Anxiety and stress can impact a person negatively and may cause mental health problems such as depression, generalized anxiety disorders and even suicidal tendencies. Prescription medication is often the first-line treatment for anxiety problems and for reducing stress-related issues. Several classes of anti-anxiety drugs are approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). The categories include buspirone, benzodiazepines and antidepressant medications. These drugs are regulated and monitored closely by board certified doctors to avoid adverse side effects from misuse and abuse.
Buspirone to Treat Anxiety
One class of anti-anxiety medication is buspirone, sold under the brand name Buspar. It is used to help relief the symptoms caused by anxiety by modulating the amount of the neurotransmitter, serotonin, in the brain. Buspar is available in tablet formulation and normally taken twice a day as 7.5 mg pills in adults. Some common side effects are nervousness, muscle weakness, fever, chest pain, hives and sore throat. Avoid drinking grapefruit juice when taking this medication. Buspar takes a few weeks in the body's system before it takes full effect so patients are recommended not to miss any dosages while on the medication.
Benzodiazepines to Treat Stress and Anxiety
Benzodiazepines are used to treat stress and anxieties.They work by slowing down the activities in the central nervous system. Commonly prescribed drugs in this category include Valium, Ativan and Xanax. These medications are only used to treat short-term acute episodes of anxiety. Side effects include loss of balance and motor coordination, and drowsiness. Chronic abuse of these medications can have serious consequences such as cardiac arrest and irregular heartbeat.
Addiction and Dependency
Drugs for treating anti-anxiety or stress such as Xanax or Valium can increase the risks of addiction, abuse and dependency if used for chronic long-term treatments. These drugs work on altering levels of brain neurotransmitters that affect patterns of behavior. Patients are managed under strict treatment protocols from board certified physicians and are usually placed on a tapering down or lowering dosage levels over a period of weeks to reduce the risks of sudden withdrawal symptoms or serious side effects.
Antidepressant Medications for Generalized Anxiety Disorders
There are drugs that belong to a class of anti-depressive medications called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which are also used to treat anxiety and stress. These drugs can alter the levels of dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain modulating, maintaining and controlling mental and emotional balance in the patient. Fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), escitalopram (Lexapro) and sertraline (Zoloft) are examples of SSRI drugs prescribed for patients with generalized anxiety disorders and stress. Common side effects are decreased sex drive, reduce libido, nervousness and drowsiness.
Warnings and Cautions
Anti-anxiety drugs can have adverse effects when mixed together with over-the-counter drugs or prescription medications. For example, oral contraceptives, antihistamines and sleeping pills should not be taken with anti-anxiety drugs. SSRIs can increase the risk of bleeding, as they disrupt platelet aggregation and can cause ulcers when mixed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as, ibuprofen and naproxen. Some anti-anxiety drugs can increase suicidal tendencies and aggressive behavior, especially in the pediatric and adolescent populations.
