For many who are exploring ways to manage their anxiety, taking anxiety medication is often recommended. It’s important to remember, however, that medication isn’t a CURE for anxiety, but another ‘tool’ that well help lessen the symptoms of anxiety and make it easier to function and cope.
If you’re considering taking medication for your anxiety, please ensure you speak with a licensed professional who can help you decide what medication, if any, is right for you.
Common Types of Medication:
- SSRI’s — Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
- How they work: Increase the levels of serotonin in the brain, a regulator that helps balance mood.
- Used for: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, and Social Anxiety
- Considerations: The most commonly used, well researched and effective long term treatment. May take 4-6 weeks to feel the full effects.
- SNRI’s — Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
- How they work: They increase both serotonin and norepinephrine to help increase mood and reduce anxiety.
- Used for: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, panic disorder, and sometimes pain related conditions.
- Considerations: May cause increased blood pressure, sweating, or problems sleeping.
- Benzodiazepines
- How they work: They enhance the effect of GABA, a calming neurotransmitter, which slows down the brains activity.
- Used for: Anxiety and panic disorder.
- Considerations: Not recommended for long term use as there is a risk for dependency or tolerance.
- Buspirone
- How it works: It affects serotonin and dopamine in the brain, and works differently than SSRI’s or Benzo’s.
- Used for: Generalized anxiety disorder
- Considerations: May take a few weeks to start working and is less effective for panic or severe anxiety.
- Beta-Blockers
- How they work: Blocking the effects of adrenaline, reducing the physical symptoms of anxiety like rapid heartbeat, sweating, and trembling or shaking.
- Used for: performance anxiety, situational anxiety, and treating the symptoms of anxiety
- Considerations: Typically used short-term
While medication can be effective, it does not fix or cure anxiety, and is often one piece of a larger treatment plan. It’s important to note that anxiety affects people behaviorally as much as it does mentally, and it is recommended that one also considers therapy in addition to taking medication. Since anxiety largely influences thought behaviors and patterns, working with a licensed therapist can help you learn and understand how to break those habits and teach you the tools to create better habits.
With love & support, Molly
