What Are The Anxiety Medication Side Effects?

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Anxiety disorder is the third most common psychiatric disorder after alcohol abuse and depression. There are many ways to treat the disorder, with the most common being anxiety disorder medication.

It is important to know how these medications work and how they can affect their users.

Types of medications used for anxiety are the following:

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Benzodiazepines
• Antidepressants
• Beta Blockers
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

Most anxiety medications are made from a common mixture of ingredients. Many contain what is called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and/ or Benzodiazepines.

Serotonin is what is known as the brain’s all-natural happy drug. Scientists believe that a lack of serotonin is the cause of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks.

SSRIs

SSRIs increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. Some well-known name brands that use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are Prozac and Zoloft.

Anxiety medication side effects commonly reported with the use of SSRIs can include nausea, sexual dysfunction, headache, diarrhea, nervousness, rash, agitation, restlessness, increased sweating, weight gain, drowsiness, and insomnia.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are minor tranquilizers. They generally slow down the body’s nervous system, giving it an all-over calm.

Benzodiazepines can be addictive and should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor. Some well-known name brands that use Benzodiazepines are Xanax and Valium.

Anxiety medication side effects of benzodiazepines include drowsiness, dizziness, upset stomach, blurred vision, headache, confusion, depression, impaired coordination, changes in heart rate, trembling, weakness, amnesia, grogginess, dreaming or nightmares, chest pain, vision changes, and jaundice.

Antidepressants

Another group of medicines that is used to treat panic attacks and anxiety are antidepressants. These medications, e.g., Cymbalta or Remeron, affect the neurotransmitters in the brain.

Effexor

Effexor is one good brand name of antidepressant medication for anxiety disorder. Dizziness and nausea are the most common side effects during the initial phase of treatment -- especially when the body is adjusting to the medication.

Other reported effexor - anxiety medication side effects include nervousness, drowsiness, problem sleeping, sweating, loss of appetite, dry mouth, tremor, blurred vision, constipation, and change in sexual ability, or anxiety.

Notify your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following serious effects: rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, severe headache, painful or difficult urination, and muscle cramping, unusual or severe mental /mood changes, seizures.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious but unlikely side effects of bleeding occur: "coffee ground" vomit, black stools, easy bruising/bleeding.

Is Wellbutrin Anxiety Medicine?

There is really no such thing as Wellbutrin anxiety medicine. Wellbutrin is another drug of choice for depression and possibly ADHD and it has no current indication for any anxiety disorder, but it is given to patients suffering from anxiety and depression.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

MAOIs, are very powerful antidepressant drugs that should only be used as a last resort -- after all other treatments have been tried. These drugs can be toxic, which can lead to a stroke when combined with certain drugs and foods.

When taking MAOIs, it is recommended to limit your consumption of foods that has high levels of tyramine: cheeses, pickled foods, chocolates, certain meats, beer, wine, and alcohol-free or reduced-alcohol beer and wine.

Anxiety medication side effects of MAOIs include drowsiness, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, stomach upset, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, decreased urine output, decreased sexual function, sleep disturbances, muscle twitching, weight gain, blurred vision, headache, increased appetite, restlessness, shakiness, trembling, weakness, increased sweating.

Safety Concerns

The FDA has put out a warning on all antidepressants. Anyone taking them may be more susceptible to suicide, especially when they first start to take them or when the dosage is changed.

Beta Blocker Anxiety Medication

Beta blockers may help in treating the physical symptoms of anxiety, especially social anxiety. These are prescribed to control rapid heartbeat, shaking, trembling, and blushing in anxious social situations for several hours.

One brand for social phobia is Tenormin or Atenolol. It has fewer side effects than Inderal and has less of a tendency to produce wheezing than other beta blockers. Its one-pill-a-day dosing is convenient.

Common anxiety medication side effects of Tenormin include cold extremities, dizziness and tiredness. Less frequent include depression, decrease in heart rate below fifty beats per minute, and nightmares.

Another beta blocker medicine for anxiety is Inderal or Propanolol. This medicine is used to provide short-term relief from symptoms of performance anxiety and possibly panic disorder.

It has almost no side effects if taken occasionally. Some individuals report cold hands and feet, insomnia, short-term memory loss, light-headedness, sleepy, slow pulse, lethargy, diarrhea, and tingling of fingers and toes.

What to Expect

After several weeks of taking anxiety medications the patient should find an improvement in their symptoms. If after eight weeks, nothing has changed, then a follow-up visit to their doctor would be required. The doctor may prescribe a different drug, or may increase the dosage of the drug already taken.

Keep in Mind

Anxiety medication side effects involving allergic reaction requires immediate medical attention. This include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Anxiety Medication Side EffectsReferences

"Beta Blockers" Healthy Place.Com. Updated April 2006. Accessed November 4, 2008.

"Generic Name: Benzodiazepines - Oral". Medicinenet.Com http://www.medicinenet.com/benzodiazepines-oral/article.htm. Accessed November 4, 2008.

"Benzodiazepine". Wikipedia.Com. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine Accessed October 31, 2008.

"Monamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)". Mayoclinic.Com. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/maois/MH00072 Updated December 8, 2006. Accessed October 26, 2008.

"Selective Serotonin Reactive Inhibitors (SSRIs)". Mayoclinic.Com. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ssris/MH00066 Updated December 8, 2006. Accessed October 26, 2008.

"Medications / Anxiety Disorder Chart". Adaa.Org http://www.adaa.org/gettinghelp/AnxietyDisorders/chart.htm Updated April 2008. Accessed October 26, 2008.

Please Note

All the Information within this site is for reference only with no guarantee of accuracy; it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases. Statements about the products efficacy have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

It is important to emphasize that you should not reject mainstream medical attention and guidance and the use of recommended products, treatments, and remedies for individual disorder should be approved and monitored by your health care provider. See disclaimer for more!