For most people, a sense of anxiety is a good and healthy message from their mind to their body. It warns them of an impending danger so that they can prepare and protect themselves. For over 3,000,000 people who experience anxiety disorders,1 however, signals can get crossed. They experience those fear responses even when no danger is present. Anxiety can make it difficult to socialize, engage, and navigate through your daily life.
Luckily, anxiety is very treatable. There are two common treatments for anxiety: therapy and medication. Sometimes these treatments are used together, while other times patients may opt for one or the other. For those who opt for medication, there are a number of options. So what drugs treat anxiety disorders?
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants can be used to treat anxiety disorders, as well. Antidepressants help to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, valuable neurotransmitters in keeping your mood regulated. Antidepressants that can be used to treat anxiety include:
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI)
- Celexa (citalopram)
- Lexapro (escitalopram)
- Paxil, Paxil CR, or Pexeva (paroxetine)
- Prozac, Prozac Weekly (fluoxetine)
- Trintellix (vortioxetine)
- Viibryd (vilazodone)
- Zoloft (sertraline)
Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI)
- Cymbalta (duloxetine)
- Effexor, Effexor XR (venlafaxine)
- Fetzima (levomilnacipran)
- Pristiq, Khedezla (desvenlafaxine)
Tricyclic Antidepressants
- Asendin (amoxapine)
- Elavil (amitriptyline)
- Ludiomil (maprotiline)
- Norpramin (desipramine)
- Pamelor (nortriptyline)
- Sinequan (doxepin)
- Surmontil (trimipramine)
- Tofranil (imipramine)
- Vivactil (protriptyline)
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Emsam (skin patch) (selegiline)
- Marplan (isocarboxazid)
- Nardil (phenelzine)
- Parnate (tranylcypromine)
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines work as sedatives, especially effective for those who have physical symptoms of anxiety — such as panic attacks. These anti-anxiety medications boost certain neurotransmitters to encourage healthier communication between brain cells. They can relax your muscles as well as ease intense symptoms of anxiety. However, because benzodiazepines have a strong side effect of drowsiness, they are often only used to treat anxiety in the short term.
Examples of benzodiazepines include:
- Xanax (alprazolam)
- Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Valium (diazepam)
- Ativan (lorazepam)
Buspirone
Buspirone, or Buspar, is an anti-anxiety medication that can help to regulate your mood. It can treat anxiety in the short term or long term, making it a potential alternative to benzodiazepines. It’s worth noting that it can take weeks for Buspirone to take effect, so if you don’t notice a change after the first week, that may not mean it’s not working.
How To Find the Right Anxiety Drugs For You
If you’re interested in treating your anxiety with medication, Rivia Mind is here to help. Your first step is to schedule an assessment to determine where your mental health is at the moment. From there, you can schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner.
In your appointment with your provider, be open about your current symptoms. They will then talk to you about your treatment plan. Typically, you might start with a low or moderate dosage and monitor your symptoms moving forward.
After a month, you can check in with your provider again to talk about any change in symptoms. Based on your symptoms, your provider may recommend adjusting your dosage or changing to a different medication. You will then check in with them regularly or as needed throughout your medication journey.
If you’re interested in treating your anxiety with medication, Rivia Mind can help. Visit our medication management page to learn more about this treatment plan and our philosophy care.
Contact us today to learn more or visit our provider page to schedule an appointment.
Resources:
- Anxiety Disorders – World Health Organization
