Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion
Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion
Indeed, mental health is a topic that needs to be discussed in detail with more investment in research that could help with better solutions, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological. The most commonly used drug classes with proven efficacy in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) include the Selective Serotonin and Serotonin Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs and SNRIs) (Strawn et al., 2018). The other drug classes include benzodiazepines, azapirones, anti-adrenergic medications, melatonin analogues, second-generation antipsychotics, kava, and lavender oil (Strawn et al., 2018). Aside from drug and substance abuse and building tolerance, the additional factors that might interfere with the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics processes of the patients diagnosed with GAD include their diet. Combining some SSRIs drugs with food containing tyramine or rich food such as milk, beef, chicken liver, and cheese could induce serotonin syndrome that could prove fatal to the patient (Strawn et al., 2018)Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion. Therefore, there is a need for adequate patient education on diet modification when taking these drugs to avoid instances of serotonin syndrome.
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There are new and emerging treatment options that have proved to be effective in patients with GAD. The post correctly identifies drugs such as clonidine, alpha-adrenergic medication, and antihistamines such as hydroxyzine. The others include beta-adrenergic medicines such as propranolol, Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) drugs like gabapentin and pregabalin, and mixed antidepressants like mirtazapine, and azapirones like buspirone (Garakani et al., 2020). Aside for GAD, these classes of drugs are effective against panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias (Garakani et al., 2020). A new agent, agomelatine, a melatonin receptor agonist and serotonin 2C (5-HT2c) receptor antagonist, has been demonstrated to be efficacious in managing GAD with severe symptoms (Stein, 2021). The drug’s tolerability profile and efficacy are similar to escitalopram. Therefore, it is a potent alternative or adjunct to SSRIs or SNRIs (Stein, 2021)Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion. Despite the numerous new treatment modalities for GAD, SSRIs and SNRIs remain the first choice drugs for use in patients with GAD.
References
Garakani, A., Murrough, J., Freire, R., Thom, R., Larkin, K., Buono, F., & Losifescu, D. (2020). Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment options. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11(595584). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584
Stein, J. D. (2021). Evidence-based Pharmacotherapy of generalized anxiety disorder: Focus on Agomelatine. Advances in Therapy, 38, 52-60. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12325-021-01860-1
Strawn, J., Geracioti, L., Rajdev, N., Clemenza, K., & Levine, A. (2018). Pharmacotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder in adults and pediatric patients: An evidence-based treatment review. Expert Opinion in Pharmacotherapy, 19(10), 1057-1070. https://doi.org/10.1080%2F14656566.2018.1491966 Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days by suggesting additional factors that might have interfered with the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes of the patients diagnosed with GAD. In addition, suggest different treatment options you would suggest to treat a patient with the topic of discussion.
Post a discussion of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics related to anxiolytic medications used to treat GAD.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one a chronic illness that is marked by exaggerated and excessive worry and anxiety concerning everyday events without a good reason. A person with GAD tends to be expectant of disaster and is constantly worried about school, work, family, property, money or health. GAD may start in adolescents or early adulthood and remain persistent throughout an individual’s life (Strawn et al., 2018)Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion. The observable behaviors in a person with GAD are excessive work, physical symptoms, and somatic symptoms.
GAD can be effectively treated using psychotherapy and medications. Drugs have different reactions to individuals based on genetics, age, health conditions and system variations. Comprehending drug distribution and absorption in different body systems and organs is vital to determine the best and most effective medication for administering to a patient and the best method of administering it. A great percentage of drugs are clear through the hepatic portal pathway (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021)Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion. Drug toxicity is commonly experienced in patients who have chronic and terminal illnesses like kidney failure since they affect the medication clearance.
Pharmacokinetics refers to the movements of drugs throughout the body systems, while pharmacodynamics refers to the biochemical and physiological effects of the drugs through molecular mechanisms (Burchum, & Rosenthal, 2021). Pharmacokinetics entails four major processes, namely absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion or elimination. The processes are commonly affected by different factors, including the patient’s age, body weight, liver function, kidney function and environmental factors (Stahl, 2020)Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion.
In your discussion, utilizing the discussion highlights, compare and contrast different treatment options that can be used.
The commonly recommended treatment options for GAD are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants and Benzodiazepines (Stahl, 2020)Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion. The common examples of SSRIs are fluoxetine, citalopram, sertraline, and paroxetine. SSRIs work by inhibiting the repute of serotonin by nerve cells, thus boosting serotonin activity and improving a patient’s mood. SSRIs have fewer adverse and side effects in comparison to other classes of anxiolytics (Stahl, 2020). The common side effects of SSRIs are weight gain, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction.
SNRIs like duloxetine and venlafaxine act by preventing the reabsorption of norepinephrine and serotonin into brain cells, thus increasing their levels. This leads to the reduction of the patient’s anxiety, depression and improvement of concentration. SNRIs are adequate and efficient just like SSRIs and are all recommended for first-line treatment. The side effects of SNRIs include weight gain, sexual dysfunction, stomach upset, and elevated blood pressure (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021)Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion.
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Benzodiazepines act on the GABA A receptor to enhance the impacts of the Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid neurotransmitter. The action produces muscle relaxant, anxiolytic, sedative and hypnotic proprieties. Examples of benzodiazepines are alprazolam, diazepam, and clonazepam. Common side effects are dependence and tolerance. Tricyclic antidepressants act in different neurotransmitter pathways (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021). They cause ant-depressive impacts by blocking norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake at presynaptic terminals. Compared to benzodiazepines, SSRIs and SNRIs, TCAs have serious side effects like dry mouth, urine retention, blurred vision, and orthostatic pressure. This indicates that it is safer to prescribe SSRIs and SNRIs to a patient than to prescribe TCAs (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021)Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder Discussion