Medication for anxiety is prescribed by doctors, such as a psychiatrist or primary care provider. Some states also allow psychologists who have received specialized training to prescribe psychiatric medications. The most common classes of medications used to combat anxiety disorders are anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines , antidepressants, and beta-blockers. Anti-anxiety medications can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, or extreme fear and worry. The most common anti-anxiety medications are called benzodiazepines.
Although benzodiazepines are sometimes used as first-line treatments for generalized anxiety disorder, they have both benefits and drawbacks. Some benefits of benzodiazepines are that they are effective in relieving anxiety and take effect more quickly than antidepressant medications often prescribed for anxiety.
Some drawbacks of benzodiazepines are that people can build up a tolerance to them if they are taken over a long period of time and they may need higher and higher doses to get the same effect.
Some people may even become dependent on them. To avoid these problems, doctors usually prescribe benzodiazepines for short periods of time, a practice that is especially helpful for older adults, people who have substance abuse problems, and people who become dependent on medication easily.
If people suddenly stop taking benzodiazepines, they may have withdrawal symptoms, or their anxiety may return. Therefore, benzodiazepines should be tapered off slowly. When you and your doctor have decided it is time to stop the medication, the doctor will help you slowly and safely decrease your dose. A different type of anti-anxiety medication is buspirone.
Buspirone is a non-benzodiazepine medication specifically indicated for the treatment of chronic anxiety, although it does not help everyone. Antidepressants are used to treat depression, but they can also be helpful for treating anxiety disorders. They may help improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or stress.
You may need to try several different antidepressant medicines before finding the one that improves your symptoms and has manageable side effects. A medication that has helped you or a close family member in the past will often be considered.
If you begin taking antidepressants, do not stop taking them without the help of a doctor. Stopping them abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms. Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs are commonly used as first-line treatments for anxiety.
Less-commonly used — but effective — treatments for anxiety disorders are older classes of antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs.
Please Note: In some cases, children, teenagers, and young adults under 25 may experience an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressant medications, especially in the first few weeks after starting or when the dose is changed. Because of this, patients of all ages taking antidepressants should be watched closely, especially during the first few weeks of treatment.
Although beta-blockers are most often used to treat high blood pressure, they can also be used to help relieve the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat, shaking, trembling, and blushing.
These medications, when taken for a short period of time, can help people keep physical symptoms under control. Some types of drugs may work better for specific types of anxiety disorders, so people should work closely with their doctor to identify which medication is best for them.
Certain substances such as caffeine, some over-the-counter cold medicines, illicit drugs, and herbal supplements may aggravate the symptoms of anxiety disorders or interact with prescribed medication. Patients should talk with their doctor, so they can learn which substances are safe and which to avoid. Your doctor may try several medicines before finding the right one. Please note that any information on this website regarding medications is provided for educational purposes only and may be outdated.
Diagnosis and treatment decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor. Information about medications changes frequently. Please visit the U. We all tend to avoid certain things or situations that make us uncomfortable or even fearful. But for someone with a phobia, certain places, events or objects create powerful reactions of strong, irrational fear.
Most people with specific phobias have several things that can trigger those reactions; to avoid panic, they will work hard to avoid their triggers. Physical symptoms of an anxiety disorder can be easily confused with other medical conditions, like heart disease or hyperthyroidism.
Therefore, a doctor will likely perform an evaluation involving a physical examination, an interview and lab tests. After ruling out an underlying physical illness, a doctor may refer a person to a mental health professional for evaluation. Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM a mental health professional is able to identify the specific type of anxiety disorder causing symptoms as well as any other possible disorders that may be involved. Tackling all disorders through comprehensive treatment is the best recovery strategy.
Different anxiety disorders have their own distinct sets of symptoms. This means that each type of anxiety disorder also has its own treatment plan. But there are common types of treatment that are used. Anxiety disorders can occur along with other mental health conditions, and they can often make related conditions worse.
So, talk with a mental health care professional if you are experiencing anxiety and any of the following:. Search Close Menu. Sign In About Mental Illness. About Mental Illness Treatments. American Psychiatric Association.
Reinhold JA, et al. Pharmacological treatment for generalized anxiety disorder in adults: An update. Expert Opinion in Pharmacotherapy. Bandelow B, et al. Efficacy of treatments for anxiety disorders: A meta-analysis. International Clinical Psychopharmacology. Find support. Bazzan AJ, et al.
Current evidence regarding the management of mood and anxiety disorders using complementary and alternative medicine. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. Natural medicines in the clinical management of anxiety. Natural Medicines. Sarris J, et al. Plant-based medicines for anxiety disorders, Part 2: A review of clinical studies with supporting preclinical evidence.
CNS Drugs. What are the major types of anxiety disorder? The major types of anxiety disorder are: Generalized anxiety disorder GAD. People with GAD worry excessively about ordinary, day-to-day issues, such as health, money, work, and family. With GAD, the mind often jumps to the worst-case scenario, even when there is little or no reason to worry.
Women with GAD may be anxious about just getting through the day. They may have muscle tension and other stress-related physical symptoms, such as trouble sleeping or upset stomach. At times, worrying keeps people with GAD from doing everyday tasks. They also are more likely to have a family history of depression.
Panic disorders are twice as common in women as in men. Panic attacks may cause a sense of unreality, a fear of impending doom, or a fear of losing control. People having panic attacks sometimes believe they are having heart attacks, losing their minds, or dying. Social phobia. Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is diagnosed when people become very anxious and self-conscious in everyday social situations.
People with social phobia have a strong fear of being watched and judged by others. They may get embarrassed easily and often have panic attack symptoms. Specific phobia. A specific phobia is an intense fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Specific phobias could be fears of closed-in spaces, heights, water, objects, animals, or specific situations. People with specific phobias often find that facing, or even thinking about facing, the feared object or situation brings on a panic attack or severe anxiety.
Some other conditions that are not considered anxiety disorders but are similar include: Obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD. People with OCD have unwanted thoughts obsessions or behaviors compulsions that cause anxiety. They may check the oven or iron again and again or perform the same routine over and over to control the anxiety these thoughts cause.
Often, the rituals end up controlling the person. Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. PTSD starts after a scary event that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. The person who gets PTSD may have been the one who was harmed, or the harm may have happened to a loved one or even a stranger. Who gets anxiety disorders? What causes anxiety disorders? Researchers think anxiety disorders are caused by a combination of factors, which may include: Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle Genetics.
Anxiety disorders may run in families. Traumatic events. Experiencing abuse, an attack, or sexual assault can lead to serious health problems, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder , and depression. What are the signs and symptoms of an anxiety disorder? Physical symptoms may include: Weakness Shortness of breath Rapid heart rate Nausea Upset stomach Hot flashes Dizziness Physical symptoms of anxiety disorders often happen along with other mental or physical illnesses.
How are anxiety disorders diagnosed? How are anxiety disorders treated? Often, treatment may include: Counseling called psychotherapy Medicine A combination of counseling and medicine. How does counseling help treat anxiety disorders? What types of medicine treat anxiety disorders? Several types of medicine treat anxiety disorders. These include: Antianxiety benzodiazepines. These medicines are usually prescribed for short periods of time because they are addictive.
Stopping this medicine too quickly can cause withdrawal symptoms. Beta blockers. These medicines can help prevent the physical symptoms of an anxiety disorder, like trembling or sweating. SSRIs change the level of serotonin in the brain. Common side effects can include insomnia or sedation, stomach problems, and a lack of sexual desire.
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