The SSRIs are meant to counter the depletion of serotonin production in the brain, which in turn would gradually reactivate and optimize the functioning of the endocrine system. This achieved, the excess hormone production would be corrected, which would in turn rectify the chemical imbalance that cause the anxiety symptoms.
Doctors would prescribe these medicines carefully, which would be gradually decreased to prevent any withdrawal symptoms. The longer is the period to withdraw the medicines the better would be the results of the treatment. This is why it is very important that such medication be taken under the careful monitoring of a qualified medical practitioner. Do not look for any magical or instant cures because there are not any. As anxiety usually builds over a period, repairing the body’s systems and clearing the debris accumulated in the blood would logically take some time.
Medication as prescribed is meant to remedy the chemical imbalance in the body. This done, you would definitely feel much, much better – but and this is a huge but, there is more to the treatment of anxiety than righting chemical imbalances. Side by side with the treatment of the symptoms, you would need to investigate and identify the root of the anxiety attack. It is very important that you find what actually triggers your anxiety and then go about eliminating the cause with appropriate therapy.
Many doctors would be very stingy with medications and do not encourage it without therapy. This is because anxiety patients are wary about psychiatric help recommended as treatment of anxiety. They think that the psychiatric ward is only for crazy people, and they do not want to fall or be classified under that label.