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Medications, both antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, also can help.
Among antidepressants, the first choice often is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This category includes fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) and citalopram (Celexa). Other antidepressants that may be considered include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor). These drugs can be highly effective, but may take several weeks to months before the full effects are evident. And, treatment may require trying more than one drug to determine what works best for an individual.
For acute anxiety and short-term help, your physician may recommend a benzodiazepine, which generally eases anxiety within 30 to 90 minutes. Drugs in this category include alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). Long-term use of these medications is a concern because they can be habit-forming and cause unsteadiness or balance problems, drowsiness and reduce muscle coordination. Buspirone (BuSpar) is another medication prescribed for anxiety. It doesn't pose a risk of dependence but takes several weeks of regular doses to be effective.
Preventing Blood Clots: Risks from Long Flights and More
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Long, cramped airline flights aren't the only risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the medical term for blood clots in the legs. For those at high risk, hospitalization or surgery is more likely to trigger clot formation than flying.
The March issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter covers risk factors for deep vein thrombosis, as well as prevention, symptoms and treatment.
For most healthy adults, deep vein thrombosis is extremely rare. Every year, about 350,000 Americans are affected by DVT or a pulmonary embolism, wher
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