Prescription antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as are all prescription drugs. Abuse of prescription drugs occur when the patient takes the medication in a manner or at a dosage other than what was prescribed, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Types
There are different types of antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs. According to MayoClinic.com, most antidepressants work by affecting levels of chemical messengers in the brain, particularly serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Four classes of antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, atypical antidepressants, tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Anti-anxiety drugs increase levels of gamma-amino-butyric acid, also known as GABA, in the brain. There are three classes of anti-anxiety medicines that include antidepressants, buspirone and benzodiazepines.
Misconceptions
A misconception is that prescription antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are safe to use, even safer than illicit drugs. Research published in "Expert Opinion on Drug Safety" in 2008, says that all antidepressants can induce psychiatric and suicide-related adverse events. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance in 2009, 20 percent of high school students abuse prescription drugs, including taking a drug without a doctor's prescription; these drugs include Xanax, a benzodiazepine that is indicated to treat panic disorder, a type of anxiety disorder.
Prescription Drug Abuse
Research published in "Geriatrics" in 2008 reports that 25 percent of prescription drugs in the United States are used by the elderly, often for anxiety, and that the prevalence for abuse is approximately 11 percent among females who are depressed. The research also reported that use of benzodiazepines may have caused physical dependence, but tolerance and dose escalation were less common in the older patient. The research concluded by suggesting that lower doses may decrease the risk of abuse and dependence among patients and that fear of abuse often results in failure to adequately treat anxiety symptoms. According to research published in the "American Journal of Psychiatry" in 2010, prescription of anxiety medication is associated with lifetime and past-year non-medical use and lifetime abuse or dependence; non-medical use is associated with young, white males with a history of illicit drugs, other drug use disorders and illegal behaviors.
Doctor Shopping
Doctor shopping for prescriptions is a method for prescription drug abuse. Antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug abuse potential can vary between products and available doses. According to research published in "CNS Drugs" in 2010, doctor shopping for prescriptions can be used to assess the relative abuse liability of benzodiazepines and detect new patterns of abuse.
Prevention
The National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests three ways to prevent prescription drug misuse and abuse. One way is for patients to inform the prescribing physician about all medications being taken. The second way is for patients to take medications as prescribed. The third way is for patients to read the information about the product before taking the drug.
References
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Prescription and over-the-Counter Medications
- MayoClinic.com: Antidepressants: Selecting One That's Right for You
- "Postgraduate Medical Journal"; Antidepressants Are Not Drugs of Abuse; Lichtigfeld, F.J.; Sep 1998
- "Journal of Family Practice"; Benzodiazepine Abuse and Dependence: Misconceptions; Farnsworth, M.G.; Oct 1990
- "Geriatrics"; Prescription Drug Misuse/Abuse in Elderly; Culberson, J.W.; Sep 1 2008
