Anxiety Attacks Medications—An Overview Of Beta Blockers
Medications are considered to be the best treatment for anxiety attacks. Most doctors worldwide recommend anxiety attacks medications for the treatment of this direful mental condition. Before you start with the medications for anxiety attacks, you need to understand a universal truth that anxiety attacks medications do not cure you of the anxiety attacks—they merely reduce the symptoms of the anxiety attacks and help you lead a normal life.
For a person suffering from anxiety attacks, the suppression of the symptoms brings a lot of relief and comfort. Most medications for anxiety attacks are either prescribed by the medical professionals or are bought over the counter. In this fast-paced life most people don’t have the time to go to the doctors and spend hours for the treatment of anxiety attacks. Such people often resort to buying the over-the-counter medications from the chemist. Most of the people who opt for over-the-counter anxiety attacks medications, get information about the medication from the following sources:
o Advertisements
o Websites
o References from friends, family members or colleagues
o Chemists
Most over-the-counter anxiety attacks medications are safe when they are taken in the correct quantity. If you exceed the frequency of the dosages you may have to deal with side effects or other allergic reactions in the body. In addition, if you continue with the over-the-counter anxiety attacks medications for a very long time, then you may get addicted to them. If you are facing severe side effects from the over-the-counter anxiety attacks medications, you must visit you doctor immediately.
One of the most common classes of anxiety attacks medications is the Beta blockers. This class of medication tries to suppress the symptoms of anxiety attacks. Use of beta blockers is one of the most preferred medications for the treatment of anxiety attacks. When you go to a doctor for the treatment of anxiety attacks, the doctor will first ask you about the symptoms. If you mention that you have shaking, rapid heartbeat, blushing, and trembling, then there are more chances that the doctor will prescribe beta blockers.
Beta blockers are also prescribed when you have social anxiety. One of the most common beta blockers that are available in the market on prescription is Propranolol (Inderal). One of the major advantages of this anxiety attacks medications is that it is not habit forming and often recommended for longer durations in a controlled manner. For the correct dosages, you need to take the consent of your doctor or physician.
Propranolol (Inderal) is often recommended only after few tests such as the blood pressure checks, blood tests and pulse checks. This anxiety attacks medication is always taken on an empty stomach and often one hour before your meals. In most cases, the patients get relief within the first week of the consumption of the medication. Many a times it is seen that once the patients get relief, they discontinue the medication, and then after a few days, the symptoms come back to haunt them. So, don’t stop taking the medications without the consultation of your doctor.
If you have taken an overdose of Propranolol (Inderal), then you may experience changes in the heartbeat, confusion, sleepiness, loss of consciousness, discoloration of palms or fingernails, difficulty in breathing or seizures. Most of these side effects are temporary and will go off on their own. However, you may need to call the doctor or emergency services if the side effects are getting intolerable.
Propranolol (Inderal) should be kept away from the reach of small children. If small children consume this anxiety attacks medication then you may have to rush your child to the nearest doctor and explain the situation to the doctor. If you are pregnant or if you are a lactating mother, then this drug is a big no.
Treatment for anxiety attacks can vary depending upon the severity of the mental condition. If beta blockers are not working for you, your doctor may try other class of medications. Some medications may show good effects on some patients, whereas the same medication may be totally ineffective on few. So, please be patient with the doctors as it may take months to understand which anxiety attacks medications are the best for you and your body. Doctors are your best guide for the treatment for anxiety attacks.
Filed under Anxiety Attack, Treatments by beth




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