Within the category of anxiolytic drugs several classes exist; commonly known classes are barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Both are considered very addictive and users tend to need higher doses over time to achieve desired effects. Benzodiazepines are the most often prescribed forms of anxiolytics, such as Valium and Xanax. In fact, about 15 percent of the U.S. population receives a benzodiazepine prescription each year.

Symptoms of anxiety disorders can vary, but experts accept these common traits on the person’s emotions: strong feelings of dread and worry, trouble paying attention, restlessness, persistent thoughts about negative outcomes and the sensation of the mind having gone blank. Physically, people who suffer from anxiety may experience heart palpitations, perspiration, nausea or upset stomach, shortness of breath, chest discomfort and trouble sleeping. Several visits to medical doctors or misdiagnoses can occur before anxiety disorders are considered.

As their addictive nature has become more apparent, many patients and physicians are using newer medications to treat anxiety and sleeplessness, such as Zoloft or Paxil. Even herbal therapies can be anxiolytic in nature, including chamomile and St. John’s Wort, and it is recommended that patients taking them should seek a physician’s approval.

Side effects of taking anxiolytics include extreme tiredness, problems with awareness and impaired thoughts or judgments. Some physicians recommend non-benzodiazepine forms of anxiolytics, like buspirone (Buspar), because they aren’t typically associated with these side effects. Anxiolytics should not be taken with alcohol, and are associated with withdrawal symptoms similar to those for alcohol withdrawal – such as confusion or a state of disorientation.

As teenage abuse of prescription medications continues to rise, including anxiolytics, parents and health officials may want to consider monitoring the use of the antihistamine chlorpheniramine. Commonly known by names such as Aller-Chlor or Chlor-Trimeton, the drug seems to have an anxiolytic effect. A 2009 study conducted by researchers in Tokyo suggests the drug can reduce panic attacks, lower the impact of phobias and help with mood elevation. The drug is available in some over-the-counter forms, making it easily accessible to teens.

Detoxification, usually on an in-patient basis, may be necessary for patients who become addicted to anxiolytics, especially if they have preexisting mental illness. Longterm recovery strategies are recommended, such as group therapy sessions. In addition to anxiolytic drugs, exercise, meditation, biofeedback and even hypnosis have also been shown to help patients with anxiety disorders.

Anti-Anxiety Medications Have Addictive Nature is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Valium (diazepam) was developed by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche in the early 1960s and was approved for use in 1963. It was the second benzodiazepine to be invented by Dr. Leo Sternbach and was two and a half times more effective then its predecessor Librium. Sales of valium quickly skyrocketed and it became the top-selling drug in the United States from 1969 to 1982, reaching its peak in 1978 when 2.3 billion tablets were sold.

Before taking Valium, it is important to share your complete medical history with your doctor. Certain medications can negatively interact with Valium, so it is imperative that your physician is aware of all the drugs you currently take before prescribing valium. You should not use Valium if you are allergic to diazepam or if you have liver disease, a breathing problem, sleep apnea, or if you are pregnant as it can cause birth defects to an unborn baby. Do not drink alcohol while taking valium. Valium may be habit forming and should only used as your doctor has prescribed. Do not share the medication with others and keep it in a secure location, especially away from children and individuals with a history of drug abuse.

Since Valium is habit forming, the medication should only be used for short-term therapy. Individuals who are prescribed the drug for long periods of time have a higher chance of experiencing withdrawal symptoms once they discontinue taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms include sweating, trouble sleeping, stomach pain, and muscle cramps.

Valium has a range of side effects. Some of the most common ones include: drowsiness, insomnia, impaired motor function, and memory problems. Some serious side effects that require immediate medical attention are: thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, muscle tremors, and flu-like symptoms. If you experience any of the serious symptoms listed above, call your doctor at once.

Valium has the potential for abuse and for many long-term users it can lead to dependence. It is usually taken as a secondary drug of abuse, mainly used to increase the effectiveness of the “high” caused by the primary drug. Overdosing on valium, especially if taken with alcohol, can lead to coma, respiratory failure, and in the most severe instances death.

For more information on valium, consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
 

Valium is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Xanax is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders, but it may be used for other purposes as prescribed by a physician. Xanax is an oral medication. The recommended dosage for adults varies depending on a patient’s medical condition and response to therapy. You should not take Xanax if you have any known allergies to this or any other benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam (Ativan), clorazepate (Tranxene), or diazepam (Valium). Do not take the medication if you are pregnant as it may cause unknown birth defects to an unborn child. Xanax passes into breast milk and is not recommended for women who are currently nursing an infant. Do not drink alcohol while taking Xanax because the medication can increase the side effects of alcohol.

Before taking Xanax, inform your doctor of your complete medical history, especially if you have had or are currently experiencing any of the following: breathing problems, liver or kidney disease, glaucoma, depression, or a history of addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Some of the common side effects associated with Xanax include dizziness, drowsiness, slurred speech, and clumsiness. Less common side affects are stomach or abdominal cramps, blurred vision, dry mouth, diarrhea, headache, and nausea or vomiting. Inform your doctor if any of the side effects listed above persist or worsen. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects: yellowing eyes or skin, rash, trouble breathing, or sever dizziness.

Long term usage of Xanax may lead to tolerance and physical dependence can and has occurred. The medication should only be used as prescribed. Withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures, increased anxiety, and insomnia, may occur if you suddenly stop taking Xanax or reduce the dosage too quickly. The dosage should be reduced gradually as under the guidance of your physician.

For more information on Xanax, please contact your physician or pharmacist.
 

Xanax is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

It is important to understand the symptoms of a withdrawal, so that treatment centers may be able to better assist individuals with avoiding a relapse. The symptoms of withdrawal are often combated with other medications to ease their potency, making withdrawal more successful.

Santucci and Rosario (2010) recently examined the consequences of withdrawal in an animal model study, looking at how symptoms of anxiety develop during withdrawal from cocaine. The objective of the study was to examine the ways that anxiety levels are influenced by withdrawal, in anticipation that when applied to human beings, relapse risk might be reduced.

The researchers randomly assigned 26 male adolescent Long-Evans hooded rats to one of three groups. The first received daily injections of saline, the second received daily injections of 10 mg/kg of cocaine hydrochloride, and the third received daily injections of 20 mg/kg cocaine hydrochloride.

The injections were given for 7 or 8 days, followed by a recovery period of 10 to 11 days. The rats were then tested for anxiety levels in an elevated zero maze. The rats were measured for time spent in the open areas of the maze on two different occasions that were 24 hours apart.

The time spent in the open areas was examined as a measure of animals’ habitation, because the researchers identified the failure to spend time in open areas as a measure of anxiety-related behavior.

The results of the study show that compared to the first occasion, the rats spent more time in the open areas during the second exposure to the maze and open areas. In addition, those rats given saline solution spent more time in open areas during the second session than their cocaine-injected counterparts.

Limitations to this study include a consideration whether the results may be applicable to human withdrawal experiences. The rats were also given a limited amount of cocaine, which may not translate to similar results in humans that have a cocaine addiction.
The results of the study indicate that early withdrawal from cocaine produces symptoms of anxiety in rats. Further study is necessary to determine whether these results also apply to human behavior during withdrawal from cocaine, but if so, steps should be taken to reduce anxiety in individuals in early withdrawal from cocaine to prevent relapse.
 

Anxiety during Withdrawal from Cocaine is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

“Research shows that higher levels of neuroticism can lead to earlier mortality, and we wanted to know why,” said Daniel K. Mroczek, a professor of child development and family studies.

“We found that having worrying tendencies or being the kind of person who stresses easily is likely to lead to bad behaviors like smoking and, therefore, raise the mortality rate. This work is a reminder that high levels of some personality traits can be hazardous to one’s physical health.”

Chronic worrying, anxiety, and being prone to depression are key aspects of the personality trait of neuroticism. In this study, the researchers looked at how smoking and heavy drinking are associated with the trait. A person with high neuroticism is likely to experience anxiety or depression and may self-medicate with tobacco, alcohol, or drugs as a coping mechanism.

The researchers found that smoking accounted for about 25 percent to 40 percent of the association between high neuroticism and mortality. The other 60 percent is unexplained, but possibly attributed to biological factors or other environmental issues that neurotic individuals experience, Mroczek said.

The researchers analyzed data of 1,788 men and their smoking behavior and personality traits over a 30-year period from 1975 to 2005. The data was part of the VA Normative Aging Study, which is a long-term study of aging men based at the Boston VA Outpatient Clinic.

A better understanding of the bridge between personality traits and physical health can perhaps help clinicians improve intervention and prevention programs, Mroczek said.

“For example, programs that target people high in neuroticism may get bigger bang for the buck than more widespread outreach efforts,” he said. “It also may be possible to use personality traits to identify people who, because of their predispositions, are at risk for engaging in poor health behaviors such as smoking or excessive drinking.”

Study Examines Relationship between Chronic Stress and Substance Abuse is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

After he stopped taking Klonopin, a type of benzodiazepine, Starr found that he couldn’t sleep, his heartbeat was accelerated, he experienced terrible stomach pains, and he felt more anxious than ever. “I went through sheer living hell,” he said of the withdrawal. “I didn’t know if I was going to make it.”

Katie Balestra, special to the Washington Post, tells Starr’s story in her article on benzodiazepines, drugs that are often prescribed to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep disorders, explaining that they were originally recommended as a safer alternative to barbiturates. But health professionals and consumers are reporting that drugs like Xanax, Ativan, Valium, and Klonopin can lead to physical dependence, often resulting in severe withdrawal symptoms.

According to IMS Health, a health-care information company based in Norwalk, CT, 85 million prescriptions were filled for the most popular benzodiazepines, which was an increase of 10 million since 2004. A study by the Department of Veterans Affairs physicians last year showed that in 2004, 66,000 veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder received prescriptions for benzodiazepines.

While some people herald the benefits of benzodiazepines, others say they are over-prescribed and can come with serious side effects. Some patients become tolerant to the drugs, so they take higher and higher doses to achieve the same effect. This can lead to physical and psychological dependence.

Stephanie Licata, a Harvard Medical School behavioral pharmacologist who studies benzodiazepines, explained that the drugs tell your brain to slow down, creating a calming effect. But for some people, this can lead to memory loss and impaired motor skills.

Withdrawing from benzodiazepines can be similar to withdrawing from heroin, with people experiencing hallucinations, seizures, and even death.

Some doctors say that the vast majority of their patients do just fine on the drugs, however. Robert DuPont, former director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, who has written several books on addiction and anxiety, said the drugs are widely successful in treating panic and anxiety. He said that 90 percent of his patients have no difficulty taking the medicine, and those with problems are most likely to be people who’ve had issues with addiction in the past.

“The typical patient that I see with anxiety is taking [benzodiazepines] well within the green-light zone,” he said. Addiction is an entirely different issue, having to do with a person “essentially falling in love with a chemical high,” he said. “For those people, they’re booze in the form of a pill.”

Anxiety Medications Can Lead to Even More Worries is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

From an early age, Michael struggled with anxiety and depression. As a child, he always felt awkward in social gatherings, and, as a result, he did his best to avoid social interaction during adolescence and into his early teenage years. Solitude made him feel more comfortable, yet he couldn’t help feeling left out when he heard stories from his classmates about parties or school functions. Over time, he began to resent the social phobia and eventually decided to do something about it.

Michael had seen his dad drink beers after work and his mom share martinis with her friends, and he noticed how relaxed they seemed while drinking. So, during a family barbecue one summer afternoon, when his many relatives were socializing in the backyard, 14 year-old Michael spotted a half-empty beer and sneakily carried it around a corner. After a few cautious sips, he felt a rush of comfort and pleasure that thrilled him in a way nothing else ever had. He was tremendously excited by the foreign sensation of relaxed happiness, and before he knew it, the cup was empty. Instinctively, Michael went in search of another.

A short time later, Michael was considered “that crazy guy” at parties, doing keg stands and drinking vast quantities of whatever type of alcohol he could get his hands on. He liked the feeling of being known for something and the popularity that came with it, and before he knew it, he was secretly drinking before school to loosen up and remain “that crazy guy” at school. As an adult, Michael is now an alcoholic struggling with serious health issues. His marriage ended in divorce when his wife left him because of his drinking, and his life is spiraling out of control. And it all began with that half-cup of beer when he was 14.

For many people like Michael, alcohol and other drugs provide relief from daily struggles. However, for those who routinely look for something to “take the edge off,” serious problems with dependency may lie just under the surface. What may initially seem like a handy tool for dealing with uncomfortable situations can quickly become an all-encompassing, devastating addiction. Reliance on drugs like alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or painkillers to soothe the mind is nothing short of addiction, warranting a change in behavior and, in many cases, professional help.

Mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder are the most common targets of self-medication, although other conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or various forms of chronic physical distress, can also lead individuals to administer their own form of treatment.

The potential dangers of self-medicating are plentiful, and chief among them is the threat of addiction. A 2007 report in the American Journal of Psychiatry identified a clear correspondence between social anxiety and alcohol dependence. The report explained that people suffering from anxiety are vulnerable to a snowballing reliance on alcohol because as alcohol wears off, the resulting withdrawals can cause greater anxiety, which in turn increases the likelihood of further drinking. Alcohol can also exacerbate feelings of depression as it wears off, tempting users to drink more.

Although self-medicating is often considered to be an adult behavior, young people are also at risk. A 2008 report from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) revealed an alarming link between teen drug use and depression. The study described a common scenario of teens treating feelings of depression with marijuana and other drugs, only to prolong their suffering and develop more significant mental health problems in the future. According to the report, depressed teens are twice as likely as non-depressed teens to use illegal drugs, and many become addicted.

Those who self-medicate with alcohol or other drugs are urged to seek healthier, less dangerous methods of coping with their discomfort. Recommended alternatives to self-medication include improved dietary habits, regular exercise, natural remedies, counseling, and other forms of therapy. Also, a doctor can be consulted to decide whether prescription medicines would be beneficial. There are many healthy, legal options available for overcoming every kind of mental and physical pain, and for escaping the bondage of addiction.

Self-medication with drugs and alcohol may seem like an innocuous way to make it through the day, but in reality, it is not a prudent choice. Alcohol and other drugs mask unpleasant symptoms but never reach the roots of the discomfort. In order to truly conquer chronic pain, experts say the suffering must be courageously faced. Then, strategies for working through the hardship can be considered, and the affliction can be genuinely overcome.

The Dangers of Self-Medicating with Drugs and Alcohol is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment