Anti-Anxiety Medications: How They Work and When to Use Them

Anti-anxiety medications are used to treat anxiety disorders that combine feelings of restlessness, fear, and dread. They are specially designed for taping the nervous system to help manage the symptoms of anxiety-related problems. Anxiety disorder has become a prevalent health condition in the UK, where 37.1% of women and 29.9% of men reported high levels of anxiety in their daily lives. As a result, anxiety disorder has become a serious concern for the country. In such scenarios, anti-anxiety medications can be a lifesaver that helps to overcome the symptoms of anxiety and prevent it from causing further damage.

So, suppose you are struggling with anxiety-related problems and wondering how anti-anxiety medications can help. In that case, you should equip yourself with the knowledge of how these medications work and when you should use them. In this blog, we will discuss anxiety disorder causes and symptoms along with popular anti-anxiety drugs and when you should use them.

What is Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorder is a group or cluster of mental health conditions that lead to feelings of fear, stress, and dread that are mostly out of proportion to the situation. Anxiety disorders can be distinguished into different types based on their causes and symptoms. This may include generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, or social anxiety problems.

The feeling of anxiousness in an uncertain situation is normal. However, when the fear and dread become unmanageable or have no substantial reason to feel, the anxiety is clinically diagnosed as an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorder may not be harmful on its own. Still, chronic anxiety can lead to several health problems, such as irregular heartbeat, racing heart, palpitation, etc., that can lead to serious health problems such as heart problems or hypertension.

Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder, also known as a stress disorder, is a condition that involves a couple of mental health problems, such as fear, restlessness, and panic without any substantial reason. This is often considered an unrealistic fear or procrastination that leaves the individual restless and anxious all the time. Knowing the common symptoms of anxiety disorder can help you get a timely diagnosis and treatment. Here are some common symptoms of anxiety disorder that you may notice-

• Feeling stressed, nervous, and tense
• Having a sense of danger, doom, or panic
• Racing heart
• hyperventilation or rapid breathing
• Trembling
• Feeling weak and tired
• Excessive sweating
• Troubled sleeping
• Having difficulty concentrating on anything except worrying about certain things or almost everything.
• Unable to manage worries or facing a hard time in getting over a concern.
• Experiencing GI or gastrointestinal problems.
• Having an urge to avoid things that can trigger anxiety

It is important to notice the signs and symptoms of anxiety disorder. So, if you notice any one or more above-mentioned symptoms it would be wise to consult with an expert immediately.

Common Reasons for Anxiety Disorder

There are several reasons for anxiety disorder. Social, mental, or physical health triggers can contribute to the development of this condition. However, it is difficult to pinpoint one reason for anxiety disorder. And experts generally indicate that a combination of a number of factors can cause people to experience anxiety:

• Changes in the brain- The Amygdala is a part of the brain that plays a crucial role in managing anxiety. An overactive amygdala can create a negative effect on the brain.
• Imbalance in brain chemicals- Imbalance in brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin is also responsible for anxiety disorder.
• Environmental factors- Socio-economic factors such as loneliness and lack of access to resources can also result in anxiety.
• Genealogical factors- People with a family history of anxiety disorder are more likely to develop this mental health condition.
• Certain medical conditions- Medical conditions such as heart problems or diabetes can also cause anxiety.
• Regular stress- Excessive stress in regular life can be a major trigger for anxiety disorder in adult people.
• Traumatic life event- Traumatic life events during childhood or the recent past are also some primary causes of anxiety disorder in some people.
• Substance use- Substance abuse, such as the excessive use of alcohol, can also cause anxiety.

Treatment Options for Anxiety Disorder

After a proper diagnosis of anxiety disorder, your healthcare provider will suggest a suitable treatment method. Here are the common treatment methods for treating anxiety disorder:

• Psychotherapy- Psychotherapy includes a number of methods for the management of anxiety symptoms.
• Counselling- Counselling or talk therapy is the most common therapy that helps in mild cases of anxiety disorder.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- This therapy helps people identify certain behavioral patterns and triggers of anxiety.
• Exposure Therapy- In this therapy, a mental health practitioner creates a safe environment to expose one to their fears.
• Prescription Medications

Medications are usually used when psychotherapy fails to provide any result. Here are some common types used for the treatment of anxiety disorder:

• Benzodiazepines- This type of class of medications works fast and can help relieve symptoms of panic, worry, and anxiety.
• Antidepressants- This type of medication is primarily used to treat depression. But they are sometimes used for the management of anxiety.
• Beta-Blockers- Physical symptoms of anxiety disorder, like shaking or rapid heartbeat, can be reduced using beta blockers.

Popular Anti-Anxiety Medications

Anti-anxiety medications can work efficiently by improving your anxiety symptoms. Most UK healthcare professionals recommend anti-anxiety medications to help patients suffering from anxiety disorders. Here are some popular anti-anxiety medications widely used for treating anxiety-related problems and disorders-

1- Diazepam

Diazepam tablets is one of the most common and widely prescribed anti-anxiety medications for treating anxiety disorders. It is an anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and benzodiazepine class drug that is commonly sold under the brand names Valium and Libervant. Also, diazepam is available in various forms and strengths for ease of consumption. Some of the common forms of diazepam include buccal film, oral solutions, oral tablets, injectables, and more.

How Does It Work?
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine class drug; as a result, when you take diazepam, it creates a calming or soothing effect on your body and mind. Therefore, it also prevents conditions like seizures, reduced anxiety symptoms, and restlessness caused by alcohol withdrawal or other reasons. However, there is no clear idea about how exactly diazepam works. Still, it is believed to manipulate your brain and sensory system to prevent anxiety or restlessness and promote soothing or relaxing effects.

Usage
Diazepam is primarily used for treating anxiety-related problems. However, it is also used for reducing restlessness and other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, managing post-surgical stress/anxiety and controlling conditions like seizures.

2- Alprazolam

Alprazolam tablets is another popular anti-anxiety medication widely prescribed for treating anxiety-related problems. It is a prescription-only, generic available drug that belongs to the benzodiazepine class drug. It is a controlled medicine that cannot be sold without a proper doctor's prescription. Alprazolam is also available in different forms and strengths for easy consumption.

How Does It Work?
The exact working mechanism of alprazolam is still not known. However, experts suggest that alprazolam works by enhancing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. It binds with the brain receptors and helps to create a soothing or relaxing effect on the brain. As a result, it also prevents or blocks feelings of restlessness, nervousness, or worry.

Usage
Alprazolam is a popular benzodiazepine class drug that helps to treat anxiety-related problems, including anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and anxiety caused by depression.

3- Citalopram

Citalopram is an SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sedative, and antidepressant class drug. It is also a widely prescribed drug for treating anxiety disorders. Citalopram is also a generic, available, prescription-only drug that helps to treat anxiety-related problems and certain other conditions.

How Does It Work?
Citalopram belongs to the sedative, an antidepressant class drug that works by manipulating or increasing the number of brain chemicals called serotonin (responsible for creating a happy, calming, and soothing effect in the brain). Therefore, citalopram is also known as SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Usage
Citalopram is an SSRI or antidepressant class drug that is mostly used for treating anxiety-related problems and depression. However, your healthcare provider may also prescribe citalopram for other conditions as well.

4- Propranolol

Lastly, propranolol is also a popular medication for treating anxiety-related problems such as anxiety disorder or panic disorder. It belongs to the group II antiarrhythmic and non-cardioselective beta blockers. It comes in different forms and strengths, including extended-release, oral capsules, and intravenous solutions.

How Does It Work?
Propranolol is another essential medication that helps manage anxiety, stress, and other symptoms. It usually blocks the beta and impacts the heart and blood circulation.

Usage
Propranolol is a popular medicine that helps to treat various conditions, treat angina, tremors, hypertension, arrhythmia, and more. It is also used to prevent the frequency of migraine headaches and to avoid heart attacks.

Conclusion

Anxiety-related problems have become prevalent in modern life-the fast-paced environment and changing social scenarios. Anxiety disorders can lead to serious health problems. As a result, early diagnosis and treatment are essential for overcoming future health hazards. In such cases, anti-anxiety medications like Diazepam, Alprazolam, and citalopram can help to overcome the condition.