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Join now! Men's Healthīreathe through your anxiety: Breath work is underutilized and incredibly effective. But generally, if you taper, you won’t have severe withdrawal problems.ĭon’t miss out on exclusive content. Some antidepressants, such as Paxil, can be difficult to quit, and others, like Effexor and Cymbalta, can be problematic if you stop taking them abruptly. Work with a doctor to find the one that’s best for you, and ask about a tapering and stopping plan. I choose which one to start with based on a number of factors, including whether anxiety makes it difficult for you to focus or makes you tired (I might recommend Wellbutrin) or causes your thoughts to race and makes you feel jittery (I might go with Lexapro). Most antidepressants are safe, effective, and well tolerated (and some have lower rates of sexual side effects). Their effects can take a few weeks to kick in. They’re great options for the type of anxiety that doesn’t necessarily come and go but is with you almost every day. Many men are surprised to hear that meds like Lexapro, Effexor, and Wellbutrin are effective for anxiety, not just depression. Instead of benzos, I recommend other ways to manage anxiety-some that come in pill bottles, some that don’t: Antidepressants to manage anxiety If someone writes you a prescription for one, find out why and explore your other options before you open that potentially unhealthy and unhelpful bottle. Benzos have a place in managing anxiety, but they shouldn’t regularly be front and center. Benzodiazepines are not meant to be taken every day, and they’re certainly not intended for longer than two weeks at a time. Because they work fast, they are also an effective temporary “bridge” alongside other anxiety medications that are less addictive but may take longer to kick in. Occasionally I’ll prescribe a short-acting drug for a specific phobia-for example, if just the thought of getting a flu shot makes you feel as if you’re going to toss your lunch. Though these short-acting medications have a role, they’re best reserved for the most extreme forms of anxiety, like if you’re having so many panic attacks throughout the day that you can’t get out of the house. Not only is it difficult to get off them, but abruptly stopping them can be dangerous-even life-threatening-by placing you at increased risk of seizures. And over time, they can both make anxiety a lot worse. Xanax and alcohol bind to the same receptors in the brain.
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It’s like icing your worries every day with tequila shots-in fact, it’s very much like doing that. Using the drugs all the time can lead to tolerance, dependency, and addiction. While you do notice the effects of “benzos” quickly, those effects don’t last for very long. Prescriptions for benzodiazepines, these types of short-acting medications, tripled between 19, and there are few signs of things slowing down. Many guys ask for drugs like Xanax or Ativan, which they’ve heard can help them feel better in minutes-and apparently, they’re getting them. Practically every day in my clinic, I hear someone say, “I need a med for anxiety, and I need it to work fast!” I’m all for people reducing their anxiety, but I’m concerned about how they’re doing it.