Using benzodiazepines, even as prescribed, can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal if a person stops taking the drug suddenly. Withdrawal can be life threatening. Taking this drug can also lead to misuse and addiction. Misuse of alprazolam increases the risk of overdose and death.
According to a report in the 2010 Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, people who use anti-anxiety medication have a 36 percent increased mortality risk. That means persons using these drugs are almost 40 percent more likely to die than people who do not use them.
2) Do anxiety medications have any serious risks or side effects? Benzodiazepines have the highest risk for side effects out of the available anxiety medications. It's possible to become dependent on them and build tolerance. Over time, you may need higher doses to experience the same effects.
If you have severe anxiety that's interfering with your ability to function, medication may be helpful—especially as a short-term treatment. However, many people use anti-anxiety medication when therapy, exercise, or other self-help strategies would work just as well or better, minus the drawbacks.
Many people can limit or overcome their anxiety symptoms without medication. If you're experiencing stress, worry, fear, anxiety, racing thoughts, or difficulty sleeping, it can be difficult to cope. A few common ways of handling anxiety without medication are exercise, mindfulness, deep breathing, and therapy.
It may seem a little contradictory that a medication used to treat anxiety can also cause anxiety. However, because serotonin can attach to multiple receptors through the brain and body, there is a small risk of causing unintended mood changes.
Benzodiazepines enhance the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA—a chemical in the brain that helps you to feel calm.
The even better news: Many people respond well to anxiety treatment without medication. They find that their condition can often be managed entirely, or at least in part, with lifestyle changes and holistic therapies.
Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders. They affect nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives. However, anxiety disorders are treatable with a number of psychotherapeutic treatments.
The good news is that some studies (study links, a and b) have identified how magnesium may ease certain symptoms of stress and anxiety. Here are the facts: Magnesium may help to control the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain, resulting in a calming effect on the body.
FDA-approved medications to treat anxiety include SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, benzodiazepines, and hydroxyzine. Your doctor may prescribe another medication off-label if they think it is the best option to treat your condition.
A newly published systematic review and network meta-analysis sought to identify the most effective medications for panic disorder and found that sertraline and escitalopram had the best balance of benefit and adverse events.
It's worth talking to a doctor if you can't bring yourself to leave the house because you fear something bad might happen. If you worry so much that you find yourself with physical sensations, like shaking or hot flashes, a doctor, and perhaps anxiety medication, can help.
Untreated anxiety can lead to other mental disorders, such as depression or substance abuse. People with anxiety, especially when not properly treated, have a higher risk of suicide or self-harm behaviors.
Some anxiety medications can be taken as needed when a person is feeling anxious. In other cases, medications need to be taken regularly in order to provide more lasting relief.
Anxiety disorders can have serious effects
An anxiety disorder may lead to social isolation and clinical depression, and can impair a person's ability to work, study and do routine activities.
Difficult experiences in childhood, adolescence or adulthood are a common trigger for anxiety problems. Going through stress and trauma when you're very young is likely to have a particularly big impact. Experiences which can trigger anxiety problems include things like: physical or emotional abuse.
Anxiety can be debilitating, especially when it triggers panic attacks. Individuals dealing with anxiety may live in fear of daily activities and feel as if their anxiety dominates their lives. In some cases, people may use substances such as drugs or alcohol to self-medicate their anxiety symptoms.