Imagine having to hold onto a wall because your heart begins beating fast, the room starts to spin, you start to sweat and become short of breath in a matter of seconds. These symptoms are typical for people who experience panic attacks or anxiety. Anyone who has ever had a problem with anxiety knows how debilitating a condition it can be and how it can affect daily activities at a moments notice. Anxiety accounts for over 70% of emergency room visits for what individuals believe is chest pain.
Thankfully there are medications out there that can be taken to help decrease and even sometimes stop symptoms of anxiety. These drugs range from fast acting benzodiazepines such as Valium that work within minutes but wear off quickly to longer acting serotonin and nor-epinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as Effexor XR. These medications as well as other anti-anxiety agents have had a profound impact on a lot of people who suffer from panic attacks or general anxiety disorder. Most anti-anxiety long acting medications must be taken for at least two weeks prior to begin feeling improvement. But, like with any medication, there are some common side effects that you should be aware of.
Anxiety Side Effects
Anxiety Medication Side Effects May Include:
1/ impaired memory, coordination or attention – you may notice more difficulty with focusing on tasks at hand.
2/ dysarthria – speech disorder
3/ ataxia – shaky and unsteady movement
4/ arthralgia – pain in the joints
5/ dyspnea – difficulty breathing
6/ increased salivation – you may notice an increase in saliva production in the mouth
7/ decreased libido – decrease sexual desire
8/ sexual dysfunction – decreased ability to perform sexually
9/ tremors – slight, sometimes almost imperceptible shake of extremity.
10/ headache
11/ dizziness – possible side effect when taking anti-anxiety medication includes the room spinning around
12/ gastrointestinal upset – stomach upset may include nausea. Diarrhea or constipation can also occur
When taking any medication you have to weigh the risks of taking the medication versus the benefits of taking the medication. Dose changes must be done in collaboration with a physician and often take place over a long period of time to minimize any potential side effects that you might have.
Some of the side effects may disappear after being on the medication for a few weeks. Particularly with teen anxiety, you should contact your physician or prescribing medical professional if you notice that you have any new symptoms after being prescribed an anxiolytic.
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