Types of Anti-Anxiety Drugs Anxiolytics: Uses, Side Effects, Interaction, Supplement, Pregnancy

Anxiety disorders are a common type of psychiatric disorder characterized by anxiety or fear that does not diminish over time. One study found that 200 milligrams per day of L-theanine in healthy adults reduced stress and anxiety and improved sleep quality. Benzodiazepines such as Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam) are sometimes used to treat anxiety for a short-term period.

What to know before starting or stopping an anti-anxiety medication

• Dependence is a greater concern with benzodiazepines than some of the other anti-anxiety medication classes.
• Anti-anxiety medications are not cures for anxiety disorders, but they can help manage some of the symptoms.
• Anxiety and depression can decrease motivation to exercise, but medication may give you the energy to do it.” Also, says Duckworth, a patient may need more than one medication.
• MAOIs work differently than SSRIs and SNRIs by blocking the chemical monoamine oxidase from the body.

Buspirone is an azapirone that is prescribed as an anti-anxiety medication 8. Similar to SSRIs, SNRIs impact serotonin levels, but also have a similar action on norepinephrine, increasing the concentration of this neurotransmitter in the brain 10. If you stop taking an SSRI suddenly, you might experience benzofree.org antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, which affects 20% of people who take these medications. MAOIs work differently than SSRIs and SNRIs by blocking the chemical monoamine oxidase from the body.

If you have anxiety, you might be wondering if medication could help you manage your symptoms. Medication is one effective way to manage anxiety — and when it comes to anxiety meds, you’ve got options. However, TCAs may be useful for some people, especially if other medications do not provide relief.

If you need help finding a primary care doctor, check out our FindCare tool here. Taking 15-minute intervals of quiet time and meditation to focus on deep breathing and relaxation can help calm your anxiety. You can listen to music or repeat a motivational mantra on a regular basis.

In Anxiety Disorders+-

For example, they are sometimes used in combination with an SSRI for the first few weeks of treatment before the SSRI reaches maximum efficacy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently the first-line medication for many forms of anxiety. They work by causing more serotonin to be available in the brain, which can improve both anxiety and mood.

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

Benzodiazepines can be taken as needed to help you relax and reduce muscle tension when facing a stressful situation. They can also be useful for social anxiety disorder (SAD) and phobias if they are only taken occasionally. It is common for antidepressant medications to cause suicidal thoughts, particularly at the start of treatment.

They meticulously evaluate and review all medical content before publication to ensure it is medically accurate and aligned with current discussions and research developments in mental health. Medications often work differently for different people, so what is effective for one person may not be effective for another. As such, many people need to try more than one medication, or a combination of medications, to find the most effective treatment 5. Taking an MAOI with certain medications can dangerously increase your blood pressure and cause other potentially life threatening side effects.