Anxiety Drugs: The Pros and Cons of Anxiety Drugs
You've taken all the right steps. Thinking that you might be
suffering from an anxiety disorder, you consulted a doctor
experienced in treating them. And when your diagnosis confirmed
you suspicions, you discussed with your doctor various
treatments. But you don't want to commit to anything specific
until you understand the risks and long-term effectiveness of
each one.
And at the top of your list of treatments are anxiety drugs. You
understand that anxiety prescription drugs are not going to cure
your disorder by themselves, and that you will need to undergo
additional therapy to eliminate your disorder.
But by learning the benefits and side effects associated with
various anxiety drugs, you can decide which, if any of them,
seems most likely to help you.
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Here are some factors which may influence your decision about
taking anxiety drugs:
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Will any other medications you are taking interact negatively
with anxiety drugs?
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How long will it be before anxiety drugs are effective in
reducing your symptoms?
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Are anxiety drugs addictive?
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What side effects will accompany the various anxiety drugs?
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Will your anxiety disorder therapy be more effective if you
are taking anxiety drugs?
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Are there natural treatments which will treat your anxiety
disorder symptoms as effectively as anxiety drugs?
One of the things you should consider most carefully before
beginning treatment with prescription anxiety drugs is their
side effects. All drugs, even over-the-counter medications, are
artificially manufactured substances, and contain ingredients
which can adversely affect us.
But there are two different classifications of anxiety drugs,
benzodiazepines and azapirones. And drugs commonly used to treat
depression--SSRIs, tricyclics, MAOIs, and atypical
antidepressants--are also frequently used as anxiety drugs. That
means six different families of prescription medications are
used to alleviate anxiety disorder, and each of them causes
different reactions in the same individual.
It's essential, therefore, that you educate yourself on the
various adverse reactions which have been reported for all these
medications before deciding which ones would be appropriate for
you. Side effects from anxiety drugs can range from minor things
like mouth dryness to much more serious ones, like sexual
dysfunction, significant weight gain, and increased risk of
suicide.
Anxiety medications can also lose their effectiveness with
long-term use, and create dependency and withdrawal issues.
With good information, you can find the right anxiety drugs to
help you cope while you complete the therapy necessary to
overcome your anxiety disorder permanently!
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