Various anxiety medications are available to help the approximately 40 million U.S. adults who suffer from anxiety disorders every year, according to 2010 estimates from the National Institute of Mental Health. The American Psychiatric Association identifies six types of anxiety disorders: panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia or social anxiety disorder, specific phobias such as claustrophobia, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Your physician will be able to prescribe the best medications to help you manage your symptoms, short-term and long-term.
Anti-anxiety Medications
Anti-anxiety medications, also known as anxiolytics, are usually prescribed for a short treatment period and are known for their fairly fast-acting effects to help decrease acute anxiety symptoms. According to the Anxiety Disorders Assocation of America, anxiolytic medications are thought to increase the effectiveness of a calming neurotransmitter in the brain, thereby providing relief to a person suffering from acute anxiety symptoms. Examples of anxiolytics are clonazepam (Klonopin), which is often used for social phobia and GAD, and alprazolam (Xanax), which is prescribed for panic disorders and GAD. Buspirone (BuSpar) is another anxiolytic medication used to manage GAD symptoms.
Beta-blockers
According to the Anxiety Disorder Association of America, beta-blocker medications help by literally blocking certain physical symptoms of anxiety disorders. By short-circuiting the brain's anxiety response, beta-blocker medications curtail anxiety-borne feelings of fear and dread which usually result in worsening symptoms and functioning. These types of medications work well in the treatment of social phobias. Examples of beta-blockers are propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol (Tenormin).
SSRI Antidepressant Medications
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a type of antidepressant medication used to treat anxiety disorders. SSRI medications, such as escitalopram (Lexapro), sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil), are used to treat symptoms associated with the OCD, panic disorder and social phobia versions of anxiety disorder. SSRIs work by increasing the concentration and subsequent effectiveness of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is thought to affect mood and anxiety reactions in the brain. Generally speaking, more available serotonin in the brain means fewer mood and anxiety disturbances, according to the Anxiety Disorder Association of American.
Tricyclic Antidepressant Medications
Tricyclic antidepressants are most often used for panic disorder, PTSD and GAD. As described by the Anxiety Disorder Association of America, these medications are thought to increase the presence and effectiveness of both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Decreased amounts of these chemicals in the brain have been linked to increased anxiety symptoms. Examples include medications such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil) and clomipramine (Anafranil).
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor Antidepressant Medications
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs, are the oldest type of antidepressant medications. MAOIs work by blocking a particular brain enzyme that is thought to hamper the positive effects and presence of serotonin and norepinephrine. By blocking this enzyme, MAOIs serve to make more of both chemicals available in the brain and undermine anxiety symptoms, says the Anxiety Disorder Association of America. Phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan) are the most commonly prescribed MAOIs for anxiety disorders.
References
- American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed, text revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Assocation
- U.S. National Institute of Mental Health - Anxiety Disorder Information
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA)
