Social anxiety medication and what you need to know about it before you consider taking any medicine for your social anxiety. Medication is helpful for many ailments, but should you take medicine for social anxiety? There are advantages and drawbacks, so let us examine them in detail.
Pros and Cons of Social Anxiety Medication.
Before you think about using medication for social anxiety, you should be aware of some factors.
Medication for social anxiety can help by decreasing the frequency and intensity of attacks. Negative thinking, which is another big problem with social anxiety, can be lessened as well.
You may be thinking that this is the solution for me. But hold on a minute. While it may help you, there is no guarantee that it will do to the extent you are hoping.
Social anxiety treatment using medication may not give you the results you may be looking for. Social anxiety is a very complicated condition. Drugs usually target a particular ailment, like a migraine or stomach upsets. When you are prescribed medication for specific problems, the results are typically fast and efficient.
That is because medicine has been manufactured to tackle those problems. So you take a tablet for a headache, and within a short period, the problem has gone.
But when you have social phobia, the situation is different. If you are nervous, for example, medication for social anxiety only helps you reduce the symptoms. It will not solve your problem. For a while, your symptoms will diminish, and you will feel a little better. You can attend a social event, for example, that may have been hard to do without the medication.
But when the drug wears off, all your symptoms will come crashing back. The anxiety, negativity, shaking, sweating, etc. Will be back as if they had never disappeared. So medication will give temporary relief, but when you stop taking it, you are back where you started. It is not an ideal solution for long-term wellness.
The way the medication works is a short-term settlement to a long-term problem, and you need to be aware of that.
Your feelings and symptoms will reduce, and medication will help you over a short period or for a particular event or purpose.
Side Effects Of Social Anxiety Medication.
The kind of medication prescribed for social anxiety carries the risk of becoming addicted to it. Because the effects wear off quite fast, you may be tempted to increase your dose. Over time, continued use may mean you need to increase your dosage to get the same effect as when you started using the medication. This is not a good situation to find yourself in. There are many positives to using medicine, but there are also a lot of negatives.
Should You Use Medication For Social Anxiety?.
There is a lot to think about here. Yes, it can help you over painful periods but only for a short time.
Most people will get some benefit from using the medicine. If you control your usage and consult with your doctor, you should be okay.
Watch out for any side effects with your medication. Some people will, and others will not have any significant negative symptoms. If you experience problems, talk to your doctor to see if there is a suitable alternative.
If you were taking any medication for an extended time, you might experience withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking it. Always consult a medical professional before changing or stopping prescribed drugs.
Your doctor will consider the intensity of your social anxiety, your complete medical history, and any other medicines you are taking, before deciding on a prescription for you.
Anxiety Medication Side Effects
Anti-anxiety medications do have side effects. By working on your central nervous system, they provide relief by making you feel more calm and relaxed. Because of this, your emotions are also dumbed down. Creative people find that their creative juices are affected, and they cannot function as they would like. Your ability to deal with complex tasks can also diminish. You need to be careful driving or operating sophisticated machinery. Sometimes reducing the dosage may help, but the calming effect may not be as good for you. If your dose is too high, your speech may be slurred as well as feeling confused and awkward in your movements.
- Agitation
- Bladder problems
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Decreased sex drive
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty thinking
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Emotional imbalance
- Headaches
- Increased heart rate
- Lack of coordination
- Nausea
- Nervousness and insomnia
- Nightmares
- Sexual problems
- Weight gain or loss
So medication for anxiety and depression can help you in particular situations. It can enable you to think more clearly if you are overwhelmed by stress. It can help calm you down. It can help you get through a difficult situation. You might be so overwhelmed with anxiety that you are simply too afraid to make decisions.
It can help you in dealing with social phobia and assist you in making the right choice.
It can help you get unstuck and move forward. Taking a pill that suits you will temporarily help you with your social anxiety and give you a feeling of being more relaxed, just like everyone else. In my opinion, it is helpful to experience that because it may have been a long time since you relaxed adequately and the feeling of muscles unwinding is a great sensation.
Are There Alternatives To Anti-Anxiety Medication
There are ways you can help your social phobia problem. Many of them can provide a permanent solution. The most successful is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, commonly known as CBT. Other solutions are Hypnosis, and many of the talking therapies. There are also Social Anxiety Support Groups, and with the aid of prescription drugs, you may muster up enough courage to attend one of them.
People always want to look for an easy solution. The quick fix. A pill for every ill! Medical practitioners are under extreme pressure to provide you with something before you leave, that is just the way it is now.
It is better to get to the root of your problem. Taking the long-term approach is better than relying on drugs indefinitely.
Medication is useful, but not as the only solution for your social anxiety.
Medications Used For Social Anxiety
We will have a look at the best drug for social anxiety disorder symptoms or at least the one that is most commonly prescribed.
The most used anti-anxiety meds for social anxiety symptoms are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) serotonin and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI).
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
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Paroxetine
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Sertraline
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Fluvoxamine
These can have side effects like short-term nausea, insomnia, and tiredness. But the side effects gradually lessen or disappear over time.
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI)
Venlafaxine is one of the most prescribed in this category. It works more quickly than SSRI’s. When you start taking it, you may experience side effects like dizziness, headaches, nausea, insomnia. These side effects usually reduce or disappear over time as you get used to the drug.
Benzodiazepine
Another type of anti-anxiety medication to reduce your levels of anxiety quickly. It can be habit-forming with long-term side effects. You should only use these for short-term use.
Beta-blockers
Beta blockers help you when you need to do something that causes you anxiety. They reduce your heartbeat and help with a nervous voice or tremors in your limbs. They will not cure social phobia but will reduce anxiety symptoms, which will enable you to perform in a social or business setting.
As always, consult with your medical practitioner if you need help with your social anxiety problems.
