Medications Used to Treat Anxiety Disorders
Drug | Uses | Some Side Effects | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Benzodiazepines | |||
Sleepiness, memory problems, impaired coordination, and slowed reaction time May lead to medication dependence | Most commonly used type of antianxiety medication Promote mental and physical relaxation by reducing nerve activity in the brain Begin to work quickly, sometimes within an hour Should not be used with other medications that cause drowsiness | ||
Dizziness and headache | Does not cause drowsiness or interact with alcohol Does not lead to medication dependence May take several weeks to start working | ||
Antidepressants* | |||
MAOIs | See table Medications Used to Treat Depression | See table Medications Used to Treat Depression | |
Other antianxiety medications | |||
Dizziness and headache | Does not cause drowsiness or interact with alcohol Does not lead to drug dependence May take several weeks to start working | ||
* Not all of the antidepressants listed work for all of the uses that are listed. MAOI = monoamine oxidase inhibitor; SNRI = selective norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor; SSRI = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; TCA = tricyclic antidepressant. | |||