Buspirone is an anti-anxiety drug that has been shown to be effective for older adults. Benzodiazepines, another anti-anxiety drug, are effective but should be prescribed carefully to older adults because of risk of memory impairment, unsteadiness, and falls.
Anxiety among older adults is a common health concern, but there are medications that may help to ease the symptoms. These can include duloxetine, escitalopram, buspirone, venlafaxine, and sertraline. Anxiety disorders are common in older adults.
Buspirone. This anti-anxiety medication may treat short- or long-term anxiety symptoms. Buspirone (BuSpar) works much more slowly than benzodiazepines and may not treat all types of anxiety disorder, but it causes fewer side effects and has a lower risk of dependency.
Antidepressants are considered first line treatment. Both SSRIs and SNRIs are efficacious and well-tolerated in the elderly.
SSRIs considered to have the best safety profile in the elderly are citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline.
Studies have found that while antidepressants can be helpful in older adults, they may not always be as effective as in younger patients. Also, the risk of side effects or potential reactions with other medicines must be carefully considered.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is believed to be the most common anxiety disorder among older adults. People who have GAD find themselves constantly worrying about many things. They fear the worst in every situation, even if that fear is unfounded.
Older adults tend to have more reason to worry about their health and financial security. And they are more likely to have anxiety triggered by chronic health conditions or the loss of a loved one. If you feel like anxiety is affecting your day to day life, you are not alone.
Drug treatment. Healthcare professionals may prescribe two categories of drugs for older adults who have anxiety: Antidepressants, which are usually SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Another group of medications called SNRI's may be used, if SSRIs don't work.
Benzodiazepines (also known as tranquilizers) are the most widely prescribed type of medication for anxiety. Drugs such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam) work quickly, typically bringing relief within 30 minutes to an hour.
As their condition progresses, people with dementia become more disorientated, forgetful and less able to think things through. For some people this struggle to make sense of the world can cause anxiety.
Anxiety becomes more common with older age and is most common among middle-aged adults. This may be due to a number of factors, including changes in the brain and nervous system as we age, and being more likely to experience stressful life events that can trigger anxiety.
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.
It has a negative impact on cognitive impairment and is associated with agitation and poor quality of life. The presence of excessive anxiety can be difficult to establish in people with dementia, especially when expressive or receptive speech is impaired.
For people with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork, and relationships.
The onset of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) specifically can occur at any point in the life cycle, though the average age of onset is 31 years old. Of all anxiety disorders, however, GAD stands as the most common in late-life with estimates in the older adult age group ranging from 1% to 7%.
Signs of Panic Attacks in Seniors
A panic attack must include at least four of the following symptoms: accelerated heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, choking sensations, hot and cold flashes, sweating, trembling, nausea, depersonalization, fear of dying, going crazy, or losing control.
Usually, SSRIs are considered as the first line treatment of choice. Among the various SSRIs, escitalopram and sertraline are considered to have minimal drug interactions and are considered to be safe in presence of wide range of physical illnesses.
First-line agents for the treatment of depression in older adults include SSRIs, especially citalopram, sertraline, and extended-release venlafaxine. Second-line agents include TCAs, bupropion, and mirtazapine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an “older adult” as someone who is at least 60 years old. Many states may also have different definitions of “elderly” when determining what resources are available in cases of elder abuse, although most states commonly use 65 years of age as the cut-off.