Beta blockers for anxiety treatment can be both beneficial as well as risky. Read the following article to know about the function, types and side effects of using beta blockers for treating anxiety disorder.
We all get anxious once in a while. Whether it is some work related issue or a personal problem, we do get nervous about various things in life. However, in some people, this anxiety and nervousness takes such high proportions that the person becomes incapable of leading a normal life. Such a person starts worrying about everything under the sun, such as finances, health, family,etc., and presumes that bad things are going to happen. A person in this condition is known to be suffering from generalized anxiety disorder.
In order to minimize or get rid of this situation, doctors generally prescribe beta blockers for anxiety treatment. Let us discuss the function, types and side effects of beta blockers for anxiety disorder.
Function of Beta Blockers for Anxiety
Beta blockers are the drugs which are given to a person suffering from anxiety to treat or minimize the associated physical symptoms of anxiety, such as, trembling, migraine, hypertension, shaking, rapid heartbeat and stress. These drugs aid in calming the nerves of an anxious person and help him to deal with his fears in a better way. Beta blockers target the beta receptors in the body, which are located in the lungs, brain, blood vessels and heart. They also manage the stress hormone, known as norepinephrine in the body, which automatically minimizes the adrenaline levels. Taking beta blockers in right dosages slows down the oxygen and blood supply to the heart, thereby controlling fear and anxiety in a person. Read more on what is a beta blocker.
Types of Beta Blockers for Anxiety
Beta blockers which are used for treating anxiety are propranolol, pindolol and atenolol. Some of the natural beta blockers for anxiety include the herb – St John’s wort and amino acids – GABA and tryptophan. Read more on beta blockers in the beta blockers list.
Propranolol is a beta blocker which provides a short term relief from social phobias. It also controls sweating and tension in a person. It has very few side effects and helps the person with anxiety disorder to deal with situations such as speaking on stage or in public. Propranolol, should not be taken by somebody who is suffering from diseases such as asthma, lung diseases, heart diseases and diabetes.
Atenolol helps in treating social phobias and unlike Propranolol, its effects last much longer. Atenolol is much more convenient than other beta blockers as it has to be taken just once a day and also because it produces very less wheezing sound when compared to other beta blockers.
Side Effects of Beta Blockers for Anxiety
One of the major side effects of taking beta blockers for anxiety is that they tend to make a person dependent on them. Secondly, studies have shown that their long term usage can cause hallucinations, nightmares and other central nervous system problems in a person. Another of the side effects of using beta blockers is that they aggravate the anxiety in a person. When beta blockers are taken by a person, it increases the peristalsis i.e., contractions of muscles in his gastrointestinal tract. This aggravates the anxiety effects on the person’s body, thereby causing depression. Beta blockers also produce symptoms such as cramping, fatigue, nausea, delirium and diarrhea in some people.
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Beta Blocker Effects
Beta Blocker Side Effects
Using beta blockers for anxiety treatment has many benefits as far as controlling its symptoms is concerned. The major drawback is that these drugs are incapable of treating anxiety. On top of that, they can be quite risky if taken in high dosages or if taken for a long time. Keeping these things in mind as well as consulting your health care provider is very essential, when starting a course of beta blockers for anxiety treatment.
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