Nowadays, the world of psychotropic drugs is becoming more and more widespread, with anxiolytics and antidepressants being the most commonly used. In therapy or even outside of it, it is not unusual to find people who use them or have done so at some point. But just as it is not surprising that they are used, it is also not surprising that there is a general lack of knowledge about them.
This is why this article will attempt to clarify in the simplest possible way the issues surrounding them, specifically, anxiolytics. Before going into the subject, it should be noted that this article is not intended to replace the figure of the psychiatric medicine specialist, but rather to bring knowledge to the average person from a mental health professional such as a health psychologist.
When are they necessary?
The use of anxiolytics and hypnotics usually has to be given to those people who, either initially due to a lack of tools for managing anxiety, are overwhelmed by anguish, or, in people who, despite having psychological work behind them, need to use them to feel stable.
To be more specific, the typical problems for which their use is usually recommended are: Generalized tension disorder Panic disorder
Severe stress reactions
Non-organic sleep disorders
Alcohol withdrawal
What groups of medication exist within the anxiolytics?
There are different groups, although it is worth highlighting the so-called Benzodiazepines. The reader has probably heard of Diazepam, Loracepam (Orfidal) or Bromacepam (Lexatin), well, all of them are part of the “Benzo” group.
What do anxiolytics do in our body?
In general, to be able to understand it in a pleasant and simple way, psychotropic drugs act at the brain level to produce therapeutic effects. Each of them has a series of action mechanisms that are related to neuronal synaptic transmission, that is, the process that allows communication between neurons. Many components play an important role in this communication. However, it is worth emphasizing the role of neurotransmitters, some of which you will surely be familiar with, such as dopamine or melatonin, but in addition to these there are others such as serotonin, noradrenaline, acetylcholine, glutamate, endogenous opioids and GABA. It is the latter, GABA, which is related to the effect of anxiolytics and, specifically, to the group that has been discussed before, the Benzodiazepines.
Therefore, when a person takes, for example, Orfidal, the benzodiazepine binds to specific receptors of the GABA receptors, which leads to an opening of the chloride channels, making the neuron more resistant to excitation, that is, the characteristic symptoms of anxiety will be reduced.
What side effects do they have?
As with almost all medications, whether psychopharmacological or not, the dreaded side effects may appear. The most typical are the following:
Sleepiness
Fatigue
Weakness
Decreased coordination
Decreased sexual libido
Others
What is important to know if they are consumed?
Apart from having some basic notions such as those developed in previous lines, it is important to keep in mind that use must be restricted. The reason is due to the risk of producing dependence and tolerance . That is why it is advisable to use them for a short time and in low doses. In addition, to avoid withdrawal symptoms, it is advisable to gradually withdraw them.
Finally, its use with alcohol is not recommended as it can cause respiratory depression, as well as performing activities that require concentration and coordination (e.g. driving).
Conclusion, therapy or medication?
As a professional psychologist, I can say that both are compatible, although it is true that before choosing the path of psychopharmacology it would be advisable to go to a psychologist. The reason lies in the fact that on many occasions we have more tools than we think to be able to manage different crises, or even if we don’t have them, they can be generated and strengthened through work in therapy. This, apart from making us achieve greater well-being, strengthens our self and with it our self-esteem, since the self-healing process is due to the effort made intrinsically.
On the contrary, choosing the sole route of medication is nothing more than a patch, since it operates on the organic part of the brain that causes physical symptoms, but does not work on the part that generates it, that is, the psychological, the mental.
In conclusion, I would recommend psychotherapy as the first option for a large majority of the population, since many of the problems are of subclinical origin. It is different when there is a serious pathology, which makes its use inevitable. But what is clear is that medication should never be the only option, but should always be accompanied by a psychotherapeutic process.
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