Anti anxiety medication side effects
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Side Effects of Anti-Anxiety Medications
Common Side Effects of Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are widely used for their strong anti-anxiety effects. However, they are known to cause several side effects, including daytime drowsiness, dizziness, and cognitive impairment. Additionally, BZDs can lead to drug dependence, making them less ideal for long-term use 5. Efforts are being made to develop non-BZD anti-anxiety drugs to mitigate these side effects, such as 5-HT1A agonists, which show promise due to their high affinity for serotonin receptors and potentially fewer side effects 5.
Antidepressants and Anxiety: Side Effects and Efficacy
Antidepressants are often prescribed for anxiety disorders, but they come with their own set of side effects. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues, cardiac symptoms, neurological disturbances, and genitourinary problems. These side effects can be more pronounced in patients with comorbid conditions like panic disorder, which can exacerbate the overall burden of side effects and negatively impact treatment outcomes 6. Moreover, the placebo effect plays a significant role in the perceived efficacy of antidepressants, suggesting that non-pharmacological treatments like psychotherapy may offer similar benefits without the associated side effects 1.
Biologic Medicines and Anxiety
Biologic medicines, particularly anti-TNF therapies used for autoimmune conditions, have been reported to cause depression and anxiety as side effects. This is often under-recognized by healthcare professionals, leading to unnecessary psychological treatments and a poor patient experience. Increased awareness and education among healthcare providers are essential to better manage these side effects 2.
Nutritional and Herbal Supplements: A Safer Alternative?
Nutritional and herbal supplements are gaining popularity as alternatives to traditional anti-anxiety medications due to their lower risk of side effects. Supplements like passionflower, kava, and combinations of L-lysine and L-arginine have shown promise in treating anxiety with mild to moderate side effects. However, more research is needed to confirm their efficacy and safety 3. Saffron, in particular, has been found to have antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties similar to conventional medications but with fewer side effects, making it a potential alternative treatment 4.
Psychostimulants and Anxiety in ADHD
Contrary to common belief, psychostimulants used to treat ADHD may actually reduce the risk of anxiety in children. A meta-analysis found that the risk of anxiety was significantly lower in children treated with psychostimulants compared to those given a placebo. This suggests that psychostimulants may help alleviate anxiety symptoms as a secondary effect of improved ADHD symptom control 7.
Conclusion
While anti-anxiety medications are effective, they come with a range of side effects that can impact treatment outcomes. Benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and biologic medicines all have their own sets of challenges. Nutritional and herbal supplements offer a promising alternative with fewer side effects, but more research is needed. Understanding these side effects and exploring safer alternatives can lead to better management of anxiety disorders.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Placebo Effect in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
Most of the benefits of antidepressants in treating depression and anxiety are due to the placebo response, with other treatments like psychotherapy and physical exercise providing similar benefits without the side effects and health risks of active drugs.
Systematic Review
Highly CitedAn innovative method to identify educational need regarding depression and anxiety as an under-recognised side effect of anti-TNF medicines
Healthcare professionals have a significant lack of awareness of depression and anxiety as common side effects of anti-TNF medicines, potentially leading to unnecessary psychological or psychopharmacological treatment and poor patient experience.
Nutritional and herbal supplements for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders: systematic review
Nutritional and herbal supplements, particularly those containing passionflower or kava, show strong evidence for treating anxiety and anxiety-related conditions without serious side effects.
Systematic Review
Very Rigorous JournalHighly CitedSaffron in the treatment of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders: Current evidence and potential mechanisms of action.
Saffron may provide effective and safe treatment for depression and anxiety disorders, with potential benefits similar to current medications but with fewer side effects.
Literature Review
Rigorous JournalHighly Cited[Recent progress in development of psychotropic drugs (1)--Anti-anxiety drugs].
New anti-anxiety drugs, such as 5-HT1A agonists and cholecystokinin agonists, are being developed to be more potent and have fewer side effects than benzodiazepines, potentially achieving widespread clinical use.
Side Effects to Antidepressant Treatment in Patients With Depression and Comorbid Panic Disorder.
Chronically depressed individuals with panic disorder may be at greater risk for antidepressant side effects and worsening depressive symptoms over time.
Observational StudyMeta-Analysis: Reduced Risk of Anxiety with Psychostimulant Treatment in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
Psychostimulant treatment significantly reduces the risk of anxiety in children with ADHD compared to placebo, with higher doses showing a further reduction in anxiety risks.
Meta-AnalysisRigorous JournalIs cannabis treatment for anxiety, mood, and related disorders ready for prime time?
Cannabis treatment for anxiety, mood, and related disorders is not well-documented, with current research focusing on healthy populations and synthetic cannabinoid agents.
Systematic ReviewRigorous JournalHighly CitedAntidepressant side effects and their impact on treatment outcome in people with major depressive disorder: an iSPOT-D report
Greater burden of side effects, but not frequency or intensity, is associated with poorer treatment outcome in people with major depressive disorder, even as early as 4 days post-treatment.
RCT
Large Human TrialVery Rigorous JournalEffect of baseline anxious depression on initial and sustained antidepressant response to ketamine.
Patients with anxious depression showed better response to ketamine than those with nonanxious depression, with longer relapse times and no significant side effects.
Non-RCTHighly Cited