Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: See a doctor
• Method 2 of 3: Choose a Treatment Regimen
• Method 3 of 3: Determine if you need drug therapy

If your anxiety takes on painful forms, you may feel that finding the right solution will be overwhelming for you. Bear in mind that there are quite a few medications in the arsenal of modern medicine that can successfully help to cope with anxiety. The main thing in this case is to choose the right treatment regimen that is right for you. Of course, you should not self-medicate and try to prescribe yourself anti-anxiety medications. However, it is very helpful to learn about the drugs used to treat anxiety so that you and your doctor can find an effective drug therapy.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Check with your healthcare professional before using any medication.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: See a doctor

1. 1 See your doctor. If you feel like your anxiety is taking on painful forms, the first thing you need to do is see a doctor. To begin with, you can contact a therapist at the clinic, where you are attached under the OMS or VHI policy.Your therapist will evaluate your health and determine if your anxiety is caused by a medical condition.
   • When talking with your doctor, be as honest and detailed as possible about the symptoms that bother you. Describe your feelings of anxiety and your mood lately.
   • In Russia, a therapist has no right to prescribe anti-anxiety drugs, so he will refer you to a neurologist or recommend you to see a psychiatrist.
2. 2 See a psychiatrist. Severe feelings of anxiety can be caused by anxiety disorder, phobic anxiety disorder, or some other medical condition that belongs to the field of psychiatry. You do not need a referral to see a psychiatrist. However, keep in mind that you can only go to the place of your permanent registration for free for an appointment with a psychiatrist. To do this, you need to find out in the polyclinic where exactly (in the neuropsychiatric dispensary or in the district polyclinic) your district psychiatrist is receiving the appointment. You will not be able to make an appointment in advance for a certain time - the doctor accepts patients on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are going to see this psychiatrist for the first time, be sure to take your passport, SNILS and compulsory medical insurance policy with you.
   • If you do not want or cannot go to the dispensary, try to find the contacts of public or private clinics offering psychiatric help on the Internet, or contact a private specialist. Call and make an appointment. You may need to undergo psychotherapy in addition to medication, so you can see a psychotherapist. It is best to find a specialist with a higher medical education and a license to practice medicine.
   • A mental health professional will ask you in depth about your life, the support you are receiving, and whether you have received any treatment for anxiety before. You need to answer all the doctor's questions as truthfully as possible - this will help the specialist to make the correct diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
3. 3 Talk to your doctor about your medication plan. Be sure to ask your doctor about all the medications he will prescribe for you, and find out as many details as possible about the upcoming treatment. Keep in mind that anxiolytics and antidepressants are prescription drugs only. Make sure that you have written prescriptions that comply with the new rules that came into force in the Russian Federation from September 2017. You will need a prescription on Form 107-1 / y, which must include your last name, first name, patronymic and age, the Latin name of the drug, the dosage and the length of time you must take this drug. Also, the prescription must contain the surname, name and patronymic of the doctor and the seal of the medical institution and the personal seal of the doctor. If you go to a private psychiatrist or psychotherapist, be sure to ask if they have the right to prescribe prescription drugs.
   • Be sure to find out how long after you start taking the drug, you should feel the drug effect.
   • Ask a specialist to explain in detail to you what side effects may appear while taking medication. Be sure to ask what therapeutic effect the prescribed drugs should have. This will allow you to assess how much the benefits of drug therapy outweigh the potential harm due to side effects.
   • Find out how and when to take each drug. Ask what time of day and how often it is recommended to take your medication, and ask if it is recommended to take your medication with, before or after meals.

Method 2 of 3: Choose a Treatment Regimen

1. 1 Take anti-anxiety medications (anxiolytics). This group of drugs is also known as benzodiazepines.Many psychoactive substances of this class are tranquilizers, since they help to reduce the speed of mental and motor reactions. The therapeutic effect manifests itself very quickly after taking the drug, so benzodiazepines are successfully used during acute anxiety and panic attacks.
   • For the treatment of anxiety disorders, drugs such as Xanax, Alprazolam (active ingredient alprazolam), Clonazepam, Relanium (active ingredient clonazepam), Seduxen, Diazepam (active ingredient diazepam) or Lorazepam ".
   • Please note that this group of drugs can be addictive if taken for longer than four months.
   • Anxiolytics can interact negatively with alcohol, pain relievers, and sleeping pills.
   • People over 65, pregnant women and people who have previously suffered from any kind of chemical addiction are at particular risk, so doctors try not to prescribe them treatment with these drugs.
   • If you stop taking anti-anxiety medications at the same time, it can lead to withdrawal symptoms. You may experience symptoms such as severe anxiety, insomnia, tremors, heart palpitations, and disorientation.
2. 2 Take antidepressants. Quite often, doctors prescribe antidepressants to treat anxiety disorders. Unlike anxiolytics, drugs of this class are almost not addictive and drug-dependent. However, with such treatment, it is usually required to take the drug for at least a month in order to feel its therapeutic effect.
   • For the treatment of anxiety disorders, drugs such as Prozac (active ingredient fluoxetine), Zoloft and Stimuloton (active ingredient sertraline), Paxil (active ingredient paroxetine), Escitalopram (active ingredient escitalopram), and "Citalopram" and "Cipramil" (active ingredient citalopram).
   • If a person stops taking antidepressants, it can cause severe depression, constant tiredness, irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and flu-like symptoms.
3. 3 Take a course of treatment with Spitomin (the active ingredient is busperone). Spitomin is a relatively new tranquilizing agent that is used to treat anxiety disorders. The therapeutic effect develops approximately two weeks after the start of taking the drug.
   • Busperone drugs have far fewer side effects than other groups of anti-anxiety drugs. So, it is much less likely to cause dependence, after the end of taking the drug, the withdrawal syndrome manifests itself rather weakly, in addition, busperone does not have such a negative effect on cognitive functions as other drugs.
   • Busperone preparations have been proven to be much more effective than other drugs in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
   • In many cases, it is this drug that is prescribed to patients over 65 years of age and people who have suffered in the past with any type of chemical addiction.
4. 4 Beta-blockers (beta-blockers) and antihistamines are used to treat some forms of anxiety disorders. These drugs interfere with the action of norepinephrine and the fight-or-flight mechanisms. Beta blockers and antihistamines help reduce the physical symptoms associated with anxiety, but do not affect emotional symptoms.
   • These medications can help manage symptoms such as shaking, dizziness, and increased heart rate.
   • These drugs are prescribed to treat specific phobias and anxiety disorders associated with public speaking.
5. 5 Learn about the side effects of different types of medications. Take it for granted that all drugs used to treat anxiety and anxiety disorders have some kind of side effect on the body.Some side effects are mild, while others are quite serious and can significantly reduce the quality of life. Before starting a course of treatment, consider and evaluate how the expected positive effects of drugs and the negative side effects of taking them are related.
   • While taking anti-anxiety (anxiolytic) drugs, a person may experience symptoms such as drowsiness, slow reflexes, slurred speech, disorientation, depression, dizziness, impaired thinking, memory impairment, indigestion and blurred vision. In some patients, a pathological reaction to anxiolytics manifests itself: instead of a calming effect, they increase excitement, develop mania, episodes of rage and aggression, increase impulsive behavior, and in some cases hallucinations.
   • While taking antidepressants, a person may experience undesirable symptoms such as nausea, weight gain, drowsiness, headaches, nervousness, decreased libido, indigestion and dizziness.
   • While taking buspirone drugs, a person may experience symptoms such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and dry mouth.
   • Symptoms such as abnormal low heart rate, nausea, weakness, dizziness, and drowsiness may occur with beta blockers.
6. 6 Find the right treatment. Each drug used to treat anxiety disorders has a specific set of characteristics that can influence your choice. For example, you need to determine what you need first of all: the ability to quickly stop manifestations of phobias and panic attacks, or a general decrease in the level of anxiety for a long time. In addition, you need to take into account whether you are in a particular risk group for the occurrence of side effects of drugs. It is also worth considering whether you are taking any medications that may interact with anti-anxiety medications and your lifestyle. Also, assess if you are at risk for drug dependence.
   • Anti-anxiety medications (anxiolytics) such as Xanax, Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Relanium, Seduxen, Diazepam, or Lorazepam are indicated if you need immediate help in the event of an acute anxiety or panic attack. ".
   • If you need to reduce your overall level of anxiety over an extended period of time, you will most likely need a course of antidepressants.
   • Beta blockers and antihistamines are prescribed for specific phobias and phobic disorders.
   • If you have suffered from any type of chemical addiction in the past, you are most likely indicated for treatment with antidepressants and buspirone drugs. The same treatment regimen is most suitable for people over 65.

Method 3 of 3: Determine if you need drug therapy

1. 1 Determine if non-drug therapy would be more beneficial to you. Medication can help relieve acute symptoms when a person is very ill. However, before starting treatment with anti-anxiety drugs, try other ways to deal with the problem. Many doctors, psychotherapists, and psychologists believe that non-drug therapy can be even more effective than medication.
   • There are quite a few therapies that can help relieve anxiety, including psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, relaxation and breathing techniques, cognitive therapy, diet and physical activity, as well as targeted work to increase self-esteem and develop self-confidence.
   • The listed types of therapeutic work help a person to identify and resolve the hidden causes underlying anxiety.In addition, such techniques enable a person to learn how to deal with the emotional and psychological symptoms of anxiety. Moreover, during therapy, a person acquires skills that help him manage the level of anxiety in his daily life.
2. 2 Be aware that medications will not cure your anxiety. Drugs can only reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorder or reduce the manifestations of anxiety. However, medication cannot relieve your anxiety. Treating and managing anxiety involves a range of different approaches. Medicines provide only short-term support as you work to relieve anxiety and its underlying causes. However, those people who have been diagnosed with chronic anxiety disorders need to take medications for a long time.
   • Before starting medication, talk with your doctor about other therapies they can recommend for the long-term treatment of your type of anxiety disorder.
3. 3 Be patient. It will most likely take some time before the doctor selects the combination of drugs and treatment regimen that will work for you. Be prepared for the fact that the drug that you will be prescribed at the first appointment with a psychiatrist may not have the desired effect. In this case, the doctor will discontinue the drug and prescribe another drug, after which he will observe how it suits you. Sometimes it is necessary to change the treatment regimen and plan several times before the correct and effective treatment is selected.
   • In some cases, your doctor may recommend alternative treatments. Non-drug therapy can be prescribed as an alternative to taking drugs, as well as as an additional treatment during the course of drugs.
   • During treatment, you need to be monitored by a doctor, so be sure to discuss with him any changes in your condition, as well as symptoms and side effects that occur while taking medications.