Drug | Uses | Some Side Effects | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Benzodiazepines | |||
Alprazolam Chlordiazepoxide Clonazepam Clorazepate Diazepam Lorazepam Oxazepam | Generalized anxiety disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder Generalized anxiety disorder consists of excessive nervousness and worry about a number of activities or events. People have anxiety more days than not over a period of 6 months or longer. The... read more | 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 |
Buspirone | 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* | |||
SSRIs (such as escitalopram) SNRIs (such as venlafaxine) MAOIs TCAs (such as clomipramine) | Generalized anxiety disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder Generalized anxiety disorder consists of excessive nervousness and worry about a number of activities or events. People have anxiety more days than not over a period of 6 months or longer. The... read more Panic disorder Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder A panic attack is a brief period of extreme distress, anxiety, or fear that begins suddenly and is accompanied by physical and/or emotional symptoms. Panic disorder involves recurrent panic... read more | ||
Other antianxiety medications | |||
Buspirone | 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. |