A Primer on Anxiety Attack Medications

Though some people are able to treat anxiety attacks with therapy alone, particularly those whose anxiety attacks are related to an identified phobia, most people who suffer from anxiety attacks control the disorder with medication. There is a vast spectrum of anxiety attack medications on the market these days, so anyone considering pharmaceutical treatment would do well to know something about the various medicines before visiting the doctor. A little bit of knowledge about anxiety attack medications goes a long way in the doctor’s office. When a patient is armed with some information, he or she can ask the right questions and provide the doctor with the right information and possibly cut down on the medication switching that often occurs when patients are trying to find the right anxiety attack medication for them. Consider this overview an aid to medical consultation, not a replacement for it.

Anxiety attack medications fall into several drug classes. The most common are azapirones, benzodiazepines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Medications in these drug classes tend to be popular because they prevent the onset of anxiety attacks rather than treat the symptoms. Benzodiazepines such as Valium and Ativan tend to be most effective for most anxiety attack sufferers. However, many find these medications addictive, and some find that they actually aggravate the condition. Partly because of these side effects, alprazolam (trade name Xanax) is more commonly prescribed these days.

Beta blockers, such as Lopressor, comprise another class of pharmaceuticals effective in treating the symptoms of anxiety attacks. Unlike the above medications, beta blockers treat the symptoms of anxiety attacks rather than prevent attacks altogether. Traditionally beta blockers have been prescribed to treat heart conditions such as palpitations, tremors and high blood pressure, which are also common symptoms of an anxiety attack. Though they do not prevent anxiety attacks, many sufferers prefer beta blockers to the other drugs because they tend to have fewer side effects and are non-addictive. Beta blockers can cause insomnia and other sleep-related issues like nightmares.

Tricyclic antidepressants, like nortriptyline, are another popular class of medications prescribed to anxiety attack sufferers even though they don’t really prevent the attacks or treat the symptoms. Indeed, though antidepressants are commonly prescribed for anxiety, they generally are not effective at treating it. Tricyclic antidepressants treat severe depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, both of which have strong correlations to anxiety attacks. There is a significant benefit to treating depression when it occurs with anxiety attacks as doing so reduces the risk of suicide.

Anxiety attack medications, like all pharmaceuticals, are complex chemical compounds that vary in safety and effectiveness. Talk to your doctor before choosing an anxiety attack medication – you’ll have to get the prescription anyhow – to determine which one is best for you.