Q. My therapist referred me to another doctor for medication to treat my anxiety.  I've done an Internet search on anxiety medications and there seems to be a lot of them.  Which meds are usually prescribed for anxiety?

A. Medication can be an effective approach for managing anxiety. The type of anxiety you experience (panic versus chronic worry), your medical and psychiatric history, and the medications you currently take will determine which medication your are given. Below are some of the more commonly used medications for anxiety.

Antidepressants

The most commonly used medications to treat anxiety are antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs for short. SSRIs manipulate the chemical in the brain called serotonin, which is believed to be linked to anxiety. It may seem odd that a person with anxiety would be prescribed an antidepressant but it's really not. Serotonin is related to both depression and anxiety. And it was known first that "antidepressants" worked for depression before they were known to be effective for anxiety. Hence, they are called antidepressants.

Common SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) and citalopram (Celexa). Commonly reported side effects include sexual dysfunction and stomach discomfort. It should be noted that the Food and Drug Administration issued an alert that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal behavior in children, adolescents and young adults up to age 25; considerable controversy surrounds this warning.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines make up a class of drugs frequently used for the short-term management of anxiety. The most commonly prescribed are alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). Similar to the effects of alcohol, these medications are great at quickly generating relaxation. However, there are considerable risks with them. They do not mix well with alcohol or other sedatives. And although a small minority, some people develop a psychological and physical dependence to these drugs.

Other medications

There are a variety of other medications used to treat anxiety, but they are not called anxiety medications. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, is an example. Similar to the SSRIs, SNRIs increase the level of serotonin in the brain. However, they also increase the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which has also been implicated in anxiety. Common examples of SNRIs are venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta). Buspirone (Buspar) also manipulates serotonin, but is not an antidepressant. The main benefit of buspirone is that there are no abuse or dependency issues associated with the drug. The most common side effect is a feeling of lightheadedness shortly after taking it. Hydroxyzine, a generic antihistamine like Benadryl, is occasionally used for the short-term treatment of anxiety. It's most troubling side effect is sleepiness, which limits its use in many people.

Medications can play a key role in managing anxiety.  However, in order to receive the greatest benefit from the medications it's important to understand their risks and limitations.

For more information on medications and anxiety, visit www.adaa.org/finding-help/treatment/medication.

Share:
In Other News
Load More