Post1pharma

answer this post.. references at least 3 not more thar 5 years ago

 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by uncontrollable worrying (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). Anxiolytic medication is used to treat symptoms of anxiety. Anxiolytic medications are habit-forming and can lead to dependency or a substance use disorder (Whitten, 2021). Some drug classes used to treat GAD include Serotonergic Reuptake Inhibitors, Buspirone, and Benzodiazepines. Both SSRIs and SNRIs are considered the first-line treatment for GAD. The SSRIs inhibit serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) reuptake transporter and in some cases weakly inhibit dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake mechanisms (Strawn et al., 2018). There are only four antidepressants which include Venlafaxine (Effexor XR), Duloxetine (Cymbalta), Paroxetine (Paxil), and Escitalopram (Lexapro), that are approved for GAD. SSRIs work by slowing the absorption of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Compared to benzodiazepines, the antidepressants do a better job of decreasing cognitive and psychic symptoms of anxiety but are not as good at decreasing somatic symptoms (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). Benzodiazepines are considered the first line drugs for acute anxiety. Benefits derive from enhancing responses to GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). There are 13 benzodiazepines available but only 6 are approved for anxiety. The two that are prescribed that most are Alprazolam (Xanax, Xanax XR, Niravam) and Lorazepam (Ativan). Benzodiazepines produce drowsiness, which can make it easier to sleep at night. Buspirone (Buspar) is also an anxiolytic that is used in the treatment of GAD. Buspirone (Buspar) is as effective as the benzodiazepines and has two distinct advantages: it has no abuse potential and does intensify the effects of CNS depressants (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). The mechanism by which Buspirone (Buspar) relieves anxiety is unknown currently. Buspirone is a serotonin agonist, and this means that it increases action at serotonin receptors of the brain. There are several different treatment options that could be used to treat GAD, and this is only just a few of them.

Reference

Rosenthal, L. D., & Burchum, J. R. (2021). Lehne’s pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants (2nd ed.) St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

 

Strawn, J. R., Geracioti, L., Rajdev, N., Clemenza, K., & Levine, A. (2018, July). Pharmacotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder in adult and pediatric patients: An evidence-based treatment review. Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6340395/

 

Whitten, C. (2021). Anxiolytic medications: Types and side effects. WebMD. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/what-are-anxiolytics