Medication for Anxiety & Nervousness

There are many types of anxiety, a condition characterized by chronic nervousness. Choosing the right medication can only be done with help from your doctor, but it helps to be informed before starting any treatment.

SSRIs

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are traditionally prescribed for depression. They work by increasing the brain's level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that keeps people calm. The well-known medications Prozac and Zoloft are both SSRIs that are prescribed for anxiety and nervousness as well as depression.

Tricyclics

• Tricyclic antidepressants are another depression medication that can be effective in treating nervousness caused by an anxiety disorder. Tricyclic antidepressants may cause side effects, such as nausea and dry mouth, more often than other types of antidepressants.

MAOIs

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs, are risky, as they can have serious conflicts with other medications and foods and may cause the user's blood pressure to rise to a dangerous level. That said, they are yet another antidepressant prescribed for anxiety and nervousness.

Benzodiazepines

• Benzodiazepines are medications that are used specifically for the treatment of anxiety or nervousness. These medications start working significantly faster than other treatments.

Beta-Blockers

• For treating physical manifestations of anxiety attacks such as sweating, beta-blockers are very useful. They do not treat the anxiety itself, however, only the physical symptoms of a panic attack.