Conventional drugs to treat anxiety are
almost as well known for their side effects as
for their degree of relief. In fact, a team of
researchers from France and Canada linked
use of benzodiazepines, a common class of
prescription medications used for treating
anxiety, to an increased risk of being diag-
nosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Familiar
benzodiazepines include the brand names
Valium, Xanax, Librium, and Ativan. The
study reported that taking a benzodiazepine
for 3 to 6 months raised the risk of devel-
oping Alzheimer’s by 32%, and taking it for
more than 6 months boosted the risk by 84%.
And while there are many botanicals
that have been recognized to be useful
in varying degrees for anxiety (valerian,
alpha-linolenic acid, flaxseed, kava, and
gotu kola), some people may experience side
effects and interactions from them as well.
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