Antianxiety drugs

• what do antianxiety meds treat?

  anxiety & stress disorders
• what are the two causes of anxiety disorders?

  low levels of GABA

  high levels of adrenaline/noradrenaline
• what is GABA?

  neurotransmitter which slows activity of CNS
• what is adrenaline/noradrenaline responsible for?

  fight/flight repsonse
• what are the two drugs used to treat anxiety disorders?

  benzodiazepines

  beta-blockers
• what do benzodiazepines (BZ's) do?

  slow activity of CNS
• how do BZ's work?

  enhance activity of GABA (bodies natural anxiety relief)
• what is the CNS?

  central nervous system
• what does the CNS consist of?

  spinal cord

  brain

  pancreas
• what do beta-blockers do?

  reduce adrenaline & noradrenaline
• what does the reduction of adrenaline/noradrenaline lead to?

  slower heart rate & blood pressure
• how do BB's work?

  bind to receptors on cells of heart & other parts of body normally stimulated during sympathetic arousal
• what does the binding of BB's to these cells do?

  block receptors
• what does blocked receptors lead to?

  harder to stimulate cells in part of body = slower heart beat & lower bp
• what does slower HR and lower BP lead to?

  feel calmer & less anxious