Psychiatrist Questions Psychiatrist

Do I need to take medication for anxiety?

I have anxiety and want to treat it. Do I need to take medication for anxiety?

7 Answers

PsychiatristPsychiatrist
There are many effective treatments for anxiety such as EMDR, CBT, and DBT.
Medication is one option, that can be very useful, especially when used in
combination with therapy.
This is a question to ask a psychiatrist. I am a psychologist and do not prescribe medication.
There are several medications that can be helpful in treating anxiety, but whether you "need" to take any of these is a judgment call you should make in consultation with a psychiatrist and/or a trained psychotherapist (psychologist or social worker). Medications are not your only option in treating anxiety, and typically would not be your first option. Psychotherapy, in particular Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can help you change how you respond to and feel about life situations that are causing disruptive and painful levels of anxiety. For panic disorder, for example, which involves episodes of acute, sometimes paralyzing anxiety that may seem to "come out of the blue", a combination of medication and psychotherapy has been found to be particularly effective.


That is a question that can only be answered after a thorough assessment with a mental health professional. Most people will start with therapy first, and then add medication as needed.
It does depend on what is causing it. There may be other underlying mental health concerns and situational, biological, or environmental factors at play that will determine how to proceed with treatment interventions for it.

Hope this Helps,

Dr. Ryan C Koryciak
Consider this first...
https://genesight.com/gene-test-for-antidepressants/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=anxiety&utm_content=112044726610&utm_term=anxiety%20medication&gclid=CjwKCAjwmqKJBhAWEiwAMvGt6HERvaDklYsjAQbWY-Fhj4wY70U4wdf3vsHU3FRtn_t61KeLHujW2BoCljUQAvD_BwE
then take a peak at this...
https://medicalproexperts.com/?p=204&gclid=CjwKCAjwmqKJBhAWEiwAMvGt6EZpcBwKLZXu-PJR9r5Wveyq-99m2VwyrO47RVN0gltSvCYzAVVBaxoCUz0QAvD_BwE
and
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350967
Medication options should be discussed with a psychiatrist. There are multiple ways to treat anxiety with or without medication.