About Anxiety and Insomnia
Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal reaction to every day pressure; it helps one deal with a stressed situation. In general, it makes one can survive. But when anxiety becomes an excessive alarm of everyday situations, it has become a health problem. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by exaggerated worry and tension not focused on any particular object or situation. Obsessive-compulsive disorder means recurrent, unwanted thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors. Panic disorder occurs when unexpected and a repeated episode of intense fear appear accompanied by chest pain, heart palpitations, and so on, arises abruptly and peaks in 10 minutes or less, and can occasionally last hours. Agoraphobia is the anxiety about being in a place or situation where escape is difficult or embarrassing. Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop after a person is exposure to a terrifying event occurred or was threatened. Social phobia disorder can be fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others or just being with any one else.
Treatment
In the case of Generalized anxiety disorder the medicines most often used are from a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. These medications are sometimes referred to as "tranquilizers," because they leave you feeling calm and relaxed. They work by decreasing the physical symptoms of GAD, such as muscle tension and restlessness. Common benzodiazepines include Xanax (Alprazolam), Librium, Valium (Diazepam) and Ativan (Lorazepam). Another medicine, BuSpar, also may be used to treat chronic anxiety. BuSpar works by affecting the activity of certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin. Unlike the benzodiazepines, BuSpar does not cause sedation (sleepiness) or lead to dependency.
Xanax
XANAXis in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Approved by the FDA in 1981, is concerned with the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder with or without agoraphobia. Recently, a new, once daily formulation of XANAX XR® (alprazolam extended-release tablets) is indicated for the treatment of Panic Disorder. It should not be used if you have a condition called acute narrow angle glaucoma. It can be used if you have open angle glaucoma. Side effects, if they occur, are generally observed at the beginning of therapy and usually disappear upon continued use. The most commonly reported side effects in clinical trials were drowsiness, fatigue, impaired coordination, irritability, light-headedness, memory impairment, insomnia, and headache. It is not recommended for use in pregnancy. Until you experience how the medication affects you, do not drive a car or operate hazardous machinery. Do not increase the dose even if you think the medication isn't working, without consulting your physician. Benzodiazepines, even when used as recommended, may produce emotional and/physical dependence. Do not stop taking this medication abruptly or decrease the dose without consulting your physician, since discontinuation symptoms may occur. At doses greater than 4 mg per day, it has the potential to cause severe emotional and physical dependence in some patients and these individuals may find it exceedingly difficult to terminate treatment. It is important that your physician help you discontinue this medication in a careful and safe manner to avoid overly extended use of it.
Librium®
Also a benzodiazepine in its formulation, Librium is used in the treatment of anxiety disorders and for short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety and anxiety and apprehension before surgery. Librium, the original chlordiazepoxide HCl and prototype for the benzodiazepine compounds, was synthesized and developed at Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. It is a versatile therapeutic agent of proven value for the relief of anxiety. Generally milder withdrawal symptoms (eg, dysphoria and insomnia) have been reported following abrupt discontinuance of benzodiazepines taken continuously at therapeutic levels for several months. Consequently, after extended therapy, abrupt discontinuation should generally be avoided and a gradual dosage tapering schedule followed.
Valium®
Valium (diazepam) is a benzodiazepine derivative. Valium is available for oral administration as tablets containing 2 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg diazepam. Valium is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. Side effects most commonly reported were drowsiness, fatigue and ataxia. Patients receiving Valium should be cautioned against engaging in hazardous occupations requiring complete mental alertness such as operating machinery or driving a car.
Ativan®
Ativan has an active ingredient called Lorazepam wich belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines which act on the central nervous system to produce a calming effect. This medication may cause dependence, especially if it has been used regularly for an extended time (more than 1-4 weeks). Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well. Do not increase your dose without first talking to your doctor.
BuSpar®
Generic Name buspirone. Buspirone is available with a prescription under the brand name BuSpar. Other brand or generic forms may also be available. BuSpar is used to treat symptoms of anxiety, such as fear, tension, irritability, dizziness, pounding heartbeat, and other physical symptoms. Do not take this medication for longer than 4 weeks without your doctor’s advice. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. Do not this medication if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take BuSpar before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder. Finding the underlying cause of insomnia is usually necessary to cure it. The most commonly used class of hypnotics prescribed for insomnia are the benzodiazepines. The anti-insomnia drug zolpidem (Ambien), is a classified as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. CNS depressants are medicines that slow the nervous system. Physicians also prescribe medicines in the benzodiazepine family, such as flurazepam (Dalmane), quazepam (Doral), triazolam (Halcion), estazolam (ProSom), and temazepam (Restoril), for insomnia. Benzodiazepine drugs are described in the essay on antianxiety drugs. Zaleplon (Sonata) is another anti-insomnia drug that is not related to other drugs with the same effect. The barbiturates, such as pentobarbital (Nembutal) and secobarbital (Seconal) are no longer commonly used to treat insomnia because they are too dangerous if they are taken in overdoses. For patients with mild insomnia, some antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or hydroxyzine (Atarax) may be used, since these also cause sleepiness. |
