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The Functions and Side Effects of Social Anxiety Disorder Medications
In many occasions, health professionals prescribe social anxiety disorder medications as a way to treat the problem. There are many people consume these medications especially because anxiety disorder is the most common psychiatric disorder after alcohol abuse and depression. Therefore, it is important to understand the types of social anxiety disorder medications, their functions, as well as their potential adverse side effects. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered as the mildest type of social anxiety disorder medications. The function of this type of medications is to increase the level of serotonin chemical in the brain. This serotonin is said to be responsible for happy mood and calmness. There are several well-known brands of this type of medications namely Prozac and Zoloft. Unfortunately, these medications also have adverse side effects, such as headaches, nausea, dry mouth, irritability, and loss of appetite. Other side effects also included difficulty in sleeping, drowsiness, trembling, and diarrhea. All these side effects are obviously frustrating, but they are not life threatening. Benzodiazepines The second type of common social anxiety disorder medications are Benzodiazepines. They act like minor tranquilizers that can slow down the nervous system of the body. The result is a feeling of calmness. In many situations, these medications are prescribed to give quick solution to the problem and relieve the sufferers from intense fear so they can concentrate to find out the long-term solution to eliminate the problem. Of course, they also have side effects. The major one is it can become addictive, therefore it is important to get prescription for a doctor before taking these social anxiety disorder medications. Other common side effects are drowsiness, fatigue, memory loss, slurred speech, blurred vision, and lightheadedness. Antidepressants The main function of antidepressants is to affect the neurotransmitters in the brain. This is common social anxiety disorder medications, but they have a dangerous side effect because it can bring suicidal thoughts. People who take antidepressants should be carefully observed especially when the dosage is changed or when the use them for the first time. The most powerful antidepressants are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These social anxiety disorder medications should be reserved for only the last resort when other treatments give no result because they can be toxic with other drugs and foods. Beta-Blockers Usually doctors use beta-blockers as high blood pressure controller although sometimes they are effective as social anxiety disorder medications as well. These medications are taken before the patients believe that they will have an attack. They have side effects that can include fatigue, diarrhea, nightmares, nausea, heart failure, difficulty in sleeping, sexual dysfunction, dizziness, depression, and lack of concentration. Closing remark You have learned different types of social anxiety disorder medications. The most important is to consult with health professional before taking any of them because as you can see, they can bring adverse side effects.
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