List of Anti-Anxiety Medications and How They Can Help You

Many people who deal with anxiety disorders find it necessary to take prescription medication daily to help manage their disorder. These medications are prescribed by qualified healthcare practitioners as part of an overall treatment plan to help people with this type of anxiety lead productive, happy lives on a day to day basis.

If you have been diagnosed with one of the several anxiety disorders, your doctor may have prescribed one of the medications commonly used to treat anxiety. You may be wondering how this medication will be able to help you deal with your anxiety and if they are any drawbacks.

Of course, no medication should ever be taken unless it is prescribed for you by your healthcare practitioner and it should always be taken as prescribed. You should also read the literature that comes with your medication, but that can often be difficult to understand. Keep in mind that what works for one person may not work well for another, so you should always avoid advising your friends or taking your friends advice and trying other medications. Only your doctor has the qualifications to suggest medication changes.

BuSpar, generically know as Buspirone, is commonly used for generalized anxiety disorder. It enhances the activity of serotonin in the brain and can be quite effective. It is less sedating than many other choices but it works slowly and must be taken for several weeks before the full effect is seen.

Benozdiazepines are a class of medications that include Ativan, Dalmane, Klonopin, Librium and others. These medications are frequently used for panic disorder and social and general anxiety disorder. They are fast acting but can be habit forming and can cause drowsiness.

Beta blockers include Inderal and Tenormin and are used mainly for social anxiety disorder. They reduce the body's ability to produce adrenaline which subdues the flight or fight response common to social anxiety – that feeling of the need to get away at all costs. These are fast-acting and non-habit forming but can't be taken by people with certain other medical problems such as asthma, congestive heart failure, diabetes, vascular disease, hyper- thyroidism and angina pectoris.

Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) Inhibitors include Eldepryl, Marplan , Nardil, and Parnate which are used to treat panic, post-traumatic shock, and social anxiety disorders. These medications block a specific brain enzyme and work well for many people that find other medications ineffective. There are strict dietary requirements and potential drug interactions when using this medication. There can also be changes in blood pressure, moderate weight gain, reduced sexual response, and insomnia.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) have been found to be especially effective. In this class of medication are Celexa, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, and others. They are used to treat panic, social and general anxiety disorders as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder. They effect the way serotonin, a neurotransmitter, is used in the brain. Some people may experience nervousness or lowered libido.

Tricyclic Antidepressants are another choice for treating anxiety. These medications include Adapin, Anafranil, Elavil, Janimine, Pamelor, Norpramin, Sinequan and several others. They are used to treat panic and post-traumatic disorders and Anafranil is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. They regulate serotonin and noradrenalin in the brain and are effective for many people. It can often take from two to six weeks before the results are noticed. Some people experience side effects including dry mouth, blurred vision, low blood pressure, weight gain and low sex drive.

Some other antidepressant medications commonly used with good results are Desyrel, Effexor and Serzone. These are used for panic, obsessive-compulsive, social anxiety and general affective disorders. They tend to have fewer side effects than many of the other medications used in treatment of anxiety, but they do take from four to six weeks to produce results. Some patients taking these medications may experience some nervousness or diminished libido.

If you take any of these medications, it is very important that you never try to reduce the dosage or stop taking your medication without the advice and direction of your doctor. There can be serious impacts should you suddenly cease to take your medication when and how instructed, some of which could result in the need for hospitalization.