Drugs for Anxiety Treatment - Side Effects

Antidepressants - Antidepressants are drugs specifically developed to overcome the problems in brain chemistry that cause anxiety disorder. They are much more specific than painkillers. Lack of these mood-enhancing substances can cause depression.

SSRIs - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs varies the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, which, like other neurotransmitters, helps brain cells communicate with one another.

Tricyclics - Tricyclics are older than SSRIs and work as well as SSRIs for anxiety disorders. Tricyclics sometimes cause dizziness, dry mouth, and weight gain, which can usually be corrected by changing the dosage or switching to another tricyclic medication.

MAOIs - Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are most commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders. People who take MAOIs cannot eat a variety of foods and beverages that contain tyramine or take certain medications, including some types pills, pain relievers, cold and allergy medications as these substances can react with MAOIs to cause dangerous rise in blood pressure.

Anti-Anxiety Drugs - High-potency benzodiazepines fight anxiety and have few side effects. Benzodiazepines are generally prescribed for short periods of time, especially for people who have abused drugs and who become dependent on medication easily.

Beta-Blockers - Beta-blockers are used to treat heart disease and can prevent the physical symptoms that accompany certain anxiety disorders, particularly social phobia. Doctors may prescribe a beta-blocker to keep physical symptoms of anxiety under control.

Side effects of anxiety drugs:

• Dizziness.
• Drowsiness.
• Dry mouth.
• Weight gain or loss.
• Sleepiness.
• Constipation.
• Addiction.
• Chronic headaches.
• Liver and kidney poisoning.
• Slight nausea.
• Agitation.