Anxiety medication?
My main question and concern really is does it increase your weight? (Ex: Ativan)
Answer:
There are various anti-anxiety drugs prescribed by doctors, however one should consider that different doctors will prescribe different medicine (drugs) depending on the symptoms being presented by the patient. It could be that an anti-depressant will also be used for anti-anxiety reduction. Some of these medicines are okay for short term usage, but consideration must always be given to the fact that even casual usage can be addictive (psychologically or physiologically). The goal should be to identify the root cause of the anxiety. Why are you anxious? Drugs do not cure anxiety; they cover up the symptoms for short periods of time, until you can face the anxiety causing situation or condition.
Weight increase may be a function of anxiety, not the drugs. People can become nervous eaters as a means of coping with anxiety. There is the added fact that anything (drugs) that reduces anxiety may tend to remove your desire to exercise, even when exercise may be a good cure for the anxiety you are facing.
I take Xanax, one pill daily, and my weight hasn't increased. I have never been depressed, but I get stressed out over the littlest things so one Xanax in the morning helps me to be a normal person.
Judicious, intermittent use of anti-anxiety medications would not be unreasonable, but this would always be at the discretion of your physician, since many due have the potential for abuse.
There is little evidence of any significant weight changes due to the most commonly used (and abused) anti-anxiety medications, the benzodiazepines (which include Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, etc).
To reduce the chance of psychological dependence, it would make sense to use scheduled doses of a long-lasting medication during times you anticipate problems, rather than taking them in response to problems--the latter strategy can condition you to connect feeling better to taking medications, which can lead to psychological dependence. Not all physicians agree with this, though.
The medicine and health information post by website user , ByeDR.com not guarantee correctness , is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
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