Medications for Stress
Stress is a natural response to life’s challenges, serving an essential function in motivating and alerting us when there are potential dangers or demanding situations. But prolonged stress can take an immense toll on both mental and physical health – leading to symptoms such as anxiety and depression that if left unmanaged can threaten to take over our lives. Medication for stress relief may help manage these symptoms to keep them at bay so you can focus on living a fulfilling life.
When it comes to treating stress, the first step should be a comprehensive assessment by a health care provider. This evaluation should cover your symptoms and their severity as well as any additional health conditions you may be living with. Next, your healthcare professional will select medication best tailored for your individual needs by considering factors like side effects and potential interactions between drugs.
Benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium are prescription tranquilizers used to reduce anxiety and stress. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac and Lexapro, may also help relieve tension by altering how much serotonin is released in the brain. Beta blockers such as Inderal (propranolol) and Tenormin (atenolol), commonly used to treat heart conditions, can also lower stress by blocking epinephrine/norepinephrine hormones from binding with receptors on heart/arteries.
Medications for Sleep
If sleep problems are keeping you up at night, consult your physician about prescription pills. However, be wary – many sleep medications can become addictive over time; others may interact dangerously with over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements and herbs; tolerance may develop over time as you need higher and higher doses for the same effect; they’re considered controlled substances by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), so it’s essential that if taking these medicines it read and follow the Medication Guide carefully while discussing any changes or adjustments with your provider before making changes or adjustments or making adjustments or changes that involves changing dosage or increasing or decreasing them.
Orexin receptor antagonists (ORAs), which work by blocking natural chemicals that signal your brain to wake up, such as daridorexant (Quviviq), lemborexant (Dayvigo) or suvorexant (Belsomra), may help promote good night’s rest as they reduce wakeup time more effectively than shorter-acting z drugs but may cause morning grogginess if taken long-term, such as Belsomra or Dayvigo.
Lifestyle changes and non-medication therapies may help improve sleep without medication; cognitive therapy, sleep restriction and exercise may all be used as strategies for combatting insomnia. Your physician can recommend over-the-counter and herbal remedies available, while be sure to inform them about any other medical conditions or medicines (including vitamins/dietary supplements) you’re currently taking.