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Anxiety
Get anxiety medications from our Canadian pharmacy
Renew your prescription for anxiety medications such as escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, duloxetine and venlafaxine.
It is so easy and convenient to manage and buy your anxiety disorder prescription meds with NX Pharmacies. Use our pharmacy ordering service to get your anxiety medications delivered next day to major towns and cities in Western Canada.
What is anxiety ?
Anxiety is a natural response to a stressful event, for example during the planning of a wedding or while preparing for an exam. Anxiety is a feeling of fearful anticipation. But when that feeling lasts for a long time, affects your ability to lead a normal life and is out of proportion to real events, then it becomes an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders are the commonest reasons for mental ill-health.
Anxiety affects different people in different ways. Anxiety disorders include:
- phobias – including specific phobias and social phobia
- panic disorder
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Some people with anxiety disorders also suffer from linked mental health conditions such as substance abuse, depression and disordered eating.
Causes of anxiety
Doctors are still working out the mechanisms of anxiety. Some people get an anxiety disorder after an event that they have found traumatic, or a bereavement. Anxiety disorders are also linked to chronic stress. But a lot of people develop anxiety disorders for no apparent reason. Doctors believe anxiety is caused by lots of different factors, and this makes it hard to pinpoint an exact cause in any one individual. But research suggests there are some things in a person’s history, and in their lifestyle that can make it more likely that they will suffer with anxiety. These include:
- adverse childhood experiences such as bullying, abuse, neglect or domestic violence
- a painful long-term condition such as sciatica
- a history of substance misuse
- having family members with anxiety disorders
- overactivity in certain areas of the brain
Some people with anxiety disorder show an imbalance in the neurotransmitter chemical serotonin and the hormone noradrenaline.
What are the symptoms of anxiety ?
The physical symptoms of anxiety disorder can include:
- feeling sick (nausea)
- shaking or trembling
- fatigue
- tension
- headaches
- dizziness and light-headedness
- chest and abdominal pains
- shortness of breath
Anxiety has some mental symptoms too:
- excessive worries about a range of different things like social situations, worst case scenarios and even anxiety itself
- dissociation (the feeling that you may not be real)
How is anxiety diagnosed?
A GP will use various questionnaire tools and observations to diagnose anxiety disorder. It is difficult to diagnose mental health conditions and it is best to make an appointment with your GP if you are not feeling quite right. They can help you make the best decisions about your care, including choices of anxiety meds and therapies. Most anxiety meds are available only on prescription, so you need to see a GP to get them.
What should I do if I think I have anxiety disorder?
If you think you might have an anxiety disorder, speak with a healthcare professional. They will give reassurance and advice about lifestyle changes that can help. They will explore anti-anxiety medication options if that is appropriate, and talking therapies.
Some people are put off getting help for an anxiety disorder because of shame and stigma, or because they believe disordered anxiety is a sign of weakness. But anxiety disorder is an illness, just like flu or a broken leg. GPs see many people with anxiety and they have lots of ways to help.
What treatments are there for anxiety ?
There are plenty of treatment options for anxiety disorder. The most common treatment regime for anxiety disorder is a mix of lifestyle changes, medication and therapy.
Talking therapies for anxiety
There are several different types of talking therapy available for anxiety. The most common is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which aims to teach skills that will reduce your anxiety symptoms. Even if you’ve had CBT before, it’s worth having a refresher from time to time.
Drugs and medications used for anxiety
Not all cases of anxiety disorder need drug therapy. But there is a range of different treatment options if your doctor agrees that medication is the best option for your anxiety. And if one anxiety treatment doesn’t work, your doctor will help you to try another.
Drugs that treat anxiety are known as anxiolytics . Some anxiety drugs target the chemical messengers linked to anxiety – GABA; the hormone norepinephrine; and the neurotransmitter serotonin. These drug families are:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Some common SSRIs that treat anxiety are:
- escitalopram
- fluoxetine
- paroxetine
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Examples of SNRIs used for anxiety treatment are:
- duloxetine
- venlafaxine
GABA derivatives
The most common GABA derivative for treating anxiety is pregabalin.
Other drugs that may be prescribed for anxiety
There are some other classes of drugs used to treat anxiety:
- buspirone
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like phenelzine, tranylcypromine
- sedatives recognized as anxiolytics including benzodiazepines
- tricyclic antidepressants including clomipramine
Drugs that affect the brain need to be handled with care. They are available only with a prescription and even experienced, knowledgeable patients benefit from the support of a doctor or pharmacist in managing their anti-anxiety regime. So keep in touch with your doctor, and ask for advice if something doesn’t seem right, or if you think you need to stop taking your anxiety meds.
Most medications used to treat anxiety are prescription only medications (POMs). You will need to see a doctor about your anxiety disorder. They will prescribe the right meds to relieve your anxiety and give advice on lifestyle changes that will help you recover. In Canada you can depend on NX Pharmacies for your anti-anxiety drugs. We serve Western Canada and can fill your prescription of anxiety medication and deliver it next day to major towns and cities. We can help with renewals and refills. Our discretion is assured, and you can depend on us for authentic Health Canada-approved medications.
How to prevent anxiety
Some lifestyle changes recommended for anxiety can be helpful in preventing a recurrence. You can always ask your GP for help in implementing them.
Get enough sleep to avoid anxiety
Anxiety can be made worse by poor sleep and lack of rest. The Public Health Agency of Canada has some advice on improving sleep. It says that 12.3% of adults who don’t get enough sleep report having poor mental health, while just 5.8% adults who do get enough sleep report poor mental health. Poor sleep is also linked to chronic stress, which can be a cause of anxiety disorder.
So if anxiety is becoming a problem, consider your sleep hygiene.
Some of the general lifestyle tips to help with anxiety also help with sleep. For example:
- reduce caffeine, alcohol and tobacco before bed
- get regular exercise during the week
Sometimes medications – including those you take for anxiety – cause sleep problems. If you think this is the case with you, ask for a medication review with your doctor or pharmacist.
Practice relaxation to reduce the impact of anxiety
Breathing exercises and yoga routines designed to promote relaxation help some people with anxiety disorder.
Eat a healthy diet to reduce anxiety symptoms
Regular meals of healthy food will keep your energy levels stable and ease anxiety symptoms. Reducing your intake of foods and drinks that contain caffeine can also relieve anxiety.
Physical activity helps anxiety
Exercise can improve general wellbeing and lessen anxiety, so acquiring an exercise habit is a good idea if you have anxiety disorder. Even a ten-minute walk around the block a couple of times a week can make all the difference.
Abstain from alcohol and recreational drugs if you have anxiety disorder
Some people with anxiety may self-medicate with alcohol or other substances. They do appear to help you relax, but they can also lead to more anxiety and depression. And their aftereffects can also bring on anxiety, so healthcare practitioners recommend abstinence or moderation.
Therapy can teach skills to prevent anxiety
Therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), can help you to manage the symptoms of anxiety. This is available privately, or it may be included in your health plan. Your GP can advise you about accessing talking therapy for anxiety disorder.
The healthcare charity Anxiety Canada offers cognitive behavioural therapy via a free app, Mindshift CBT. This can teach you skills to reduce anxiety.
Reduce caffeine to control anxiety
Many people use caffeine in the form of coffee, tea, soft drinks and chocolate to give a little wake-up boost to their tired brains. But it can also make a person jittery and increase anxiety levels. Cutting down the amount of caffeine you consume can relieve the symptoms of anxiety disorder. Remember that some cough and cold remedies also contain caffeine, so if you are trying to avoid it, check labels.
- Where can I learn more about anxiety disorders?
- Where can I buy authentic Canadian anxiety medications?
- Does NX Pharmacies sell generic or branded anxiety medications?
- Can I get automatic refills of my anxiety medication?
- Why do my anxiety pills look different?
- What is the best price for anti-anxiety medications?
Where can I learn more about anxiety disorders?
Health Canada is a reliable source of information about anxiety disorders. Another good resource is the charity Anxiety Canada.
Where can I buy authentic Canadian anxiety medications?
To be sure you are treating your anxiety disorder with genuine, non-counterfeit medications, get a prescription for anxiety meds from your GP and then fill it at a licensed pharmacy, such as NX Pharmacies. For more advice on avoiding counterfeit drugs, see The Government of Canada’s information about counterfeit prescription drugs.
Does NX Pharmacies sell generic or branded anxiety medications?
We sell both branded and generic anxiolytic meds, all of which are regulated by Health Canada. Every medicine has an approved generic name, which is its chemical name. The brand, or trade name, is the version of that drug sold by a particular company. Branded drugs may be available in a particular format, for example a liquid rather than a pill form.
Most healthcare organizations encourage their doctors and nurses to prescribe using the generic name of a drug. Generic drugs are just as good, but cheaper than branded drugs, and pharmaceutical companies must demonstrate to Health Canada that they are bioequivalent to the brand-name drug.
Why do my anxiety pills look different?
Different pharmaceutical companies sell the same medication in different formats – for example, your anxiety meds might come in a different type of packaging, the colour of your anxiety tablets might be different from what you are used to. But the generic name of the drug will always appear somewhere on the packaging, even if the brand-name is different. The generic name on the package should match the generic name on your prescription.
The different versions of the same drug are stringently tested to ensure they are bioequivalent. So you should be getting the same dose each time even if your pills or their packaging looks different.
If you have any questions about your anxiety meds, please get in touch with us and we will do our best to help.