What are the medications to relieve anxiety?

Currently, there are three main categories of commonly used anxiety-relieving drugs in clinical practice. They are SSRI antidepressants, which are the first choice for long-term conditioning, benzodiazepine sedatives, which are used for acute anxiety relief, and beta-blockers, which are specifically designed to improve the physical symptoms associated with anxiety. In addition, there are also over-the-counter plant preparations such as St. John's wort extract for patients with mild symptoms. However, all drugs must be used in accordance with the doctor's advice, and it is not recommended to purchase and take them on your own.

Among the patients I had contact with a while ago was a young man who had just graduated and worked in sales. He failed to meet the KPI target for three consecutive months. His heart beat so fast that his hands shook when he received a call from a customer. He was unable to speak normally. When he came for the evaluation, he was already moderately anxious. The plan given to him at that time was to prescribe alprazolam for a week, and he would take half a tablet when he became acutely anxious. At the same time, he would start taking sertraline every day for long-term conditioning. In addition, he could take half a tablet of propranolol half an hour before meeting important clients, which could quickly suppress the symptoms of trembling hands and palpitation without delaying work.

When many people hear about taking psychotropic drugs, their first reaction is, "Will it be addictive?" ”, this is also the most controversial part about anxiety drugs among the public now. In fact, there is no need to overwhelm everyone with one stroke. The mechanism of action of SSRI drugs such as Sertraline mentioned just now is to slowly adjust the serotonin level in the brain, just like slowly turning the knob of disturbed emotions in the normal direction. The onset of effect is slow, and it usually takes 1-2 weeks to feel the effect. There is no addiction at all, and it is now the first choice in clinical practice around the world. Only benzodiazepine emergency medicines such as alprazolam and lorazepam are like quick-acting fire extinguishers. During an acute attack of anxiety, taking half a tablet can suppress the feeling of breathlessness and restlessness in ten minutes. However, dependence may only occur if you take them continuously for more than 4 weeks. Therefore, doctors usually prescribe a maximum of 2-4 weeks of dosage and strictly control the course of treatment. As long as you follow the doctor's instructions, there is almost no addiction problem.

There are also many patients with mild symptoms who do not want to take prescription drugs and will buy plant-based soothing products such as St. John's wort extract. Indeed, many people report that their mood will be more stable and they will feel less upset after taking it. However, there is also a lot of controversy about this type of drug. On the one hand, there is no unified standard for its effective dose. Yes, different brands have much different effects. On the other hand, it will interact with many common drugs such as birth control pills and anticoagulants such as warfarin. If you have chronic diseases and are taking medicine for a long time, it may be dangerous to take it casually. Even if it is over-the-counter, it is best to ask your doctor before taking it.

I met a girl before. I checked on the Internet and said that taking Lorazepam for anxiety is effective. I secretly bought several bottles from an agent and took it for more than two months. Later I felt that I was better and wanted to stop taking the medicine. As soon as I stopped, I suffered from insomnia and panic all day and night. The symptoms were worse than the previous anxiety symptoms. It took almost two months to slowly reduce the medication, but I suffered more.

It doesn’t mean that you need to take medicine as long as you are a little anxious. If you just have to work hard for a week in a row recently, and occasionally feel a little upset and can’t sleep well, try taking half an hour to run or go out with friends on the weekend to relieve yourself. There is no need to take medicine. Medicine is prepared for those whose anxiety has affected normal eating, sleeping, and working, and cannot adjust on their own. In short, there is no absolute "best" anxiety medicine, only the one that is suitable for you. The specific type, amount, and duration of use must be evaluated by a professional doctor before making a decision. Don't make blind decisions on your own.