What should I be aware of before I start taking anti-anxiety medication?

Before you start taking anti-anxiety medication, you should have a thorough work-up with your doctor, so you know all the risks and benefits. Psychiatrist Sue Varma, MD, explains some of the risks and side effects of taking these meds.

Transcript

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Before you start taking anti-anxiety medication,

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you should have a very open and honest conversation with your doctor to let them know how frequently are you feeling anxious, what are your symptoms.

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And it's important to get a thorough medical history and a physical to make sure that there are no medical reasons contributing. For example, something like hyperthyroidism

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could contribute to anxiety and would have a very different treatment path. It's important that you discuss with your doctor risks,

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benefits, and alternatives. So risks of benzodiazepines may be a potential of becoming addicted.

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Sometimes in high doses, a person might even become depressed from taking benzodiazepines, sleep problems, delirium, falls, overdose, in rare cases

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if you withdraw too quickly you can have withdrawal symptoms, which include seizures. So these are very powerful medications, but they can also have very dangerous side effects.

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So it's very important to know what you're getting into before you take the benzodiazepines.