We all have been nervous before any important event, such as an exam or speech, and anxiety is fairly normal. Mild levels of anxiety affect everyone. But it can be abnormally more intense or severe than usual in some people.
This could be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent root cause of excessive worry or stress. More than 25% of the population in the US struggles with one or the other form of anxiety issue, making it the most widespread mental health concern.
It is characterized by extreme dread or worry that goes beyond typical uneasiness or discomfort.
Let us take a look at the global statistics for anxiety disorders. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 3.6% of the world’s population, or around 264 million people, suffer from an anxiety illness. In addition, 4.6% of women and close to 2.6% of men worldwide are affected by severe anxiety.
The numbers are concerning, considering many of those affected either do not know that they are suffering or they are left untreated due to stigma around mental health problems.
However, effective treatment for anxiety disorders is easily available, and you should not hesitate to opt for it if needed.
Medication or Therapy?
Fortunately, several highly effective therapeutic approaches can help you have fulfilling and productive lives. In extreme cases, psychiatric treatment, along with proper medication, can go a long way in sustainably managing your anxiety issues.
Whether you need counseling or are fit for extensive psychiatric intervention and prescription management depends on the severity of your anxiety disorder.
What specific medication or class of medication to prescribe will depend on the type of your anxiety disorder after a careful evaluation of your mental health condition by a licensed practitioner.
Therapy alone may suffice if your anxiety disorder is transient and does not result in substantial mental and physical suffering. More severe anxiety that impairs your ability to operate on a daily basis is best addressed with a combination of psychotherapy/talk therapy and prescription medication.
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
There are many different types of anxiety disorders, such as GAD or General Anxiety Disorder, SAD or Social Anxiety Disorder, Phobias, Chronic anxiety, panic disorder, and so on. You can read about it in detail in this article.
I will talk about the general symptoms of anxiety disorders that might warrant immediate medical attention.
While some may have occasional bouts of anxiety, for some, anxiety and fear or dread go hand in hand, which is worrisome as it often makes their daily routine unbearable.
Here are the common signs you should look for when determining whether or not you have an anxiety disorder:
- Trouble falling asleep
- Eating disorders due to stress
- Inability to focus on work, studies, or daily routines in general
- Excessive sweating and palpitations
- Constant panic attacks or perceived fear of panic attacks that are yet to happen
- Constant irritability
- Agitated feelings
- Feeling drained out and experiencing muscle strain
- Difficulty in managing excessive worry and stress
- Fear of social interactions
These symptoms can also co-occur with other mental health problems, such as depression and mania. Your psychiatrist or therapist will use a wide range of screening tests and tools to determine the severity of your anxiety symptoms.
Once diagnosed, they will discuss the different treatment choices available to you. Generally, medication or psychotherapy or both together are advocated.
Who Can Prescribe Anxiety Medication?
Anxiety medications are only available with a valid prescription from a doctor or a certified mental health expert/psychiatrist/practitioner. You can be prescribed medicines online or during your in-person visit to the clinic, depending on the type of medication given. Not all medications are prescribed through telepsychiatry, so face-to-face consultations might sometimes be required to obtain prescriptions for certain controlled drugs like benzodiazepines.
These are the health professionals authorized and licensed to prescribe anxiety medication. They drive your entire treatment and its outcome – from follow-up appointments to prescription refills until the final recovery.
1. A Primary Care Doctor/Physician
He or she has the medical training to treat minor anxiety and prescribe general medicine. However, I would recommend seeing a psychiatrist for moderate to severe anxiety disorders clubbed with other mental health concerns such as depression.
2. Psychiatrist
They are a specialist and has additional training in dealing with mental health problems in a more holistic way. Your licensed, board-certified psychiatrist can not only prescribe anxiety medication, including controlled substances but also help you with regular counseling.
3. Psychologists
They are trained solely in providing psychotherapy or talk therapy. However, in a few jurisdictions of the US, psychologists with further psychiatric training are also permitted to write prescriptions. For prescribing medications, it is mandatory for your therapist to first complete nearly 1500 hours of clinical training and pass a national test.
4. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
They are registered nurse with specialized education and training in mental healthcare. They are not medical professionals, but they have the authority to prescribe anxiety medication as well as holistic treatment under the medical monitoring of your primary care doctor.
5. Hospital Emergency Room Protocol
They are generally not authorized to prescribe any anxiety medication. But only in cases of extreme necessity or urgent medical emergencies. Short-term medication for anxiety can be prescribed.
6. OBGYN
If you are experiencing severe anxiety due to hormonal changes during or post-pregnancy, your menopause phase, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, you can talk to your obstetrician or gynecologist about putting yourself on anxiety medication.
What Are The Different Types of Anxiety Medication Available?
I will talk about the acceptable medications that can be prescribed for anxiety once you get the go-ahead from your mental healthcare provider (Psychiatrist/Nurse Practitioner/Physician etc.)
1. Beta Blockers
These are sometimes prescribed to people with social anxiety disorders to help them feel more composed and comfortable in public. They are also often prescribed off-label to treat anxiety. Beta-blockers work well for anxiety as they reduce some symptoms by suppressing the effects of norepinephrine. Atenolol and Inderal are the most commonly suggested beta blockers.
2. Benzodiazepines
These are sedatives used for temporary relief from anxiety symptoms and are typically used for sleep disorders too. However, they are extremely addictive, so they need to be taken under the strict supervision of your doctor. Examples of Benzodiazepines are Xanax (alprazolam), Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), etc
3. Buspirone
Also known as BuSpar and works like benzodiazepines to treat a wide range of anxiety disorders, including GAD. They are preferable for people with persistent anxiety as they are less risky and less addictive than benzodiazepines.
4. SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medications known to boost brain serotonin levels and enhance the lives of patients with severe anxiety. Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, and Luvox are some of the most common first-line drugs used for relieving anxiety.
5. SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors)
SNRIs are anti-depressants that are used for treating both GAD and depression and are comparable to the efficacy of SSRIs. SNRIs treat anxiety disorders by having an effect on the neurotransmitters in the brain.
6. TCAs or Tricyclic Antidepressants
These are prescribed when other medications are ineffective. They work by preventing serotonin and norepinephrine from being reabsorbed by the brain.
7. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
MAOIs such as Phenelzine (Nardil) or Selegiline (Emsam) are also occasionally used off-label by physicians to treat phobia and panic disorder.
How to Get Medication For Anxiety Disorders?
This section will cover the steps needed to get legitimate prescriptions for your anxiety disorders.
You cannot get FDA-approved medications for anxiety over-the-counter, so you must follow a process when it comes to getting long-term anxiety treatment and medications.
The process of getting anti-anxiety medications is not very complicated. It starts with reaching out to your primary care physician, who can put you in touch with the right licensed mental healthcare provider. This works like a referral.
Once you connect with your psychiatrist, they will provide a detailed diagnosis after a thorough psychiatric assessment using a wide range of tools/methods. A comprehensive treatment plan followed by a prescription is provided as the next step.
It is important to understand that none of the medications prescribed would be quick fixes and would only help with alleviating your anxiety symptoms. Since these medicines can cause minor side effects, it is always recommended to take them under the constant supervision of your psychiatrist.
So, it is best not to skip your follow-up appointments, as your prescriptions will be modified and adjusted accordingly every few weeks, depending on your progress.
Conclusion
Once again — anxiety disorders are common and treatable, treatments for which are widely available worldwide. So, ditch the stigma and do not hesitate to seek help.
There is no shame in visiting an emergency room or dialing 911 if your anxiety attacks go out of control. However, if you need constant counseling and medical support, be sure to consult your doctor or a mental health professional to ensure you get long-term care.
Hope you found the article useful. I would love to hear from you and know your thoughts on this in the comments section.
She is an experienced Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Writer with a decade of expertise in psychology. Skilled in assessment, therapy, and patient care. Committed to helping individuals through clinical practice and mental health writing at Therapyjourney.co. Passionate about promoting mental well-being and awareness. Open to aligned opportunities.