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Mildest anxiety medicine


What is the Best Anti-Anxiety Medication?

Those who live with anxiety every day know how important it is to get relief. Anxiety disorder is a life-altering condition, and one that makes everything you do a significantly less enjoyable. It is a condition that you need to treat.

There are many different types of anxiety treatments from therapy to relaxation exercises to herbal supplements, and more. Some people need the pharmacological treatment, which begs the question: what is the best anti-anxiety medication?

Different Medications for Different Anxiety Disorders

One of the issues that comes from recommending a medication is that doctors have found that each medicine works differently on each individual. It starts with determining the disorder you suffer from. What works for generalized anxiety disorder may not work for panic disorder, and what works for panic disorder may not work for obsessive compulsive disorder, and so on.

No one can truly recommend a medication without knowing your own personal history, and you must never take a medication that affects your mental health without a doctor's supervision.

The Problem With Relying on Medicine

Medications should always be your last resort when it comes to treating your anxiety. The reason is not just because anxiety medications (known as anxiolytics) have side effects - although that is a problem with every mental health medication - but because medications prevent you from learning to cope without them.

That's the greatest issue with medication. All anxiety medications dull anxiety without teaching you how to control it. Anxiety isn't like getting an infection. You cannot simply take an antibiotic and have your anxiety go away. Those who rely too much on medication often find that they don't use or learn the skills necessary to cope with anxiety.

As soon as your stop taking any medicine your anxiety will most likely come back. And if you haven't learned any new coping skills, it may even be worse than before.

Safety and Other Considerations

It's also important to realize that the long term use of a mental health medication is going to have an effect on your wellbeing. Some cause digestion issues. Others cause extreme fatigue. These side effects can have a disruptive effect on your life.

Similarly, some anti-anxiety medications cause dependency with severe withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it or miss too many doses. Some medications may also lose their effectiveness over time (while still causing withdrawal symptoms). Keep this in mind and discuss with your doctor when you are choosing the right medication for you.

The Best Anti-Anxiety Medicine (Best Anxiolytic)

Since there is no such thing as a "best" anxiety medication. It is imperative to work with your doctor on choosing the one that can work best for you. The best for you may not be the best for someone else.

The best anxiety medication is often the one that is the weakest. An anti-anxiety medicine with a milder effect is Buspirone (Buspar). Buspar is good for mild anxiety but doesn't appear to have an effect on panic attacks. Many users also report very little improvement in their anxiety symptoms, but it has the following benefits:

  • Buspar has fewer side effects as compared to other anxiolytics, such as benzodiazepines.
  • Buspar is only an anxiolytic. Almost every other drug on the market for anxiety has other purposes as well - some are antidepressants, some are anticonvulsants or muscle relaxants. Buspar's only effect is its ability to control anxiety, which is all most people want.
  • Buspar has no withdrawal symptoms and will not cause dependency. That will make it easier for you to stop taking buspirone in the event that you find a solution to control your anxiety.

While many other anti-anxiety drugs are more powerful, they are also more likely to fail at one of the above benefits. That's why even though buspirone tends to be the weakest, it is also a smart choice for your first anti-anxiety medication.

Alternative Treatments to Anxiety Drugs

As mentioned, however, no anxiety drug works perfectly. The truth is that all anxiety medications can cause harm, and none of them help you stop anxiety permanently. You always need to consider an alternative treatment first (ideally before you use a medication at all) and absolutely need to make sure that you partner any anxiety medication with a long-term solution.

Alternative treatments include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Therapy is a completely safe and long-term treatment for anxiety, and can provide assistance for every type of anxiety disorder. Remember, not all medications work for all anxiety, but CBT techniques have been developed to permanently reduce any and all anxiety disorders and symptoms.
  • Herbal Supplements Herbal supplements are another alternative to anxiety medications. They generally tend to be safe, have no withdrawal symptoms, and can be used as needed. But it must be noted that the most powerful herbal supplements can still have side effects or drug interactions, so before you take herbal supplements (especially kava, which is the most powerful) you should still talk to your doctor.
  • Exercise Exercise is a very real, very effective solution for anxiety, and should be one of the first you try. Studies have shown that exercise can be as powerful or more powerful than some anxiety medications, and of course exercise is healthier for you than any other option available.

If you truly want to find relief from anxiety without medication - or even with medication - you need to base your treatment off of your symptoms.

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What Is The “Safest” Drug for Anxiety?

When it comes to treating anxiety, medications are popular with both doctors and patients. They work quickly and provide clear, medically reliable benefits. Some medications have side effects, some are expensive, and some are not meant for regular use, but medicine itself represents something that many people prefer: an immediate, rapid way to fight anxiety.

The problem is that some anti-anxiety medications are notorious for side effects, and while there may be some that are well tolerated, everyone may react to them differently. Below, we'll review the risks of choosing antidepressants and other anxiety medicines and then explain which medications are likely the "safest," depending on your perspective.

Safest Medications For Anxiety

The first thing to realize is that different anxiety disorders require different types of medications. So even if there is a "safest" anxiety medicine, the problem is that your own anxiety may not be helped by that specific medication. Furthermore, different levels of anxiety may require different types of medications.

It's important to remember that all medicines have a risk for side effects, especially medications that affect brain chemistry. In addition, everyone has different needs, different brains, and even different chemical imbalances that may lead to anxiety. That's why you should never take any medicine without your doctor's approval and supervision.

Finally, anxiety medications are not a cure. It is helpful to consider non-medicine treatments, like therapy and self-help, so that eventually you can wean off the medication.

What is a "Safe" Anxiety Medicine?

It's also difficult to discuss the safety of antidepressants for anxiety and other anxiety medicines because the word "safe" means different things to different people. The good thing about most anxiety medications is that none of them appear to have fatal side effects. All medications can have some exceedingly rare side effects that may not be known and allergies to medications can be very dangerous, but antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and others are highly unlikely to cause any severe or possibly fatal side effects. You can talk to your pharmacist if you're worried.

But anxiety medicines can cause two distinct types of side effects:

  • Physical
  • Psychological

Physical side effects are those that cause some discomforts that affect the body, rather than the mind. For example, a class of drugs known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs - a type of antidepressant) may cause:

  • Nausea
  • Sweating
  • Diarrhea/Constipation
  • Headaches
  • Dry Mouth
  • Weight Gain
  • Cloudy Thinking
  • Digestion Issues

These side effects may be disruptive enough to affect your well-being. Benzodiazepines may also cause digestion issues and nausea, and have other side effects that include:

  • Hypotension (low blood pressure)
  • Blurred Vision
  • Severe Fatigue/Impaired Driving Skills
  • Lack of Coordination
  • Seizures

In some cases, the side effects can be severe enough that the person needs to stop taking the medication right away. They also may cause dependency and withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the medications, and in some cases, they may lose their effects over time as a result of tolerance.

Even though physical side effects appear to be common with anxiety medications, they may not be the most distressing. Some people find that the psychological side effects that cause them the most stressful issues. Unfortunately, it's impossible to know how the drugs will affect you unless you take them. Common side effects of these types of psychoactive medications include:

  • Paradoxical Effects In some cases, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can actually increase the symptoms of your anxiety disorder. It's unclear why, or who this effects, but many people find that their anxiety and depression increases while taking the drugs.
  • Personality Changes Many of these drugs can also lead to personality changes. In some cases, they may be emotional, like increased agitation. In others, it may simply be a change in how you act around others and what you enjoy.
  • Sexual Side Effects Many benzodiazepines and antidepressants cause a loss of libido. That loss of sex drive may lead to decreased energy for intercourse, the inability to get aroused, or problems with performance or perceived performance.
  • Cognitive Issues Because these drugs affect your brain chemistry, they may alter the way your mind works. You may have trouble remembering things, trouble concentrating, or trouble thinking quickly. It should be noted that that is not always a side effect. Sometimes the purpose of the drop is to clog anxious thinking. Benzodiazepines are designed to cause physical and mental fatigue so that you cannot feel as anxious. In others, they may be an unwanted side effect.
  • "Brain Zaps" and Other Issues Finally, some anxiety medications may cause you to feel symptoms that can best be described as unusual. For example, some cause what's known as "brain zaps" which make you feel like your mind is getting a jolt of electricity. Others may lead to your eyes feeling "nervy" or your movements feeling unusual. These symptoms are usually temporary and rarely dangerous, but they can make it harder to take these medications.

For some, physical side effects and fatality risk are the true sign of a drug's "safety." For others, it may be the way it affects you psychologically. What you’re willing to “risk” for a treatment makes a difference with how safe you find the treatment.

As we mentioned, because each person reacts differently to medications and has different views on what is considered a safe medicine, there is no truly “safe” option that can be considered safe for all people. There are many, however, that are quite well tolerated. Many popular anxiety medications are able to be taken without side effects (or with insignificant side effects) depending on how your body adjusts to it. As of this writing, some of the anxiety medications with the fewest reported side effects and least risk of side effects include:

  • Most Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium)
  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
  • Citalopram (Celexa - SSRI)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil - SSRI)

It is critical that this list comes with a caveat: the difference in side effect risk between these and other anti-anxiety medications is minimal for many of them, and each person both tolerates these medications differently and may require a different medication depending on the type of anxiety. Thus, the safest drug for you may not be any of the ones above.

However, since that answer is unlikely to please anyone, the safest anti-anxiety option is likely something weaker, like Buspirone (also known as Buspar). This type of medicine does cause brain zaps and some of the unusual "nervy" sensations but isn't likely to cause more severe anxiety or as much fatigue. Buspirone is was at one time considered as a possible over-the-counter anxiety medication but as of this writing still requires a prescription.

The problem with Buspar is that it tends to be too weak for many of those with anxiety and isn't considered helpful for panic disorder or depression. It's considered a mild generalized anxiety drug and may not be the right option for you.

Cure Anxiety - Don't Just Numb It

Medications are a great way to get some immediate relief for your anxiety. But it helps to remember that relying on medication alone can be problematic, simply because most of those with anxiety would like to eventually stop taking medications.

Doctors and psychologists all agree that medications alone simply aren't enough, and while they may be useful for temporary relief, they're not something that should be depended on for the rest of your life. For that, you need to make sure you commit to long-term, effective strategies for controlling anxiety.

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Sources:
  1. Goldberg, Harold L., and Richard J. Finnerty. The comparative efficacy of buspirone and diazepam in the treatment of anxiety. The American journal of psychiatry (1979).
  2. Julien, Robert M. A Primer of Drug Action: A Concise Nontechnical Guide to the Actions, Uses, and Side Effects of Psychoactive Drugs, Revised and Updated. Holt Paperbacks, 2001.
  3. American Family Physician. Addiction: Part I. Benzodiazepines side effects, abuse risk and alternatives. Am Fam Physician 61.7 (2000): 2121-2128.

top-5 rating according to KP

Everyone knows the phrase “all diseases are from nerves”. Indeed, prolonged stress undermines our health, reduces immunity. As a result of constant failures, diseases to which a tendency has been observed develop. For example, if you have relatives with hypertension, you have a high risk of developing the disease after prolonged stressful conditions.

Short-term stress and emotional outbursts usually do no harm. Much more dangerous is the sluggish nervous tension that often occurs among residents of megacities. Lack of sleep, city noise, worries at work lead to prolonged, but unnoticed depression, fatigue, mood and sleep disorders. This can drag on for years, until the person "breaks loose", falling into a panic or aggressive state.

Many people unknowingly develop bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol to relieve stress. Toxic substances exacerbate the situation.

You can keep your nervous system healthy in other ways. Go in for sports, walk in the fresh air, consult a psychotherapist, take supportive drugs. Light drugs are not addictive and act on the brain quite gently. Therefore, you can buy the best pills for stress and nerves without prescriptions.

Top 5 rating according to KP version

1. Lotosonic

Lotosonic

Combined herbal medicine. It has anxiolytic and anti-stress activity. It is produced in Vietnam, so its recipe contains components that are widely used in traditional oriental medicine. It consists of extracts of seeds and embryos of the walnut lotus, seeds of thuja orientalis and Chinese dates, rhizomes of Dioscorea, mulberry leaves and erythrina, as well as the fruits of euphoria longana.

Components of Lotusonic reduce irritation and tension, which are manifested in mental fatigue and neurasthenia. When taking other sedative, hypnotic drugs, as well as antihypertensive and analgesics, the dosage should be adjusted, since the drug enhances their effect. The effect of Lotusonic is cumulative, as with most herbal preparations.

natural herbal composition based on recipes of traditional oriental medicine; indicated for increased excitability, irritability, fatigue; additionally, with insomnia, it helps to restore normal sleep; not addictive; low price.

not allowed under 18; can not be pregnant and lactating; allergic reactions are possible; during the period of treatment should refrain from driving.

Lotusonic

Helps fight stress manifestations

Combination medicine Lotusonic has anti-stress activity and helps to cope with irritation and tension. It contains herbal ingredients used in traditional oriental medicine*

Get priceView ingredients

* THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATIONS. CONSULT WITH A SPECIALIST

Advertisement. DOMINANTA-SERVICE JSC. Photo: market.yandex.ru

This drug is usually prescribed as an additional support for the brain with constant overstrain: stressful work, difficult studies. Tablets regulate metabolism and improve the processes of inhibition in the central nervous system. This reduces tension and aggression.

Also, the drug reduces the consequences after brain injuries, after alcohol or drug poisoning.

improves mental performance; improves sleep; no side effects; possible during pregnancy and children; low price

cumulative effect, not effective immediately

3.

Novo-Passit solution Novo-Passit. Photo: TEVA

Herbal preparation, consists of a complex of valerian, hops, lemon balm and others. The herbal complex has a calming effect, effective not only with anxiety, but also with more severe disorders. For example, with itching, migraines, intestinal diseases, bouts of neurasthenia, which are caused by psychological stress.

The product contains ethanol - alcohol, which should be taken into account. During pregnancy, the drug is not recommended to be taken, but according to certain indications, they are at risk. For convenience, there is also a form of tablets, but the solution is absorbed and acts faster.

natural composition; fights many nervous diseases; improves sleep; palatable

possible side effects; recommended to stop driving; not allowed under 12 years of age; not for breastfeeding mothers; inconvenient form of reception; not compatible with certain medications; high price

4. Afobazole

Afobazole tab. Photo: market.yandex.ru

This drug is one of the most “strong” in our ranking of the best pills for stress and nerves, it belongs to tranquilizers and antidepressants. It is used for anxiety, anxiety attacks, sleep disorders. It also facilitates the course of many diseases: asthma, hypertension, arrhythmias.

The drug is especially indicated for vulnerable, suspicious people, prone to tearfulness or irritability. Taking pills makes it easier to endure premenstrual syndrome, as well as the "withdrawal syndrome" with a sharp rejection of bad habits, smoking and alcohol.

protects nerve cells; eliminates anxiety; relieves depression; fights many nervous diseases; does not cause lethargy and addiction; practically no side effects.

not allowed under 18; not during pregnancy and lactation; cumulative effect, does not appear immediately; high price.

5. Motherwort forte

Motherwort forte tab. Photo: market.yandex.ru

In fact, it is not a medicine, but a dietary supplement, a source of vitamins, magnesium and flavones. Their accumulation has a very mild calming effect and is suitable for minor anxiety as an additional support for the body. With severe stress and its physical manifestations, the drug may not work immediately. Sometimes you have to take pills for more than a week before the effect appears.

natural composition; reduces the level of anxiety; no side effects; does not cause addiction and drowsiness; low price.

cumulative effect; not allowed under 18 years of age; not allowed during pregnancy and lactation.

How to choose pills for stress and nerves

You should not prescribe even light sedatives on your own. Most likely, they will not cause direct harm, but they can “blur” the picture of the course of a nervous disease. You may actually need a different type of medication and psychotherapy sessions. Therefore, it is better to consult a neurologist or a psychotherapist.

“The drug should be chosen according to the problems. If you experience "bodily anxiety" - a feeling of tingling in the body, a coma in the throat, a feeling of lack of air, pressing pains and tightness behind the sternum, it is better to choose drugs with the properties of a vegetative stabilizer. They stabilize that part of the nervous system that is responsible for the activity of organs and blood vessels. Disorder in the work of the autonomic nervous system due to stress can cause discomfort in the body,” says neurologist Irina Ignatova .

Additionally, you can take various nootropics - drugs that stimulate the brain. This will help him cope with complex mental work and recover faster.

For mental anxiety, obsessions, difficulty falling asleep, sedatives are suitable: homeopathic remedies or plant-based sedatives. They suppress the excessive activity of the central nervous system and soothe.

Fighting depression: 10 modern drugs

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Fighting depression: 10 modern drugs

Depression is an urgent problem, the number of visits to doctors is growing every year. It can be solved by contacting a psychotherapist and taking antidepressants . These are drugs that regulate the production of hormones and biochemical processes in the body. It is strictly forbidden to prescribe them to oneself, as these are complex drugs with certain restrictions, side effects effects . The doctor must authorize their appointment and control the intake. We will tell you which of them are the most effective and common in medicine, how many they have pluses and minuses.

What is meant by

depression

Doctors have known it since ancient Greece and Egypt. Hippocrates described it as melancholy - a condition that is accompanied by anxiety, despondency, insomnia, refusal of food, irritability. Most often, the cause is childhood trauma or severe, frequent stress in adulthood. There are many provoking factors: the death of a loved one, deterioration of living conditions, alcoholism, brain diseases. Such cases are referred to as psychogenic depression.

The second type is endogenous. The problem appears not from large external shocks, but because of internal causes. A person is constantly dissatisfied with himself, subjecting himself to criticism. Many patients have panic attacks , haunted by a feeling of fear, anxiety.

How long the period of depression lasts

Many people mistake ordinary periods of low mood for depression. If they do not last long and are quickly replaced by periods of recovery, then we are not talking about a depressive state. The problem is obvious when the symptoms persist for months and dramatically change a person's life. Then you need to see a doctor.

What happens to the body

The most common theory is that there is a malfunction of neurotransmitters located in the brain. These substances transmit signals from neuron to neuron and are responsible for a person's mood. Dysfunction leads to a slowdown in the rate of this transmission and a decrease in the number of neurotransmitters themselves. Serotonin, which is called the "hormone of happiness", suffers the most. For clarity, this biochemical process can be compared, for example, with a drop in blood sugar levels in diabetes mellitus.

How is

treated depression

Depression has been treated in different ways. In the ancient world - emetics and laxatives. In the Renaissance - wine and sunbathing. In the Age of Enlightenment - external stimuli, for example, insects. The 19th century brought new recipes - in particular, a solution of camphor in tartaric acid. The treatment also included the use of drugs, which are now no longer allowed for sale, and some are recognized as narcotic.

Obviously, all these drugs had no effect on increasing the amount of serotonin. And the treatment is precisely to normalize its production. This was done after creating modern antidepressants , which have a minimum of side effects, are safe for the body and are not addictive. These are drugs, whose action is aimed precisely at balancing the disturbed balance of neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine.

Prescription

If a healthy person takes antidepressants , there will be no effect . For a depressed patient, taking them will help:

  • improve psychological state;
  • get rid of irritability;
  • panic fear;
  • increase mental and physical activity;
  • overcome a dreary mood.

Psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants for chronic back pain, headaches. And also with irritable bowel syndrome, incontinence and other cases when the body stops producing its own painkillers. Medication helps restore pain suppression mechanisms.

You can only take these drugs with a doctor's prescription, as many of them are strong stimulants. Self-administration may cost dearly - the condition may worsen. Only a doctor will correctly calculate how many medicines to take per day. In parallel with the treatment by a psychiatrist, a neurologist, a consultation of a psychotherapist is required.

Precautions

  • Prescribed drug start drinking from a small dose - the first couple of days they take a quarter of a tablet. Gradually increase the dose to normal. So the body adapts better. Finish the course by reducing the dose.
  • The first effect of appears only 2 weeks after the start of administration. Sustained action - after six months. All this time, you need to take the remedy, without making passes, breaks.

  • Products are not combined with melatonin, St. John's wort, products and dietary supplements based on sibutramine, 5-HTP. Their combination can raise serotonin to dangerous levels. Also, you can not combine them with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, for example, Cipralex. When writing a prescription, the doctor takes these points into account.

  • Drinking antidepressants is better in parallel with visits to a psychotherapist. If the drugs normalize the biochemical processes in the body, then this doctor will help normalize the psychological state after depression.

The best antidepressants

In medicine, they have long argued that some drugs give only a placebo effect. The purpose of the study was to find out which of them are the most effective and valid . The project involved 116 thousand patients, and its results were published by the authoritative edition of the Lancet. We offer a list of the best.

1. Agomelatine

New generation drug. Agomelatine is used for severe depressive disorders, high levels of anxiety. Enhances the release of dopamine and norepinephrine, stimulates melatonin receptors. The standard therapeutic dose is 25-50 mg 1 time / day. Helps to restore the normal structure of sleep, get rid of anxiety and panic attacks attacks

Pros

+ Does not adversely affect attention and memory.

+ No lethargy during the day.

+ No sexual deviations.

+ No correlation with blood pressure.

+ Do not reduce dosage upon discontinuation.

Cons

— In 1-10% of cases, increased sweating, diarrhea, constipation.

- Possible increased fatigue, drowsiness.

- There are no evidence-based safety studies in people with renal or hepatic insufficiency, therefore, such patients are advised to refrain from taking drugs with active ingredient agomelatine.

2. Amitriptyline

Tricyclic antidepressant. Moreover, the World Health Organization considers Amitriptyline the most reliable in this group. The standard dose is 200-250 mg / day. The action is to block the reuptake of neurotransmitters. A good remedy for moderate to severe disorders of the endogenous type. Additionally, it has a sedative and hypnotic effect. Effective in the treatment of neuropathic pain, for the prevention of migraine.

Pluses

+ Preparations with active ingredient amitriptyline are inexpensive.

+ High reliability, minimum side effects.

+ Relatively safe during breastfeeding.

Cons

— Possible side effect in the form of blurred vision, dry mouth.

- Lowering blood pressure.

- Some patients experience constipation.

- Drowsiness.

3. Escitalopram

Belongs to a group of modern serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Most often, it is recommended to take for anxiety, panic attacks. It is taken once, the standard dose is 10 mg per day. Escitalopram has a milder effect and is prescribed to patients for whom tricyclic drugs are contraindicated.

Pluses

+ A lasting effect occurs after 3 months.

+ Indicated for patients with disorders of the cardiovascular system.

+ Soft action.

Cons

- In some patients, the functions of the gastrointestinal tract are disturbed, which is most often expressed in diarrhea.

— Anxiety may increase in the first 2 weeks, therefore it is recommended to start treatment with low doses and gradually increase them.

- Contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation.

4. Mirtazapine

A drug of the tetracyclic group. Mirtazapine - good stimulant for anxious depressions, has a moderate sedative effect. The average amount is 30 mg / day, it must be consumed once. Usually it is prescribed to patients who lose interest in life, cease to experience joy, pleasure. Effective in the correction of sleep, in particular, early awakenings.

Pros

+ Earlier onset of action than SSRIs (1 week).

+ Combines well with most drugs in the general group.

+ Full effect in 4 weeks.

+ Does not affect sexual function.

Cons

- The active substance mirtazapine is contraindicated in diabetes mellitus, arterial hypotension, increased intraocular pressure.

— During the admission period, you must drive carefully and engage in potentially hazardous types of work.

- 18% of patients experience drowsiness, 15% dry mouth, 5% weight loss. Other side effects occur in 1-3% of cases.

5. Paroxetine

Belongs to the SSRI group, is used most often for severe anxiety, panic, social phobia, nightmares, stress after trauma. Paroxetine can resolve the problems of anxious depression, anxiety-phobic disorders. Take once a day at a dose of 20 mg.

Pros

+ The most powerful stimulant among SSRIs.

+ Anxiety and insomnia pass quickly.

+ Minimal side effects in the form of vomiting, diarrhea.

+ Suitable for patients with cardiovascular problems.

Cons

— Not suitable for patients with severe motor, mental inhibition.

- Reduces libido.

- Harmful to the fetus when taken during pregnancy.

6. Fluoxetine

One of the most widely used antidepressants in the SSRI group. Known as Prozac. Fluoxetine is also known as a good mood stimulant. Patients have a feeling of fear, tension, anxiety, gloomy dislike for others. Depending on the indications, the average daily dose is 20-60 mg.

Pluses

+ There is practically no effect on the work of the heart.

+ Does not cause sedation.

+ Effective for patients with motor retardation and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Cons

- May cause weight loss.

— Hypoglycemia is possible in diabetes mellitus.

- Contraindicated in severe renal impairment.

7. Fluvoxamine

Another SSRI drug. Fluvoxamine is similar to Prozac Fluoxetine but is fast acting and may cost cheaper. The effect is in a more active slowing down of the reuptake of serotonin by neurons. It is indicated for depression of various origins, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorders. The average daily dose is 100 mg.

Pros

+ Lower price than traditional Prozac.

+ Faster action than him.

+ Relatively minor side effects (diarrhea, dry mouth, drowsiness).

Cons

- Contraindicated in diabetes.

- Pregnant women - with caution, lactation - prohibited.

- Causes nausea in some patients.

8. Sertraline

One of the widely used and universal drugs of the SSRI group. They treat almost any depressive condition, panic disorder, social phobia. However, in severe clinical cases, sertraline may not be effective enough. The standard dose is 50 mg/day.

Pros

+ No cardiotoxicity.

+ The patient's psychomotor activity does not change.

+ Does not increase body weight.

+ Combines well with other groups of antidepressants.

Cons

— In the first 2 weeks there may be problems with sleep, diarrhea.

- Side effects of a sexual nature.

- Contraindicated in pregnant women.

9. Escitalopram

The drug is classified as an SSRI. Its difference is in its effectiveness in depression, which is accompanied by involuntary movements (tic, tremor, chewing, smacking). Escitalopram is prescribed to patients with panic, anxiety, phobias, obsessive thoughts or actions. The daily dose is 20 mg.

Pluses

+ Effective in tardive dyskinesia.

+ One of the most powerful SSRIs.

+ More pronounced thymoleptic effect (improvement of mood) compared to many antidepressants of the same group.

Cons

- In some patients, anxiety increases within 2 weeks after starting treatment.

- Gastrointestinal disorders, insomnia, agitation are possible.

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