Medication for Mild Anxiety

Many people suffer from mild anxiety for years without treatment, thinking it is stress from work or their personal lives. Symptoms include insomnia, restlessness, difficulty making decisions, excessive worry, dry mouth, sweaty palms and stomach upsets. There is prescription and herbal medication available to treat mild anxiety.

• Anxiety can affect all aspects of your life.

Antidepressants

• Most antidepressants in the category known as SSRIs, or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, are also effective in treating anxiety. A very low dose might be all you need for mild anxiety and will lessen the chances of side effects. Some examples in this category are Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil.

Anti-anxiety Medication

• There are also prescription drugs available to treat anxiety on an immediate basis. These include Valium, Xanax and Ativan. Doctors might be reluctant to prescribe these medications for mild anxiety cases, but they might be appropriate if you suffer from occasional bouts of severe anxiety or panic attacks.

Herbal Medication

• A number of herbal remedies are available that purport to treat anxiety. Some are totally unproven, while others appear to be somewhat effective. Clinical trials of herbal medicines are uncommon, so their usefulness in treatment is still a matter of debate in the medical community. Remedies that have shown some effectiveness in clinical trials include kava kava, St. John's wort and valerian.

Vitamins and Nutrition

• Inositol, a B vitamin, might be useful in improving your mood and relieving anxiety. Also, maintaining a healthy diet and getting adequate vitamins and nutrients will help maintain your physical health, which in turn can ease anxiety.

Lifestyle Changes

• For those who suffer from mild anxiety, prescription drugs might not be necessary. Getting enough sleep and exercise and reducing outside stress in your life might be sufficient to improve how you're feeling.