Which Drugs or Foods React With Anti-Anxiety Medication?

The pressures of modern life are clearly taking their toll. More and more people are seeing their doctors to get anti-anxiety medicine in order to combat stress and nervousness. The drugs can help the sufferer to remain calm and can help prevent them worrying so much.

Users should be careful though as sometimes the anti-anxiety medication can react negatively with other medications and with certain food and drinks. They can also have some quite unpleasant side effects.

Side Effects of Anti-anxiety Medication

Different varieties of anti-anxiety drugs can have different side effects. Atarax can cause drowsiness as well as a sore mouth. BuSpar can cause tiredness and dizziness while Ativan is known for causing dizziness. Centrax can lower concentration levels, Equanil can cause bruising, rashes and fever and Librium can cause swellings and constipation. Slerax can cause fainting and can also result in liver problems and vertigo. Stelazine can cause allergic reactions, fluid retention and blurred vision. Tranxene can result in drowsiness and Valium can cause light-headedness and poor concentration.

If you are experiencing any unpleasant side effects from your medication then you should consult your doctor. It may be that the side effects are an unavoidable part of the medication but it is also possible that you personally are reacting badly to a certain type of medication and your doctor could change the variety of anti-anxiety medicine you are being prescribed.

Interaction With Food And Drink

When taking anti-anxiety medicine you should avoid caffeine as much as possible. Caffeine can cause excitability and can make the patient nervous and hyperactive. This in turn can mean the effects of the anti-anxiety drugs are reduced. If you like hot drinks try fruit based teas instead.

Alcohol should also be avoided. If anti-anxiety drug users consume alcohol it can affect their mental state. Sufferers of mental disorders should try to avoid alcohol in general. Unfortunately many sufferers of depression and anxiety turn to drink in an attempt to block out the problems but this can make the problems even worse. Too much alcohol can cause a whole host of problems and the last thing a depressed person needs is health problems.

Getting Help

If you are suffering from depression or anxiety and are finding it difficult to cope with everyday life then you should speak with your doctor. Depression was once viewed as an illness to be embarrassed or ashamed of but as society becomes more open to mental illnesses more people have felt comfortable enough to accept and acknowledge the fact they have a problem.

Your doctor can help you to take the next step towards getting help and can advise you of what if any medication will be suited to you.

Once you are prescribed the correct medication make sure you adhere to the instructions on how to take the medication. If you start experiencing any unpleasant side effects or you think you medication is reacting badly with something else you are eating or taking then you should speak with your doctor immediately.