Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder

Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder Panic Disorder Related Conditions Print Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 03, 2020 skynesher/Getty Images More in Panic Disorder Related Conditions Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Coping Substance or medication-induced anxiety disorder is the diagnostic name for severe anxiety or panic which is caused by alcohol, drugs, or medications. While it is normal to have some feelings of anxiety in stressful situations, and even the transient feelings of anxiety, paranoia or panic that can happen spontaneously during intoxication or withdrawal from alcohol or drugs, substance-induced anxiety feels much worse and goes on a lot longer.??? For some people, it can significantly upset their enjoyment in life. Unfortunately, the same drugs that many people use to try and boost their confidence, help them relax, and lower their inhibitions are the ones most prone to causing substance-induced anxiety disorder or panic attacks. In some cases, people dont even realize that it is alcohol, drugs or medications that are causing the anxiety  because they only associate those substances with feeling good. The Dangers of Using Alcohol and Drugs to Relieve Anxiety Diagnosis When physicians or psychologists give a diagnosis of substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder, they check to make sure that the anxiety wasnt there before the use of alcohol, drugs or medications thought to be responsible. This is because there are several different types of anxiety disorders, and if the symptoms were there before the substance use, it isnt diagnosed as substance/medication-induced anxiety.?? Types of Anxiety Disorders How Soon Anxiety Can Be Induced After Taking the Drug In some cases, anxiety or panic can occur straight away. There is even a category with onset during intoxication, which means that the anxiety episode actually started when the individual was drunk or high on the drug.??? It can also occur during withdrawal, during which symptoms of anxiety are common. However, with anxiety which is simply a symptom of withdrawal, the persons symptoms will generally resolve within a few days of discontinuing alcohol or drug use, while with substance-induced anxiety disorder, it can start during withdrawal, and continue or get worse as the person moves through the detox process. How Long Do Withdrawal Symptoms Last? Generally, the diagnosis isnt given if the person has a history of anxiety without substance use, or if the symptoms continue for more than a month after the person becomes abstinent from the alcohol, drugs or medication.?? For the diagnosis of Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder to be given, the symptoms have to be causing a great deal of emotional upset or significantly affecting the persons life, including their work or social life, or another part of their life that is important. Drugs That Cause Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder A wide variety of psychoactive substances can cause substance-induced anxiety, including: Alcohol-induced anxiety disorder??Caffeine-induced anxiety disorderCannabis-induced anxiety disorderPhencyclidine-induced anxiety disorderOther hallucinogen-induced anxiety disorderInhalant-induced anxiety disorderAmphetamine-induced anxiety disorderOther stimulant-induced anxiety disorderCocaine-induced anxiety disorderOther substance-induced anxiety disorderUnknown substance-induced anxiety disorder Medications known to cause substance-induced anxiety include: Anesthetic-induced anxiety disorderAnalgesic-induced anxiety disorderSympathomimetic or other bronchodilator-induced anxiety disorderAnticholinergic-induced anxiety disorderInsulin-induced anxiety disorderThyroid preparation-induced anxiety disorderOral contraceptive-induced anxiety disorderAntihistamine-induced anxiety disorderAntiparkinsonian-induced anxiety disorderCorticosteroid-induced anxiety disorderAntihypertensive and cardiovascular medication-induced anxiety disorderAnticonvulsant-induced anxiety disorderLithium carbonate-induced anxiety disorderAntipsychotic-induced anxiety disorderAntidepressant-induced anxiety disorder Specific heavy metals and toxins that can cause panic or anxiety symptoms include organophosphate insecticide, nerve gases, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and volatile substances such as gasoline and paint.