Anxiety is common in modern life, but some forms are more serious. These include disorders such as post-traumatic stress, panic, obsessive-compulsive and general anxiety, along with social phobia. There are various treatments for these problems that include drugs and psychotherapy. Depending upon medical history and conditions, doctors may prescribe one or more medications to fight anxiety.
BuSpar
Buspirone, sold as BuSpar, is a drug in tablet form created to fight long-term anxiety. The Mayo Clinic states no one knows exactly how it works to decrease anxiety, but buspirone probably affects the brain's serotonin. Buspirone has many possible side effects. These may include confusion, an accelerated heart rate, numbness or pain in the feet, depression, chest pains and others. If you overdose on buspirone, you may experience minute eye pupils, nausea, vomiting, severe drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting. Any of these symptoms need emergency medical treatment. Upon first taking the medication, which may take several weeks to be effective, you may be restless or experience nightmares or trouble sleeping.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants help control the neurotransmitters which may be part of the cause for anxiety. While antidepressants are designed for people with depression, some may also be used alone or in combination with other drugs to fight anxiety. These include fluoxetine (Prozac), imipramine (Tofranil), venlafaxine (Effexor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertaline (Zoloft) and escitalopram (Lexapro). Side effects associated with Prozac include a skin rash, fever, anxiety, confusion, restlessness, chills, irregular heartbeat, colored skin spotting, shivering and trouble breathing. Withdrawal symptoms may include euphoria, paranoia and crying. Side effects from Tofranil include difficulty speaking, depression, drooling, fear, stomach pain, convulsions and coma. Zoloft side effects include lowered sex drive, breast tenderness, a cough, coma and rashes or hives, among others. Paxil may cause a decrease in movement, the inability to move your eyes, blurry vision, constipation, headaches and high fever. Withdrawal symptoms may include diarrhea, fear, irritability and depression. Effexor can have side effects including agitation, a cough, coughing up blood, increased thirst, muscle pain and lethargy. Withdrawal symptoms may include hearing loss, an irregular heartbeat, coordination difficulties and noises in the ears. Lexapro may cause impotence in men, a stuffy nose, trouble breathing and indigestion.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are sedatives that can be used quickly for anxiety attacks. They include alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan) and clonazepam (Klonopin). Xanax side effects may include tiredness, trembling, dark urine, diarrhea and lightheadedness. Librium may cause mood changes, pale skin tone, shakiness, insomnia, ulcers or sores on the mouth and vomiting blood. Valium may cause stomach pain, anxiety, blurry vision, shakiness and lack of interest in sex. Ativan may cause convulsions, speaking difficulties, excitation, headaches and fear. Klonopin may produce side effects that include changes in speech patterns, nausea, shivering, sweating, skin color changes, cold symptoms, earaches and nightmares.
