Most people have experienced anxiety at one time or another in their lifetime. Other people have been diagnosed with anxiety disorders, which is an ongoing mental health condition. Anxiety can be managed with multiple approaches, like talk therapy, lifestyle changes, and medication management. Clear Behavioral Health has a comprehensive approach to anxiety treatment, which combines different approaches for mental health treatment.
What are Anti-Anxiety Medications?
Anti-anxiety medications consist of a wide range of prescription drugs that can be used to alleviate anxiety symptoms. The most common anxiety medications tend to be selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work by increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain, blocking nerve cells from reabsorbing the serotonin.
There are also serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which increase the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. These medications are also sometimes prescribed off-label for related conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), where anxiety symptoms are a central component.
Related: A Different Kind of Anti-Anxiety “Medication”
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Types of Anti-Anxiety Medications
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): SSRIs can improve the availability of serotonin levels in your brain. Common SSRIs include Lexapro, Prozac, Luvox, and Zoloft.
- Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI): Medications such as Venlafaxine, Duloxetine, and Milnacipran increase norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain, which means they can tackle symptoms more effectively than SSRIs.
- Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI): This medication includes Wellbutrin and Ritalin and increases norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain [1].
- Benzodiazepines: This type of medication includes Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium and provides fast, short-term relief for anxiety. They are commonly prescribed for severe anxiety and panic disorders when appropriate. However, they carry a risk of dependence, tolerance, and potentially severe benzo withdrawal symptoms if misused or used long-term.
- Beta-blockers: Tenormin, Cardicor, and Trandate are prescribed when you experience a lot of physical reactions to anxiety; these medications can help block adrenaline while slowing down your heart rate and lowering your blood pressure.
Wellbutrin for Anxiety: An Off-Label Treatment Option
How Effective Is Wellbutrin for Anxiety?
Wellbutrin (bupropion) is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) [2]. It is an antidepressant medication primarily used for treating depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and smoking cessation that can be prescribed off-label for anxiety.
This medication affects the levels of certain natural substances in the brain, like dopamine and norepinephrine. The response can change from person to person based on anxiety severity and medication response.
Who Might Benefit from Wellbutrin and Things to Consider
If you struggle with both depression and anxiety, Wellbutrin can be beneficial for you. Wellbutrin is also commonly used for mood disorders beyond anxiety and depression, making it a useful option if you have overlapping symptoms.
Reaction to medication does vary; some reactions may be SSRI non-responders, which means the medication may not lead to any positive changes. This can happen in up to 30% of prescribed cases [3]. Suppose you don’t respond well to SSRI treatment and other medications, or are experiencing adverse side effects from SSRIs like weight gain and sexual dysfunction. In that case, your healthcare provider might recommend trying a different medication like Wellbutrin.
Some common side effects of Wellbutrin are dry mouth, insomnia, and headache. When involving any medication in your treatment plan, it’s important to always check in with your doctor on your symptoms and progression.
What is the Most Recommended Drug for Anxiety?
SSRIs tend to be the first prescribed approach when it comes to treating generalized anxiety disorder. Sertraline (Zoloft) and escitalopram (Lexapro) are among the most frequently prescribed antidepressants for anxiety treatment.
Which medication is prescribed tends to depend on the type of anxiety disorder, medical history, and patient preferences. For example, different types of anxiety, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder, may respond better to different medications.
Medication management tends to require communication between you and your doctor, so dosage or medication changes can be made when needed and appropriate.
Personalized Treatment Approach
There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all medication approach, especially since everyone’s biochemistry is so different. Personalizing treatment can contribute to better symptom management outcomes. Clear Behavioral Health provides the full continuum of care by partnering with our sister company, Neuro Wellness Spa, for outpatient psychiatric and medication management services.
Is There Medication to Stop Overthinking?
When you overthink, it means you ruminate on persistent negative thoughts and emotions. Taking SSRIs or SNRIs can help lessen rumination on these negative thoughts, emotions, and experiences. When you combine medication with talk therapy and mindfulness interventions, the comprehensive approach offers positive recovery outcomes.
Finding the Best Psychiatrist Near Me for Anxiety and Depression
Looking for psychiatrists can be difficult, so knowing what to look for can make it less daunting. A psychiatrist should be board-certified; they should have a specialization in certain mental health disorders, and in this case, be qualified to treat anxiety. It’s also important that a psychiatrist has a collaborative approach since working with you on your treatment plan creates a safe and communicative environment. When a psychiatrist has experience working with co-occurring conditions, this provides a better scope of support for diagnosis and treatment.
Neuro Wellness Spa Partnership
Clear Behavioral Health has a partnership with Neuro Wellness Spa, a mental health clinic based out of Los Angeles, CA, that provides in-person and online psychiatry for medication management, individual therapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy. For many, it could be getting diagnosed while working through some issues with talk therapy. Additionally, if medication either doesn’t seem to be working or isn’t working as well as you hoped, you can consider TMS therapy.
TMS for Anxiety: Advanced Treatment Options
TMS is a groundbreaking treatment originally FDA-approved to treat major depressive disorder that sends pulses to underactive parts of the brain. This is a non-invasive, non-sedating treatment that can also help alleviate symptoms of anxiety. Sessions normally last 20 minutes and can include anywhere from 10 – 20 TMS appointments. TMS can be done at Neuro Wellness Spa, where Clear Behavioral Health can refer you for the treatment. These two sister companies work together for the most comprehensive support available.
When TMS Is Recommended
TMS tends to be a great option if medication is giving you unwanted side effects, but medication management can be used in tandem with TMS if preferred. People who have treatment-resistant cases, medication intolerances, or co-occurring mental health conditions are great candidates for TMS.
Teen Anxiety and Medication Considerations
When going through teen anxiety treatment and deciding on medications for adolescents, family involvement is important. Not only because it’s necessary, but so the parents can learn more about anxiety, the medications recommended, and learn how it can affect their teens. Some medications can have concerns or FDA warnings when teens are taking them, which is important to consider. Clear Behavioral Health has specialized teen programs with therapy integration and professionals who can inform parents as well as teens at every step. Medication management can be done through a partnership with Neuro Wellness Spa.
Related: Overthinking to Overcoming: How Teen Anxiety Treatment Helps You Thrive
Clear Behavioral Health’s Comprehensive Anxiety Treatment Programs
At Clear Behavioral Health, we have various anxiety treatment options available, so that you can find an option that works best for your needs. Our centers are located within the Los Angeles, CA area, and coverage depends on your insurance. We partner with various health insurance companies to provide accessible care that could be completely or mostly covered. We also offer payment plans to ensure our services are affordable, whether you’re in-network with us or not.
- Inpatient mental health treatment: Our inpatient programs offer 24/7 supervision in a structured program. We have mental health professionals who can assist with crisis stabilization, along with various therapeutic techniques.
- Outpatient mental health treatment: Our outpatient program is a great option if you need flexibility when seeking treatment. You can live at home while still attending the program. You’ll receive individual and group therapy along with medication coordination.
- Virtual IOP: Our virtual IOP creates online accessibility for people who may not be close to a center. It’s also beneficial for people who may have physical accessibility issues in person or lack transit. Virtual IOP is available to anyone who lives in California.
Contact our experts today to learn more about anxiety treatment programs in the Los Angeles, California area.
Explore Your Anxiety Treatment Options Today
When battling with a mental health condition like anxiety, finding effective solutions can seem overwhelming. Luckily, there are mental health professionals who can guide you through various treatments to see what works best for you.
The combination of medication and therapy approaches is what can lead to better management of your anxiety symptoms. Clear Behavioral Health’s comprehensive treatment options give you all the aspects needed, like medication management, therapeutic techniques, and even holistic modalities. We aim to help you manage your anxiety and learn to take your life back.
If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety, contact Clear Behavioral Health today to learn more about our anxiety treatment programs in the Los Angeles, CA area, including our convenient location in El Monte. Don’t wait to experience anxiety relief; call us today to get started.
References:
- Professional, C. C. M. (2024c, December 4). Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/ndri
- Lambert, O., & Bourin, M. (2002). SNRIs: mechanism of action and clinical features. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 2(6), 849–858. https://doi.org/10.1586/14737175.2.6.849
- Al-Harbi, N. (2012). Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions. Patient Preference and Adherence, 369. https://doi.org/10.2147/ppa.s29716
