How to Treat Depression With Antianxiety Medication

Antianxiety medication, also known as anxiolytics, is used to combat the feelings of panic or anxiety that often accompany depression. Antianxiety drugs, such as ****, Valium, Ativan and Klonopin have been shown to be very effective in reducing many of the symptoms of depression, including feelings of despair and panic. Under the guidance of a qualified mental-health professional, you can treat depression with antianxiety medication.

Things You'll Need

• Mental-health professional, such as a psychiatrist
• Antianxiety medication

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Instructions

Treat Depression With Antianxiety Medication

• 1

  Familiarize yourself with the two basic classes of antianxiety medications. Benzodiazepines make up the most common group and include such medication as ****, Valium, Ativan and Klonopin. Non-benzodiazepines, such as Buspar, may be slightly less effective, but offer a reduction in side effects like memory loss and confusion.

• 2

  Schedule a visit with your mental-health professional to discuss whether an antianxiety medication will be an effective way to treat depression. While antianxiety medication can be a viable solution for treating some of the secondary symptoms associated with a depressive disorder, such as feelings of fear and despair, your doctor might prefer to use an SSRI or MAOI type of antidepressant for a more direct approach to treatment.

• 3

  Be aware of the side effects that may occur when you treat depression with antianxiety medication. These include drowsiness, confusion, vertigo, impaired judgment and memory loss. In addition, there is a high risk of addiction with most types of antianxiety medication, as well as the potential for overdoses.

• 4

  Avoid consumption of alcohol while you are taking antianxiety medication. When mixed, alcohol and benzodiazepines form a powerful central-nervous depressant that may impair your ability to function in your everyday life. There is also a greater risk of a lethal overdose when the two substances are combined, and feelings of depression and suicide may also return.

• 5

  Try light therapy as a natural way to complement the antianxiety medication. Light therapy involves being exposed to the full spectrum of light, using light-emitting diodes (LEDs), fluorescent lamps and sunlight to effectively reduce some of the symptoms of depression. Even exposure to sunlight, for at least 30 minutes every day, can raise serotonin levels in the brain, effectively treating depression.