There are lots of reasons why people suffer from anxiety. Worrying is just normal. In fact, it is helpful in some ways as it spurs you to act on a problem and resolve it in the best way possible. But if you seem to be very preoccupied with the problem that you cannot seem to go on with your life normally, then that becomes an anxiety disorder. This mental condition can be paralyzing for they could sap out your emotional energy and send your anxiety levels to soar extremely high, thus, your normal daily life will be greatly affected. If left untreated, anxiety can become a mental habit that could ruin you as a person and might lead to fatality. On this article, you will find out some information about the best antidepressant for anxiety and depression. If you are searching for the best medication for anxiety, then you can choose CBD oil for anxiety relief. The recovery from the depression and anxiety is the best and within the money of the patients. The collection of the right information is essential to get the right results.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
The Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, also known as the MAOI is considered as one of the first generation of antidepressants. These medications are used for treating anxiety and depression and its name is derived from the enzyme known as the ‘Monoamine Oxidase’. This enzyme works by breaking the neurotransmitters in the brain which consists of the norepinephrine as well as the serotonin. In addition, the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors simulates such reaction, thereby leading to an increase in the level of the neurotransmitters. The MAOI can be used to treat anxiety if other medicines that were taken have not yield to desirable results. Basically, this medication is considered as the last resort of all the antidepressant medications since this comes with serious side effects.
As mentioned, the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors could lead to some serious side effects and among these are nausea, diarrhea or constipation, dry mouth, headache, insomnia, drowsiness, skin reactions and dizziness. If you have been taking this medication and you noticed these harmful side effects, you have to stop taking it immediately and see your doctor as soon as possible.
The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, also known as SSRI, are also among those medicines for anxiety that can help to increase the level of serotonin in the brain, thereby treating the symptoms of anxiety disorders. The way these medications work is totally different from the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors. The level of the serotonin is increased by means of blocking the reuptake process which gets rid of the serotonin. The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are among the most effective medications in treating depression and anxiety. They are also prescribed for patients that have severe anxiety symptoms and the best thing about these medicines is that they have fewer side effects.
While the SSRI is way safer than the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, this does not mean that the medicine does not have any side effects at all. It also comes with fewer side effects and among these is nausea, dizziness, agitation, nervousness, restlessness, reduced sexual desire or the difficulty of reaching an orgasm, erectile dysfunction, drowsiness, weight gain or loss, insomnia and headache. Most of the side effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are minor. However, if it is something that is affecting your day to day life, then you have to seek immediate help from your doctor.
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Another anti anxiety medicine that is considered effective is the Tricyclic Antidepressants or TCA. It is also used to treat panic disorders as well as other psychological disorders related to anxiety. These medicines will have an impact on dopamine, norepinephrine, and in some cases, the acetylcholine and histamine. Basically, these antidepressants are considered the best medication to treat depression and anxiety before the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors will be introduced. These days, the Tricyclic Antidepressants are being prescribed in lesser frequency as compared to others due to its side effects. If a patient will not respond to Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, then these medications will be prescribed.
Among the most common side effects of using Tricyclic Antidepressants is urinary retention, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, drowsiness, increased in appetite which leads to weight gain, sudden drop of blood pressure when standing immediately coming from a sitting position, lightheadedness and excessive sweating. Make sure to read the package that came with the Tricyclic Antidepressants in order not to suffer from any harmful side effects. And if the side effects are unbearable, go see your doctor immediately.
The Other Classes of Antidepressant Medications
All the aforementioned medications will work in varying amounts and in different situations. Other classes of depression medications that have been developed quite recently are the nefazodone, bupropion, mirtazapine, venlafaxine and trazodone. All these medications are comparatively new and were just recently added to the list of depression medications. In addition, panic attacks that sometimes come with severe and chronic anxiety and depression can be treated with benzodiazepines.
Things to Keep in Mind
Keep in mind that the best antidepressant for anxiety will vary from one person to another and will also be based on each of the individual cases. What the patient will feel before and after taking the medication is very important. In some instances, factors like side effects of drugs and the patient’s ability to react to the drug will also serve as the basis in determining the best antidepressant.
Pregnant women should refrain from taking any of the abovementioned antidepressant medications. Treatment of depression and anxiety during pregnancy is very complex and would require careful analysis of the risks to both the infant as well as the mother. Some medical experts suggest that Tricyclic Antidepressants and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors might be safe for pregnant women, although you need to first talk to your doctor about this. If there is a really a need for you to take these medications, the lowest effective dosage will be prescribed. There are also some evidences on infants of mothers who take antidepressants might suffer from withdrawal symptoms although this is only in rare cases. The infant might be observed carefully in a few days in order to identify and treat the symptoms. The elderly might be able to respond to these antidepressant medications but the side effects could be sever, thus, antidepressants therapy is recommended instead.
