How long does it take to take medication for moderate anxiety to return to normal?

Anxiety disorders can be divided into mild, moderate and severe according to the severity of the disease. Currently, drug treatment is still the first-line treatment for anxiety disorders. So how long does it take for patients with moderate anxiety disorder to take medication to return to normal? Generally, it can return to normal after taking medicine for 12 to 18 months, but the specific time of taking medicine needs to be determined by the doctor's advice based on factors such as illness, physical condition, financial situation, etc., so there is no definite answer. Some patients may require long-term or even lifelong treatment if their symptoms are severe and their anxiety disorder persists.

Currently, drugs that can be clinically used to treat moderate anxiety disorders mainly include the following three categories:

antidepressants

The current first-line drugs for treating anxiety disorders are antidepressants, such as paroxetine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, etc. These drugs have a slow onset of action and stable effects in the later period.

Benzodiazepines

This type of drug has an anti-anxiety effect relatively quickly, such as alprazolam, lorazepam, etc., but has obvious sedative-hypnotic effects and is prone to dependence. It is not suitable for long-term use, and it is not suitable to drive motor vehicles or work at high altitudes to avoid accidents.

anti-anxiety medications

Buspirone and tandospirone are non-sedative, non-benzodiazepine anti-anxiety drugs with mild adverse reactions and stable long-term efficacy.  

In addition to medication, psychotherapy is also important in the treatment of anxiety disorders! It mainly includes supportive psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback therapy, hypnotherapy, etc.

Finally, I would like to emphasize that everyone’s situation is different. Even patients with moderate anxiety disorder have different treatment cycles and treatment plans. The above medication cycle can only be used as a reference. For specific treatment plans, you should consult a professional doctor and do not make your own decisions. During the treatment period, you should also keep in touch with your doctor and resolve any adverse reactions or other problems in a timely manner.

References

[1] Cao Lipu, Yu Hong. Experts teach you how to prevent and treat anxiety disorders [M]. Beijing: China Science and Technology Press, 2017: 96-97.

[2] Qi Gaochao. New edition of Clinical Psychiatry. 1st Edition [M]. Xi'an: Xi'an Jiaotong University Press, 2015: 282-285.

[3] Liu Zhening. Psychiatric Nursing. 3rd Edition [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2012: 164.