Anxiety disorders are currently affecting over 300 million people worldwide. In the USA almost 1 in 5 adults suffers from anxiety disorders every year. When worry is a constant companion, sleep is not had and life is not easy then treatment is a necessity.
We at Mindvita understand that making an informed decision is key to attaining positive outcomes in mental health issues. This guide is comprehensive in nature and is aimed at providing you with information on anti anxiety meds who can benefit from anti anxiety meds and how to safely use anti anxiety meds.
Are you interested in knowing what is good medication for anxiety whether anti anxiety meds work or what is anti anxiety med? You have come to the right place and all your queries related to anti anxiety medication will be addressed in the following sections of this article.
Understanding Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is normal as it is what protects us from danger.
Anxiety disorders however are not normal as they impact our day to day activities in a negative manner.
Anxiety disorders can be of various types including:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Panic Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Specific Phobias
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
The symptoms of anxiety disorders can be:
- Restlessness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Trouble sleeping
- Muscle tension
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
If the condition is severe then anti anxiety meds are advised.
What Are Anti Anxiety Meds?
Anti anxiety medication are prescribed drugs that are taken to treat anxiety disorders. Anti anxiety meds help in curing anxiety disorders in the following ways:
- Serotonin
- Norepinephrine
- Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that transmit messages between the brain cells. When the balance of these neurotransmitters is not right then anxiety occurs and these meds help restore the balance.
Do anti anxiety meds really work?
The answer is yes as supported by clinical studies.
What are the different types of anti anxiety meds?
There is no one size fits all medication. Each one is carefully selected based on the patient’s symptoms medical history and ability to tolerate side effects.
The following are the different types of anti anxiety medication categorized clinically.
SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
The most common types of anti anxiety meds.
Examples:
- Sertraline
- Escitalopram
- Fluoxetine
How these anti anxiety meds work:
Increase serotonin levels.
Benefits:
Non addictive
Effective for GAD panic disorder social anxiety
Safe for long term use
Onset:
2 to 6 weeks
What is a good medication for anxiety? SSRIs are the answer.
SNRIs (Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors)
Examples:
Venlafaxine
Duloxetine
How these anti anxiety medication work:
Influence of serotonin and norepinephrine.
What these anti anxiety meds are best used for:
GAD
Panic disorder
Anxiety with chronic pain
Daily use is required.
Benzodiazepines
Examples:
Alprazolam
Diazepam
Lorazepam
How these anti anxiety meds work:
Quick action within 30 60 minutes.
What these anti anxiety meds are best used for:
Quick relief from anxiety
However:
Risk of dependency
Developing tolerance
Recommended use:
Short term use
What is a good medication for anxiety? Not these.
Buspirone (Buspar)
What is buspar? Buspar is a non benzodiazepine.
Unlike sedatives:
No dependency
No sedation
What is a good medication for anxiety? Buspar is recommended for those who are concerned about dependency.
What these anti anxiety medication are best used for:
GAD
For mild to moderate anxiety
What is a good medication for anxiety? Buspar is often included in an anti anxiety meds list.
Beta Blockers
Used for performance anxiety.
What these anti anxiety medication are best used for:
Reduce:
Tremors
Sweating
Rapid heartbeat
Not commonly used for treating generalized anxiety.
Conditions Treated With Anti Anxiety Meds
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Worrying for 6+ months.
First line anti anxiety meds include:
SSRIs
SNRIs
Buspar
Panic Disorder
Sudden panic attacks.
Effective anti anxiety medication include:
SSRIs
SNRIs
Short term benzodiazepines
SSRIs reduce panic attacks by 40 to 70%.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Severe fear of judgment by others.
SSRIs, which are commonly used anti anxiety meds are effective anti anxiety medication.
Performance Anxiety
Situational.
Beta blockers which are commonly used anti anxiety medication are preferred over daily anti anxiety medication.
Do Anti Anxiety Meds Work?
A major concern that patients often have is “Do anti anxiety meds really work?” Well yes anti anxiety meds do really work but only for a majority of patients.
What Is a Good Medication for Anxiety?
There is no specific answer that will apply universally to what is a good medication for anxiety.
The answer that is considered “good” will depend on:
- The severity of the condition
- History of substance abuse
- History of depression
- Presence of depression
- Presence of pregnancy
- Presence of other medical problems
For example someone with mild GAD needs buspar someone with severe GAD needs an SSRI someone with panic attacks needs an SSRI with a short term benzodiazepine and someone with performance anxiety needs a beta blocker.
But what is a good medication for anxiety? Well that depends on individual treatment.
Dosage and Monitoring
Typical Process
- Start with low dose
- Every 1 to 2 weeks increase dose
- After 4 to 6 weeks evaluate
Follow-up sessions are conducted every 4 to 8 weeks.
Blood tests are not necessary unless in special cases.
Side Effects of Anti Anxiety Meds
Just like any other drug there are side effects of anti anxiety medication.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Sexual dysfunction (SSRIs, SNRIs)
- Drowsiness (Benzodiazepines)
These side effects go away on their own in a matter of weeks.
Serious Side Effects
- Dependence
- Withdrawal
- Serotonin syndrome
Therefore it is advisable to take anti anxiety medication under medical supervision.
Long Term Use of Anti Anxiety Meds
The long term effect of anti anxiety meds is quite good.
Research shows that:
- SSRIs can be safely used in long term
- Less chance of relapse if used for 12 months
- Tapering off them is effective in preventing withdrawal symptoms
However benzodiazepines should not be used in the long term.
Tapering Anti Anxiety Meds
Stopping anti anxiety meds abruptly can cause a number of problems.
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Rebound anxiety
The best way to stop anti anxiety meds is to taper them.
Example: taper by 10 to 25% dose every 2 to 4 weeks.
Anti Anxiety Meds vs Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is very effective.
Research has shown that:
- CBT only: 50 to 70% remission
- Medication only: 60 to 75% remission
- Combination of CBT & medication: highest remission rates
We at Mindvita strongly recommend their combination.
Special Populations
Pregnancy
Some anti anxiety meds are safer than others. Consult specialists.
Older Adults
Use lower doses to avoid falls.
History of Substance Use
Avoid benzodiazepines.
Buspar or SSRIs are best.
Anti Anxiety Meds List Summary
As a recap the simple anti anxiety meds list is:
- SSRIs
- SNRIs
- Benzodiazepines
- Buspar
- Beta blockers
These anti anxiety meds are prescribed by doctors based on their judgment of a patient’s history and symptoms.
Real World Example
Sarah is a 32 to year old woman who has been having problems with daily anxiety and insomnia.
Her doctor prescribed her one of the anti anxiety meds on our list.
6 weeks later Sarah’s sleep is back to normal anxiety is under control and she has her energy back.
This is a real life example that shows that in answer to the question “Do anti anxiety meds work?” the answer is a resounding “yes.”
Final Thoughts
Anti anxiety meds are proven to help millions of people get their lives back on track.
Anti anxiety meds are not a weakness.
Anti anxiety meds are a medical solution to a medical problem.
Anti anxiety meds when used properly can have a tremendous impact on one’s life.
At Mindvita we strive to bring you information backed by research to assist you in making the very best choices in your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my anti anxiety meds not working after 2 weeks?
Anti anxiety meds take 4 to 6 weeks to have their full effect on a person’s life.
What is a good medication for anxiety if I am experiencing side effects from an SSRI?
Buspar or SNRIs are good medication choices.
You should also ask your doctor what he or she thinks.
Do anti anxiety meds work on their own or with therapy?
While anti anxiety meds will work on their own it is much more effective to take them with cognitive behavioral therapy.
Can I stop my anti anxiety meds once I am feeling better?
Anti anxiety meds should not be stopped “cold turkey.”
Which anti anxiety meds from our list are going to work the fastest?
While Benzodiazepines will work in under an hour they should not be taken as a long term solution.
SSRIs take much longer to work.
