Anti Anxiety Medications - Going OTC or 'All Naural'?

Anti anxiety medications fall into two groups: alternative medicine and prescription medication. Alternative treatments include both herbal medicine and vitamins, while prescription drugs sold in the US fall into seven groups:

• Benzodiazepines
• Beta-blockers
• MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)
• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
• Tricyclic Antidepressants
• Azapirone (only one sold in the US)
• Anticonvulsant (only one sold in the US)

Prescription medication is sometimes lumped together under the (erroneous) classification antidepressants. That's because all seven categories have the general effect of enhancing your mood.

Prozac, for instance, is often referred to as an antidepressant. But it is an SSRI. One of the most popular antidepressants is probably Trofanil. But both are brand names not scientific names and their popularity has less to do with how effective they are and more with how good their marketing campaigns were.

Besides, prescription anti anxiety medications address specific problems. If you have a phobia, for example, a doctor is unlikely to prescribe Prozac or Trofanil, but instead prescribe benzodiazepines, like usually Xanax or Ativan.

Prescription drugs for panic attacks are more diverse. The only anticonvulsant sold in the US, valproate (brand name: Depakote), is one example. And although Prozac and Trofanil are prescribed, the MAOI Nardil has proven the most effective in clinical research.

Alternative Medicine: Vitamins And Herbs

Did you know that clinical studies show alternative anti anxiety medications are as effective as prescription drugs against anxiety disorders?

This fact doesn't get out there a lot. Why? Some say that some doctors are under pressure from the drug industry, legislators are under pressure from the drug lobby, and the drug industry will certainly not push natural alternatives.

But a number of doctors are now turning to alternative treatments because they discovered them to be as (if not more) effective than commercial drugs but WITHOUT the many side effects associated with the latter.

Popular alternative anti anxiety medications are:

• B-complex Vitamins
• Magnesium
• Selenium
• St. Johns Wort
• Passion Flower
• Valerian Root
• Ashwaghanda Root
• Kava Kava

St. John's Wort, popularly called SJW, is probably the most popular alternative cure because of its potency. It works like a prescription drug, like Prozac, in regulating the body's biochemical processes against anxiety.

Although it doesn't have the drawbacks of a commercial drug (e.g., side effects, developed tolerance, withdrawal) it is so powerful that it should never be used together with prescription meds.

Remember that even if they are natural treatments, some of these are really potent and should still be taken under a doctor's supervision. But no matter if natural or prescription medicines are used, they should be used along with behavior therapy to efficiently and safely stop anxiety disorders.