Should Walk-In Clinics Prescribe Medications for Anxiety?

Getting Professional Help for Anxiety

For those struggling with difficult to manage anxiety, medications may help relieve symptoms when combined with lifestyle changes and therapy techniques. However, it's important medications are prescribed and monitored appropriately to avoid potential complications or worsening anxiety.

Can Walk-in Clinics Prescribe Anxiety Medications?

Walk-in medical clinics focus on minor illnesses and injuries, providing accessible basic healthcare. With their scope limited, walk-in clinics typically cannot prescribe medications intended for long-term mental health conditions like anxiety disorders.

Government regulations also restrict walk-in clinics from prescribing DEA controlled substances that have a potential for misuse, including common anti-anxiety medicines like benzodiazepines.

Risks of Inappropriate Anxiety Medication Prescriptions

Improper diagnoses and medication prescribed for mental health issues pose substantial risks. These risks increase further when received from pop-up clinics with limited patient knowledge.

Potential consequences include:

• Worsening feelings of anxiety due to incorrect medicine or dosing
• Delaying targeted treatment of underlying anxiety triggers
• Harmful interactions with other current medications or health conditions
• Severe withdrawal if benzodiazepine use isn't tapered appropriately
• Developing dependency on anti-anxiety medications

Getting an Accurate Anxiety Evaluation

The first step in pursuing anxiety treatment should be a comprehensive evaluation by a licensed mental health professional. This typically involves:

Screening Questions to Understand Symptoms

In an initial consultation, you'll answer questions about your specific anxiety signs, situations when it worsens, impact on functioning, personal/family history and more details necessary for an accurate diagnosis.

Assessments and Inventories

Standardized assessments and scoring systems are also commonly used to indicate the severity of anxiety present and shape a tailored treatment approach.

For example, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) has you self-report the frequency of symptoms like feeling nervous or restless over the past two weeks.

Consideration of Any Other Existing Conditions

It's important to also rule out any underlying medical factors that could be contributing to anxiety spikes. Additionally, over 50% of people with anxiety disorders simultaneously have conditions like depression.

Catching any comorbidities or triggers impacting anxiety allows them to be concurrently addressed in treatment.

Professional Support Options for Managing Anxiety

Based on a thorough diagnostic evaluation, a psychologist, psychiatrist or licensed therapist will suggest an appropriate treatment plan.

Psychotherapy Approaches

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is commonly utilized, helping people modify negative thought patterns and behaviors exacerbating anxiety. Other proven approaches focus on mindfulness, relationships, emotions or past experiences influencing current anxiety levels.

Potential Prescription Medications

In moderate to severe anxiety cases, approved prescription anti-anxiety medications may provide added relief when combined with therapy. These include:

• SSRIs - interfere with serotonin reabsorption to positively influence mood
• SNRIs - also impact levels of norepinephrine to relieve anxiety
• Benzodiazepines - directly promote relaxation and reduce panic

Medications are carefully chosen and dosages fine-tuned based on someone's history and symptoms. A psychiatrist can best monitor progress and side effects.

Complementary Health Approaches

Holistic options like meditation, yoga, massage, acupuncture and exercise reinforcement may further help calm anxiety. Building social support networks also promotes resilience.

6 Key Considerations Around Anxiety Medication

If prescribed anti-anxiety medication, be an engaged, informed patient. Aside from taking it exactly as directed, other tips include:

Know Common Side Effects

Short-term side effects when initially starting anxiety medications may include worsening anxiety, gastrointestinal issues, drowsiness, headaches or dizziness. Most diminish within a few weeks once the treatment takes full effect.

Stay in Touch with Your Prescriber

Check back as often as recommended so your doctor can evaluate if the drug and dosage is adequately relieving anxiety without problematic side effects.

Don't Mix with Alcohol or Drugs

Combining anxiety medication with alcohol, weed and recreational substances puts you at risk of dangerous interactions, unconsciousness or even death in severe cases.

Be Cautious Adjusting the Dose Yourself

Doubling up or taking more medication without a doctor's approval can seriously increase side effects like confusion, impaired cognition and drowsiness.

Don't Quit Suddenly

Make sure to gradually taper your medication usage first before fully discontinuing to avoid anxiety rebounding severely or dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Watch for Signs of Dependence or Addiction

While uncommon, anxiety medication dependency evidenced by constantly needing more doses or uncontrollable use should prompt immediately seeking specialized help.

Anxiety Can Be Overcome with Proper Treatment

Getting anxiety medication from walk-in clinics risks inadequate diagnosis and care. Instead, consulting anxiety specialists ensures your unique condition and history shapes an effective, multi-faceted treatment plan for long-term wellbeing.