Anxiety is a fairly common mental health diagnosis. It is estimated that 31% of adults in the US will receive an anxiety diagnosis at some point in their lifetime. When someone is experiencing anxiety, they may feel body sensations (such as muscle tension, headaches, belly pain, and sleep issues), emotions (such as fear, apprehension, or irritability), and cognitions (such as over-thinking, and wondering about different “what if” scenarios). There are several types of anxiety disorders such as social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and others. Anxiety can be treated with therapy and also medications, or a combination of both. This article will present an overview of different medication categories for anxiety disorders. 

1. The first category are the SRI medications which stands for serotonergic reputake inhibitors which include the categories of SSRIs and SNRIs. These medications are the most commonly used and are usually the first choice for someone experiencing anxiety. They work by increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain. Some popular SRIs are zoloft, prozac, lexapro, and others. These medications can “turn down the volume” on anxiety symptoms and allow the person to engage more fully in therapy. They can take several weeks to feel the full effects so it can take time and patience to find the right medication and the right dose.

1. The second category are medications that can be added on to SRIs that help with any left over anxiety symptoms, such as sleep issues or panic issues. These include medications like hydroxyzine, buspar, beta blockers and trazodone. 

2. The third category are benzodiazepines. These medications work quickly to greatly reduce anxiety or panic symptoms, however they can cause a person to become sedated. Benzodiazepines are used very cautiously by medical providers because patients can become addicted to them, and they can lose their effectiveness over time. It can be very difficult to stop a benzodiazepine once someone has become dependent on it. 

3. The fourth category are medications that address a separate medical condition that is causing anxiety symptoms. For example this could be low thyroid hormone, or low iron. Another example is a person with untreated ADHD who may be experiencing anxiety about their ADHD symptoms. Treating ADHD appropriately is another avenue (among many) of addressing anxiety.

Treating anxiety depends a lot on what the person needs as an individual. There’s also a lot to consider in terms of side effects and efficacy. Understandably, someone with anxiety may feel apprehensive when reaching out for help. It is important to know that a good medication provider or therapist is someone who will make you feel comfortable, in control, and listens to your concerns. At HQ Psych we are proud to offer both medication and therapy support to our clients with anxiety and we look forward to helping them reach their goals.