Drug Interactions

All medications have the potential to cause a drug interaction. The best way to avoid harmful interactions is:

• Make sure your pharmacist and all prescribing health care providers know all the medications you are currently taking, both on prescription and those you purchase without a prescription.
• Take medications at the exact times and manner in which they are prescribed.
• Do not take more medication than has been prescribed.
• Consult with your pharmacist, telling them all the medications you are currently taking before purchasing any medications 'over the counter' or any herbal therapies. Many herbal therapies, such as St. John's Wart can interact with your prescription medications.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a common psychotherapeutic approach to treating anxiety. Cognition refers to what we know and understand through our thinking. Anxiety is sometimes caused by faulty thinking patterns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy sometimes helps people recognize faulty thinking and develop new healthy thinking patterns. The behavioral aspect of the therapy involves encouraging the people to expose themselves to an anxiety provoking situation for brief periods, in a controlled manner for the purpose of helping them to deal with the emotions that arise from the experience.

This may involve initially participating in the experience through pictures or movies. As therapy progresses and when the patient feels ready, they may be encouraged to enter the real situation with the therapist present and eventually on their own. Patients are never forced into situations; they decide if, when or how long they will enter a particular situation. The person with the anxiety disorder decides what they can comfortably handle, and treatment is tailored to the specific needs of the individual patient.