What is substance or medication-induced anxiety?
There are so many reasons why kids or teens might feel anxious. It’s a normal human emotion, after all. Sometimes the anxiety is genetic, other times it happens because of school stress or big life changes. And sometimes, anxiety is actually caused by something a person puts into their body.
When a child or teen starts feeling super nervous, panicky, or shaky because of a medicine, a drug, or even too much caffeine, doctors call this substance or medication-induced anxiety disorder.
This diagnosis isn’t used for a caffeine “buzz” or a small side effect. It’s applied when the anxiety symptoms are much stronger, usually starting right after taking the substance or when it’s leaving the body.
How substance or medication-induced anxiety feels in the body
Since a child’s nervous system is still developing, they might feel these physical changes more intensely than adults do. Here are some common physical signs:
Racing heart: Pounding or quickly-beating heart even at rest
The shakes: Hands or legs trembling even when they aren't cold
Sweating: Getting sweaty palms or forehead
Stomach trouble: Feeling nauseous, having butterflies, or getting a sudden stomachache
Shortness of breath: Tight chest or trouble calming their breathing
How it feels emotionally
Substance or medication-induced anxiety isn’t just about the physical jitters. This type of anxiety changes how a young person thinks and feels. It can be very scary because the person might not realize that a pill or a drink is causing the change.
A teen might feel a sense of impending doom, like something terrible is about to happen, even if everything is fine. They might become very irritable and snap at their friends or parents. It can also cause panic attacks, because of the intensity of the physical sensations.
Common triggers for kids and teens
Substance or medication-induced anxiety isn’t always caused by illegal substances. There are some common drugs that can trigger this type of anxiety, too:
Caffeine: Energy drinks, coffee, or sodas can overstimulate a child’s brain
ADHD medications: Sometimes the medicine used to help with focus can accidentally cause rebound anxiety as it wears off
Asthma inhalers: Certain medicines that open up the lungs can also speed up the heart and cause shakiness
Cold medicines: Some over-the-counter syrups contain ingredients that act like stimulants
What should you do if your child has substance or medication-induced anxiety?
Once the substance is out of the system, the feelings that come with this specific kind of anxiety can go away. However, sharing what your child experienced should be discussed with their pediatrician, therapist, or psychiatrist.
If a medication is determined to be the cause of the problem, the prescribing doctor can change the dose or try a different type. If it’s caused by something like energy drinks, reducing the amount or not drinking them altogether usually fixes the issue.
The main thing for you to remember as the parent is that the scary feeling your child is going through is just a chemical reaction in the body, not a permanent part of who your child is.