Antianxiety Medication Side Effects

Anxiety is a mental condition when a person experiences uneasiness, distress and a concern or worry about something. It can also be defined as a state of apprehension or fear of something. Anxiety is a symptom of nearly all psychological and personality disorders and phobias. Anxiety is a common feeling and most of the people experience it at different times of their life. Although anxiety is involuntary, excess of it can lead to disruption of normal life. Hence, people rely on medications to overcome anxiety symptoms.

Antianxiety Medications
As the name suggests, antianxiety medications are used to relieve a person of anxiety symptoms. As mentioned above, anxiety can disrupt the normal functioning of life, and hence, many people opt for medications to reduce anxiety symptoms quickly. These medications help in temporarily relieving of the anxiety symptoms but they do not help in uprooting the underlying cause of anxiety.

Side Effects
Benzodiazepine is the most popular and commonly used antianxiety drug. It is used as a sedative, as a muscle relaxant or for hypnotic effect. This is a very strong drug which can make people fall asleep or uncoordinated even on a lower dosage. One of the most important side effect is addiction to the drug itself. As the person gets temporary relief from anxiety on taking these drugs, there is a high risk of the person being dependent on them. This is known as psychological addiction. Following are the other side effects:

• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Dizziness
• Impaired thinking
• Slow reflex actions
• Stomach upset
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Crying
• Delirium

Sometimes the overdose of these drugs can make a person look and behave like a drunkard. On the other hand, one may even find a hangover like symptoms after taking these medications. There are also a few paradoxical reactions associated with antianxiety drugs. They include:

• Depression
• Aggression
• Hallucination
• Mania
• Euphoria
• Claustrophobia

Sometimes, one may also see adverse effects on the body or the functions of the body. One should also remember that overdose of any of antianxiety drugs can be fatal. The following are the other severe side effects

• Memory loss
• High blood pressure / Low blood pressure
• Changes in heart rate
• Skin rash
• Anterograde amnesia
• Seizures
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Coma

Antianxiety Medication Safety
It is recommended to have these drugs only in small doses and only on consulting the doctor. They should also be used only in combination of other therapies to cure anxiety. Antianxiety drugs are meant to reduce the symptoms as soon as possible. One should remember that these drugs do NOT cure the cause of anxiety. It is also advisable to take these medications only under the supervision of a doctor and not on your own. Similarly, continuation and discontinuation of these medications should also be based on the doctor's advice, as sometimes one may also experience withdrawal symptoms like increased anxiety, confusion, insomnia, etc., associated with the specified drug. People below 18 years of age, above 60 years of age, pregnant women, alcoholics, etc., are at high risk of suffering from antianxiety medication side effects, and hence are advised against having them.

As you have seen, the numerous negative consequences, it is advisable to think twice before you take a decision of having this quickest way of overcoming anxiety! This write-up is meant only to provide information.