Drugs Used for Anxiety

Medications for psychiatric disorders are broken down into different classes: anti-anxiety agents (benzodiazepines, or tranquilizers), antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs and tricyclics), antipsychotics, psychostimulants and mood stabilizers. Individuals with anxiety disorders are typically given antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication. Antidepressants work to increase levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Although they are effective and have minimal side effects, one of their downfalls is the fact that they can take up to several weeks to begin working. Anti-anxiety medications, on the other hand, are fast-acting and can bring relief within minutes.

Function

• Benzodiazepines is the most common class of anti-anxiety drugs that are used to treat anxiety; they decelerate brain activity, which results in the calming of nerves and the decline of troublesome thoughts.

Features

• Benzodiazepines deal with the neurotransmitter known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to encourage relaxation and slow the central nervous system down

Types

• Such medications include Xanax (alprazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Valium (diazepam).

Considerations

• Buspar is another anxiety drugs that acts to decrease anxiety symptoms by stimulating the serotonin receptors on the cells of the nerves in order to steady a person's mood.

Effects

• Unlike benzodiazepines, Buspar doesn't have the tranquilizing and sedative side effects.

Potential

• In many cases, antidepressants like Cymbalta, Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac and Paxil are used in conjunction with benzodiazepines to achieve maximum effect.

Expert Insight

• Since benzodiazepines tend to be addictive and one can build up tolerance to them, many psychiatrists start a patient on both an antidepressant and benzodiazepines; once the antidepressant becomes effective, the benzodiazepine is slowly reduced or even eliminated.