An anxiotropic (/ˌæŋksiəˈtɹoʊpɪk/) agent is one that modifies anxiety, a human emotion that has homologous processes in animals. In psychopharmacology anxiotropic agents consist of two categories of psychoactive drugs: anxiolytics that reduce anxiety and may be used therapeutically, and anxiogenic compounds that increase anxiety.
Most anxiolytic agents are minor tranquilizers, the founding compound of which was meprobamate, marketed in the United States as Miltown. Meprobamate was eventually eclipsed by the benzodiazepines. The target of both categories of anxiotropic compounds is the GABAA receptor.
Globally, the two most widely used psychoactive drugs are anxiotropic agents: ethanol, an anxiolytic, and caffeine, an anxiogenic. While intake of both ethanol and caffeine has been shown to exert an anxiolytic effect, their withdrawal is associated with anxiogenic effects.[1][2]
Uses in psychiatryedit
Anxiotropic agents are commonly used in the treatment of a variety of mental conditions, such as anxiety, insomnia, and panic disorder. Some common anxiolytics include lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepam (Valium). Benzodiazepines are generally preferred to barbiturates, as there is a wider therapeutic index, meaning there is a greater distance between therapeutic and toxic dosage levels. Anxiolytics can be prescribed on a daily basis or to be taken as needed. [3]
anxiotropic, anxiotropic, ˌæŋksiəˈtɹoʊpɪk, agent, that, modifies, anxiety, human, emotion, that, homologous, processes, animals, psychopharmacology, anxiotropic, agents, consist, categories, psychoactive, drugs, anxiolytics, that, reduce, anxiety, used, therap. An anxiotropic ˌaeŋksieˈtɹoʊpɪk agent is one that modifies anxiety a human emotion that has homologous processes in animals In psychopharmacology anxiotropic agents consist of two categories of psychoactive drugs anxiolytics that reduce anxiety and may be used therapeutically and anxiogenic compounds that increase anxiety Most anxiolytic agents are minor tranquilizers the founding compound of which was meprobamate marketed in the United States as Miltown Meprobamate was eventually eclipsed by the benzodiazepines The target of both categories of anxiotropic compounds is the GABAA receptor Globally the two most widely used psychoactive drugs are anxiotropic agents ethanol an anxiolytic and caffeine an anxiogenic While intake of both ethanol and caffeine has been shown to exert an anxiolytic effect their withdrawal is associated with anxiogenic effects 1 2 Uses in psychiatry editAnxiotropic agents are commonly used in the treatment of a variety of mental conditions such as anxiety insomnia and panic disorder Some common anxiolytics include lorazepam Ativan clonazepam Klonopin and diazepam Valium Benzodiazepines are generally preferred to barbiturates as there is a wider therapeutic index meaning there is a greater distance between therapeutic and toxic dosage levels Anxiolytics can be prescribed on a daily basis or to be taken as needed 3 See also editAnxiety BenzodiazepinesReferences edit Costall B Kelly ME Naylor RJ 2013 03 25 The anxiolytic and anxiogenic actions of ethanol in a mouse model J Pharm Pharmacol 40 3 197 202 doi 10 1111 j 2042 7158 1988 tb05218 x PMID 2899150 S2CID 28757440 Kliethermes CL 2013 03 25 Anxiety like behaviors following chronic ethanol exposure Neurosci Biobehav Rev 28 8 837 50 doi 10 1016 j neubiorev 2004 11 001 PMID 15642625 S2CID 22109481 Anxiolytics sedatives and hypnotics Drugs com Retrieved 20 July 2019 nbsp This psychology related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anxiotropic amp oldid 1115617447, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
