Anti-anxiety drugs are a way of keeping panic attacks under control by reducing the symptoms, yet, they do not represent a cure for the problem as such. This means that you’ll feel better but you won’t be cured and safe from other anxiety episodes in the future. Doctors do recommend specific medication but only for short-term administration and as a support for some form of therapy meant to address and solve the real causes of anxiety. An anti anxiety medication can trigger serious health concerns because of the many side effects and the risk of developing a physical addiction. Lifestyle changes and therapy should be the more valuable alternatives to medication when it comes to treating anxiety.
Anxiety disorders have been traditionally treated with an anti anxiety bezodiazepine. Other newer medication in this category include antidepressants and beta-blockers. Despite the scientific progress, these more modern medicines still can’t solve the real cause of anxiety, and once the treatment is over, the symptoms can get back in full force. Experts all over the world agree that anti-anxiety drugs ought to be administered for a short period of time, and they are part of a more complex course of treatment. Therefore, patients have to be informed about what other options they’ve got to improve health permanently.
Another name for anti anxiety pharmaceuticals is tranquilizers because of the impact they have at the level of the central nervous system. They relax muscles, calm the nerves and allow one to continue regular activities normally, or get a good night rest. The reaction to the medication is very fast: results will appear in less than an hour, plus, the efficiency during a panic attack is unparalleled. However, there is a big disadvantage in such anti-anxiety drugs: adverse reactions. First and foremost, they cause physical addiction. Even if you have the intention of stopping the treatment, you’ll find it very difficult because of the craving for the substances.
Then, drowsiness or lack of coordination represent other side affects associated with the use of anti-anxiety drugs, benzodiazepines in particular. This means that you won’t be able to drive or carry on with some regular activities: some drugs even give a hangover feeling. The slow metabolism of anti-anxiety drugs leads to an accumulation of the substances in the system and hence to over-sedation. The feeling is like being drunk; therefore, caution and short term administration following the doctor’s orders make the best advice one can get.