Anxiety and Depression

Research and write a paragraph on each of the medications, used to treat anxiety and depression, listed below:

Benzodiazapines

Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs called minor tranquillisers, often known as benzos. These drugs are prescribed by a doctor to help people with anxiety or sleep problems. There are about 30 different types (generic names) of benzodiazepines. Each one of these generic name drugs may be sold under several different brand names – all the same drug, but made by different companies.

Benzodiazepines slow down the workings of the brain and the central nervous system. They are used medically to reduce anxiety, to help people sleep and to relax the body. They should only be prescribed for short periods of time. This is because it is possible to become dependent on them after as little as four weeks’ use as directed by a doctor (see ‘Tolerance and dependence’ in this fact sheet).

Different types of benzodiazepines work in the body for different lengths of time. They come in the form of tablets or capsules and some are available for intravenous use in hospital settings. Some people inject benzodiazepines and/or use them at the same time as they use heroin, alcohol or other drugs. This can be very dangerous and can cause an overdose or death. Injecting benzodiazepines, which are intended to be swallowed in tablet/capsule form, can also cause severe damage to veins, leading to loss of limbs from poor circulation, organ damage or stroke.

Beta-Blockers

Beta blockers are a class of drugs.

Beta blockers target the beta receptor. Beta receptors are found on cells of the heart muscles, smooth muscles, airways, arteries, kidneys, and other tissues that are part of the sympathetic nervous system and lead to stress responses, especially when they are stimulated by epinephrine(adrenaline). Beta blockers interfere with the binding to the receptor of epinephrine and other stress hormones, and weaken the effects of stress hormones.

They...