We know that psychological suffering is difficult to solve with pills (although we can find momentary relief with them) and that anxiolytics do not cure anxiety or make disappear the toxic boss who sucks our energy, our wills and the joy of living. reduce emotional distress and facilitate the effectiveness of psychotherapy and multidisciplinary approach.
Sociologists say that we live in a dystopian society, we live in a world where every year millions of books are sold on how to be happy, we are the people who like to put filters on your photos to offer others an image of absolute perfection: perfect smile, ideal happiness. Because being happy is what we all aspire to, and from the door to the darkness of our own home, demons attack us, fears consume us, and the shadows of anxiety stick to us.
- “We treat pain and fear with pills as if they were diseases.
- And they’re not.
- Guillermo Rendueles.
- Psychiatrist?.
The pharmaceutical industry is trying to create increasingly sophisticated psychiatric drugs, with fewer side effects and faster actions, so much so that there are several types of drugs for every pain in life, those that general doctors very easily prescribe to the point of generating addictions in people who could have solved their problem through a specific, non-pharmacological approach.
However, the problem is there. There are endogenous pathologies that require a pharmacological approach, and there are reactive depressions caused by stress that would certainly require a psychological approach, in all cases anxiolytics are essential in many cases, but always for a limited time to avoid chemical dependence. where side effects are often more harmful than the symptoms themselves.
Today we will examine all kinds of anxiolytics in the pharmaceutical market that aim to treat the processes associated with anxiety, insomnia, panic disorders, etc.
People who have currently needed or need drug treatment to reduce it know that it is common to try more than one type, change the dose from time to time, and monitor how we feel and the possible side effects they cause us.
In addition, it is also worth remembering the mechanism of action of anxiolytics:
Now let’s take a closer look at the main types of anxiolytics
Are the benzodiazepines there? Family? Of the most common and currently used anxiolytics, which in addition to acting on the substance GABA act on the limbic system by inhibiting Serotonin activity in this region of the brain.
In addition, depending on its duration and its effect on our body, we can perform the following classification:
Short-lived anxiolytics (effects can last up to 8 hours)
Intermediate half-life anxiolytics (effects can last 8 to 24 hours):
Long-lasting anxiolytics (effects lasting more than 24 hours):
It should be noted that the side effects associated with current benzodiazepines are not as severe as those of the first type of anxiolytics: barbiturates, it should also be remembered that the administration and use of these psychiatric drugs should never exceed 4 or 6 weeks. . Otherwise, we can develop an addiction.
On the other hand, the most common secondary symptoms associated with benzodiazepines are:
As we said earlier, prior to the arrival of benzodiazepines on the market, barbiturates were the only anxiolytics available to the population for the treatment of anxiety. Since Emil Fischer, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, discovered barbital in 1902, they have become a dangerous but effective resource, able to act immediately as sedatives of the central nervous system.
Later, in 1963, the company? Roche launched the well-known Valium and, with this drug, began the age of benzodiazepines. Just a year earlier, citing out of curiosity, Marilyn Monroe allegedly committed suicide with a high intake of barbiturates.
But why did they stop prescribing barbiturates for the treatment of anxiety?
These are the most common types of barbiturates
The buspirona has its pros and cons. However, there is a very interesting type of anxiolytic, its main advantage being that it has side effects, but does not interact with other substances, does not affect cognitive performance and does not produce sedation.
However, experts say it is very effective for low anxiety disorders and is highly recommended for the elderly.
Alprazolam is one of the most prescribed anxiolytics by doctors, is a derivative of benzodiazepines and is mainly used for the treatment of anxiety attacks, such as agoraphobia, panic attacks and intense stress.
In addition, it should be noted that it has antidepressant action, since its chemical principles are similar to those of tricyclic antidepressants.
Diazepam or valium is undoubtedly another known anxiolytic, is also a derivative of benzodiazepines and is most commonly used in external consultations and medical centers.
“Instead of treating the disease or problem, regular anxiolytic use creates long-term dependence. “
Most of us have heard of lorazepam or simply “orfidal”. It is a high potency drug that is used for various purposes:
Lorazepam has an immediate effect, reaching its peak of maximum bioavailability in 2 hours, in addition its side effects are not as severe and do not generate a high dependence, but it is still recommended that its use be for a limited time.
Bromazepam is used in low doses to treat anxiety and phobias; If administered in higher doses, it acts as a muscle relaxant, sedative and hypnotic.
Bromazepam is a dangerous drug: it quickly becomes addictive and interacts with various substances, if combined with alcohol it can become fatal, so the advice of professionals must be accurately followed in order for its effect to be adequate.
Chlorazepate is a multipurpose psychiatric drug
Chlorazepate can be taken for 3 to 4 months. In addition to this period, it generates an addiction and may lose its effectiveness.
It is very likely that our readers will be surprised that antihistamines are on this list Are the drugs we usually use to treat allergic processes not?
It is important to note that there are different types of antihistamines, usually most antihistamines block histamine, however hydroxycin can also be found which, in addition to relieving itching caused by skin allergic reactions, reduces brain activity and also serves to relieve anxiety and tension.
Antihistamines are not the best medicine to treat anxiety and psychiatrists do not recommend them if the patient is having panic attacks.
In conclusion, we could add many other names and options to our list, such as adrenergic beta blockers, where there are also natural alternatives with few side effects, however, the ones described here are the most common, the most prescribed and the most suitable. the ones we find most on our bedside tables or in our bags.
We affirm once again that anxiolytics do not cure anxiety, do not eliminate panic attacks, neuroses or shadows that alter our lives at any given time, cure, relieve, relax, give us rest and, although all this is good and necessary, do not solve the root of the problem, unless we encounter an endogenous disease, such as certain types of depression.
Therefore, we will use anxiolytics for specific situations, but always associated with psychotherapy. Because, although we were brought up with the classic idea that “we are what we eat,” we really “are what we think. “You need to change direction and not be obsessively treated. There are situations that can be addressed differently.