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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Don_Bristol on April 17, 2006, at 14:03:41
Some of you wil have seen my recent posts about the sedative effects of Zyprexa.
I now want to think more broadly and think about all sedative meds such as antihistamines, some blood pressure meds, tricyclic antidepressants and so on.
My QUESTION to you people is ... if a med has sedative effects then will those sedative effects reduce anxiety and therefore the med may be said to be an anxiolytic.
One group of meds which is sedative and also an anxiolytic is the benzodiazepines. I was wondering if their anxiolytic effect was due to their sedative effect - in which case the other sedative meds would also be anxiolytics.
Ir maybe the ability to be an anxiolytic is linked to sedation but there is not a clear 1-to-1 relationship.
For example, perhaps anxiolytics must be sedative but maybe there also need to have another property. [Sedation is necessary but not sufficient.]
Or perhaps, for example, some anxiolytics may be sedative and other anxiolytics maynot be sedative. [Sedation may or may not be present.]
Any info?
Posted by Racer on April 17, 2006, at 14:35:37
In reply to If a med is SEDATIVE then is it ANXIOLYTIC?, posted by Don_Bristol on April 17, 2006, at 14:03:41
I can't say anything for sure about this, but I can tell you my own experience: benzos sedate me, but don't reduce my anxiety -- and amphetamines only sedate me a bit, but do reduce my anxiety... (Yeah, I know I'm weird...)
With benzos, especially Xanax, I won't get calmer if I'm upset or anxious, and will generally get even more worked up just because it's so frightening to feel so much more vulnerable because of the sedation. Not a good plan for me, and I've had blackouts from taking "just a little more" Xanax in hopes of calming down. (If I'm lucky, I go to sleep -- more often, though, it's a vicious circle of getting more upset, more frightened, and being unable to sleep.)
Amphetamines, which I have less experience with, reduce my psychological anxiety so much I'm not sure there's any anxiety there at all. Physically, I still feel some tension, especially in my gut, but psychologically I'm calm and fairly relaxed. I think it's because they reduce the cognitive hyperactivity so much, that there's not all that background chatter keeping me wound up. (Now if only they didn't put me to sleep...)
Propranalol was great for my physical anxiety, and Buspar was pretty good for both, but they were both so amotivating that I couldn't stand it. (The amphetamines aren't much better in that regard, though...)
So, I don't think sedation is equivalent, nor necessary, to reducing anxiety. At least for some people.
Posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2006, at 21:49:51
In reply to If a med is SEDATIVE then is it ANXIOLYTIC?, posted by Don_Bristol on April 17, 2006, at 14:03:41
Paradoxical effect who knows. I tend to be the same way in reguards to some meds. The SSRI's and SNRI's are supposed to be sedating and make people amototivative. Me these just make me so anxious I can't tolerate them. Luvox is the exception to this for me. Love Phillipa
Posted by Caedmon on April 18, 2006, at 3:47:49
In reply to Re: If a med is SEDATIVE then is it ANXIOLYTIC? » Don_Bristol, posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2006, at 21:49:51
Yes absolutely. The sedative effects of benzos can wear off while anxiolytic potential can remain - although the sedative effects probably contribute to some of their efficacy. And some drugs can be anxiolytic but NOT sedating (e.g. MDMA). So, drugs are odd little buggers.
In a pinch, a sedating antihistamine can help my general level of tension.
- C
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