Anxiety Symptoms & Medications

Anxiety is a general feeling of apprehension, worry or fear. The source of the worry isn't always known or recognized, which only adds to the sufferer's distress. Some individuals suffer such extreme anxiety that they are unable to perform daily activities.

• Anxiety

Physical Symptoms

• Anxiety frequently triggers various physical symptoms, such as twitching, muscle tension, sweating and dry mouth. Many anxiety sufferers have frequent headaches or muscle pain.

Emotional Symptoms

• Emotional symptoms that often accompany anxiety include irritability, anger and sadness.

Other Symptoms

• Other common anxiety symptoms include dizziness, fast heart rate, rapid breathing and insomnia. Less common symptoms include a frequent need to urinate, recurrent bouts of diarrhea and sexual problems.

Anti-Anxiety Medications

• Doctors often prescribe benzodiazepines, which are quick-acting medications with sedating effects. Physicians also commonly prescribe buspirones, anti-anxiety drugs that work slowly but don't seem to cause addiction.

Antidepressant Medications

• Some anxiety patients find relief with prescribed antidepressants, such as Cymbalta, Prozac and Paxil. These antidepressants work by affecting the same neurotransmitters involved in anxiety.

Other Treatments

• Physicians often recommend individual counseling so anxiety patients can learn problem-solving techniques and coping strategies. Relaxation techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises, might also lower anxiety levels.