1. M.D. or Ph.D.?
Confusion about who can prescribe psychiatric medication is common for people seeking help for a psychiatric condition. A person who is struggling with anxiety might begin treatment with a psychologist or a social worker. However, only a medical doctor (M.D.), not a Ph.D., can prescribe medication. If you are seeing a psychologist or social worker, they will refer you to either a psychiatrist or a family doctor for a medical evaluation. A psychiatrist is preferable due to their specialized training in psychotropic medications and psychiatric disorders.
2. Treatment Options
According to research data, one of the most effective treatment plans includes medication and psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral and exposure therapy. The severity and duration of the anxiety disorder will determine the best treatment options for you. For mild anxiety some non-medical therapies might help to reduce symptoms also, including mediation, yoga, biofeedback, hypnosis and exercise.
3. Current Research
Current research is indicating that certain chemical imbalances in the brain might be linked to the causation of anxiety. Therefore, medication appears to be highly effective in managing anxiety symptoms. Over the years, medications for psychiatric disorders have been improved by reducing unwanted side effects and increasing efficacy.
4. First Line Drugs of Choice for Anxiety
The most common types of medications used to treat anxiety are benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Often the two types of medications are prescribed together to manage anxiety. Benzodiazepines begin to work immediately and the patient will begin to feel less anxious. Antidepressants are slower acting drugs and may take up to a month to reach full efficacy. Therefore, the patient begins taking both drugs together and slowly tapers off the benzodiazepines once the full effect of the antidepressant is present.
Common brand names of benzodiazepines are Xanax, Klonopin and Ativan. The most recent class of antidepressants is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro and Celexa are popular brand names of SSRIs.
5. Side Effects
Most medications have side effects, some more than others. Some research has indicated that benzodiazepines can have fairly serious side effects if used for an extended period of time. You can build up a tolerance for the drugs, specifically the shorter acting versions, namely, Xanax and Ativan. Therefore, needing to increase the dosage to feel the same effects.
SSRIs have less serious side effects than the older class of antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOs). For example, if you are taking a MAO, you will have to be careful to avoid certain foods and drinks, including red wine, beer, yogurt, aged cheese and pickles due to a possible rise in blood pressure from the drug interaction. Consequently, due to diminished side effects compared with the older antidepressants, doctors are more likely to prescribe SSRIs.
