While depression is typically considered a low-energy state, anxiety is a high-energy state. Research shows that the two conditions are closely related. A person having depression often goes through periods of stress. These conditions affect their daily lives. They cannot continue living normally or doing their typical tasks. 

People suffering from depression or anxiety need treatment. This care enables them to control the two illnesses and enjoy their life. Doctors can prescribe some medications to help them deal with the two conditions. Co-occurring disorder treatment centers provide dual diagnosis treatment to help you overcome both conditions. 

Drugs that Treat Depression

A doctor can prescribe the following medications for your depression:

1. Selective serotonin & norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs). 

SNRIs increase the amount of norepinephrine and serotonin in your brain. They block the uptake of the two chemicals to make more of them free in tissues that surround your nerves. They include levomilnacipran (Fetzima), duloxetine (Cymbalta), desvenlafaxine (Khedezla), venlafaxine (Effexor), and desvenlafaxine succinate (Pristiq). 

2. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 

SSRIs work by increasing serotonin in your brain. This type of antidepressant is the most widely used category. It is popular because it has milder and fewer side effects, is less likely to cause suicidal thoughts, and has fewer drug interactions. They include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), and paroxetine HRI (Paxil). 

• Vilazodone (Viibryd) and vortioxetine (Trintellix previously Brintellix) are newer drugs that act like SSRIs and influence other serotonin receptors. 
• N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Antagonist. For example, esketamine (Spravato). 
• Tetracyclic antidepressants that are noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs). They include Remeron.  
• Older tricyclic antidepressants. They include Sinequan, nortriptyline (Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and Elavil. 
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). They include tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), isocarboxazid (Marplan), and selegiline (EMSAM). 
• Drugs with distinctive mechanisms. For example, Wellbutrin. 
• L-methylfolate (Deplin). Deplin has proven to be a successful drug for treating depression despite the FDA not considering it as a medication. 

Prescriptions

These drugs act differently on your body. Consequently, you need a prescription from a certified doctor before you start using any of them. Self-prescription puts you at risk of addiction or the medication being ineffective. Additionally, you may start taking them on your own for a condition you do not have or abuse them. Therefore, you should only take depression or anxiety medications after you get instructions from a qualified medical professional. 

Patients suffering from depression may often fail to recognize they have a problem. Any time they feel low, they may turn to drugs such as alcohol to help them cope. You need to watch out for alcohol abuse signs or symptoms of addiction on any other substance. If you notice you or someone you love has a substance use disorder besides the depression, seek help immediately. Many facilities offer drug or alcohol rehab in LA, including those under AmHealth Behavioral Group. 

4 Drugs that Treat Anxiety 

If you have anxiety (typically characterized by panic attacks), your doctor can prescribe these medications:

1. Benzodiazepines

These drugs often treat anxiety, and your doctor can add them to manage treatment-resistant anxiety disorders. You should not use them to treat PTSD. They include lorazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, and clonazepam. These medications can promote relaxation, reduce muscular tension, or any other signs of anxiety. 

Users are often susceptible to developing an addiction to them, mainly when they use them for long. Benzodiazepines can also have paradoxical effects. They can cause the opposite reaction to what you intend, especially among some kids, the elderly, and people with developmental challenges. 

2. Tricyclic antidepressants 

These drugs are effective in treating some anxiety disorders, except social anxiety disorder. They include nortriptyline, imipramine, and amitriptyline. Doctors often favor tricyclic antidepressants over benzodiazepines, which pose severe threats when used for long. 

Tricyclic antidepressants can cause side effects, such as constipation, orthostatic hypotension (decrease of blood pressure when you stand), blurry vision, and urinary retention. 

3. Buspirone (BuSpar)

This medication is a newer treatment for anxiety that acts as a mild tranquilizer, and it takes about two weeks to work. It increases serotonin levels in your brain, which relieves tension. The chances of anyone becoming dependent on it are low. Some medical professionals question the effectiveness of this drug. It appears to only work for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) but does not seem to help other anxiety disorders. 

4. Beta-blockers

This type of drugs includes atenolol (Tenormin) and propranolol (Inderal). Beta-blockers treat anxiety by blocking the impacts of norepinephrine, which is a stress hormone involved in your responses to stressful situations. This action controls physical symptoms of anxiety, such as sweating, shaky hands, rapid heart rate, and a trembling voice. 

Drugs are not the only remedies for anxiety. Exercises, yoga, therapy, worry busting strategies, and meditation can also help you manage your stress. Your condition can affect your family as they always worry about you. Family and marital therapy can help your family.

Opioids such as free OxyContin and Percocet may also help with anxiety. However, cases of OxyContin or Percocet addiction have increased in recent times. You need a prescription to use them, and you should adhere to the guidelines that a qualified medical professional gives you. 

Anxiety and depression may occur as a cycle. You may start with being anxious about a specific thing. This anxiety leads to pervasive thinking about some problem or worry. You feel bad about it, then believe you have failed, which takes you to the depression phase. Additionally, people who are suffering from depression are likely to be anxious. 

The two conditions are, at times, co-occurring. Some of the drugs used to treat one state can manage the other. Patients with both disorders need to watch out for drug or Dilaudid addiction. 

Getting Professional Help from AmHealth Behavioral Group 

Anxiety and depression medications have side effects, risk of dependence, probability of being ineffective, and withdrawal requirements. Additionally, people with any of these conditions may have other disorders that may impact their treatment. You need professional help to get better. AmHealth Behavioral Group staff will check for any drug or weed signs of addiction, medical history, and current health before recommending any drugs. You will need to adhere to these guidelines to get better without complications. 

Many people choose to get help from AmHealth Behavioral Group facilities because our expert staff provides personalized treatment based on evidence-based treatment techniques. We have several centers offering different services. 

Novo Detox – provides luxurious residential detox and rehab to provide sustainable treatment. This care helps you get rid of the effects of drugs and prepares you for sobriety.

310 Recovery Residential – has private and modern amenities that support our clients’ quest for detox and intense treatment for mental illness and addiction.

310 Recovery Outpatient – offers intensive outpatient, partial day, and outpatient treatment to patients with mild addictions or those in advanced stages of recovery.

Overland Intensive Outpatient – provides quality treatment to addicts or patient with mild mental illnesses who need continued care or those that cannot commit to a residential program due to unavoidable obligations. 

The Bluffs Sober Living – has a conducive environment that enables recovering addicts to transition from life in a facility or that with drugs to a drug-free life in society. 

Anxiety and depression affect the quality of life of patients. Similarly, those close to them often have to worry about their wellbeing. People suffering from anxiety often worry too much about occurrences or other things. This concern makes them shake, struggle to speak clearly, have a fast heart rate, or they have problems with their concentration. 

Conclusion

Those suffering from depression often feel sad and have low energy. The two conditions can make someone result in unhelpful ways to cope, such as dependence on Percocet and addiction to other substances. Many people have both anxiety and depression. 

People struggling with anxiety or depression can manage them with medications. While people know these medicines, you need to get a prescription before using them. Some have side effects, high risk of addiction, or can be ineffective for your condition. Medical professionals will examine your case and prescribe drugs that are likely to help you without causing complications. 

AmHealth Behavioral Group can help manage your anxiety or depression. If the two disorders have caused drug addiction, our team of experts can help treat them concurrently. We have various facilities that will help you through detox, rehabilitation, adjusting to society, and planning your aftercare. Our priority is to help you the best way possible to overcome or manage your conditions for a long time. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.