Medication for Anxiety
Canada · CPD courses & CPD points · Health Professionals
The information provided below is intended to provide basic information about mental health medications. It is not a complete source for all medications available and should not be used as a guide for making medical decisions.
Anti-anxiety medications help reduce the symptoms of anxiety, such as panic attacks, or extreme fear and worry. Benzodiazepines can treat generalized anxiety disorder. In the case of panic disorder or social phobia, benzodiazepines are usually additional treatments, added to antidepressants.
Some examples include:
• Diazepam- Valium (5-10mg)
• Alprazolam- Xanor (0.25-1mg)
• Lorazepam- Ativan (2-3mg)
• Bromazepam- Lexotan (1-6mg)
• Clobazam – Urbanol (10-30mg)
Short-acting benzodiazepines (such as Lorazepam) and/or beta-blockers are used to treat the short-term symptoms of anxiety. Beta-blockers help manage physical symptoms of anxiety, such as trembling, rapid heartbeat, and sweating that people may experience in difficult situations. Taking these medications for a short period of time can help the person keep physical symptoms under control and can be used “as needed” to reduce acute anxiety.
How do people respond to anti-anxiety medications?
Anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines are effective in relieving anxiety and take effect more quickly than the antidepressant medications. However, people can build up a tolerance to benzodiazepines if they are taken over a long period of time and may need higher and higher doses to get the same effect. Some people may even become dependent on them. To avoid these problems, doctors usually prescribe benzodiazepines for short periods, a practice that is especially helpful for older adults (who are often at higher risk of dependence and side effects), people who have substance abuse problems and people who become dependent on medication easily. If people suddenly stop taking benzodiazepines, they may have withdrawal symptoms, or their anxiety may return. Therefore, benzodiazepines should be tapered off slowly with the help of their doctor.
What are the possible side effects of anti-anxiety medications?
Like other medications, anti-anxiety medications may cause side effects. Some of these side effects and risks are serious. The most common side effects for benzodiazepines are drowsiness and dizziness. Other possible side effects include:
• Nausea
• Blurred vision
• Headache
• Confusion
• Tiredness
• Nightmares
Common side effects of beta-blockers include:
• Fatigue
• Cold hands
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Weakness
Beta-blockers generally are not recommended for people with asthma or diabetes because they may worsen symptoms related to both.
Calabash · South AfricaCalabash Articles · South AfricaCalabash Partners · South AfricaCalabash Contributors · South AfricaCalabash Speakers · South AfricaCalabash Talks · South AfricaCalabash Sign up · South AfricaCalabash Sign in · South AfricaDieticians CPD courses & CPD points · South AfricaPsychologists CPD courses & CPD points · South AfricaPhysiotherapists CPD courses & CPD points · South AfricaArticle · Managing Parent Counselling · South AfricaArticle · Why home treatment for dizziness is not a good idea · South AfricaArticle · Useful Resources for Neuroanatomy · South AfricaAustralia CPD courses & CPD points · South AfricaCommunication CPD courses & CPD points · South AfricaCoaching CPD courses & CPD points · South AfricaTalk · Use of low-tech tools and devices in Hand Therapy: The Wrist and Forearm · South AfricaTalk · An Introduction to Child-Centred Mediation · South AfricaTalk · The Enneagram's Conflict Styles and the Impact on Relationships · South AfricaHow It Works · South AfricaAbout Partners · South AfricaUploading an Article · South AfricaCalabash · AustraliaCalabash Articles · AustraliaCalabash Partners · AustraliaCalabash Contributors · AustraliaCalabash Speakers · AustraliaCalabash Talks · AustraliaCalabash Sign up · AustraliaCalabash Sign in · AustraliaOccupational Therapists CPD courses & CPD points · AustraliaRegistered Counsellors CPD courses & CPD points · AustraliaPhysiotherapists CPD courses & CPD points · AustraliaArticle · Infant Communication · AustraliaArticle · Tips for therapists in a School Setting · AustraliaArticle · Why conventional hearing tests are not sufficient · AustraliaNew Zealand CPD courses & CPD points · AustraliaSexuality CPD courses & CPD points · AustraliaParenting CPD courses & CPD points · AustraliaTalk · The Enneagram: A Jungian Perspective on Persona & Shadow Aspects · AustraliaTalk · Thinking about Race in the Therapeutic Encounter · AustraliaTalk · On Villains and Victims in Couple Attachments · AustraliaUploading a Talk · AustraliaFrequently Asked Questions · AustraliaAbout Contributors · AustraliaCalabash · New ZealandCalabash Articles · New ZealandCalabash Partners · New ZealandCalabash Contributors · New ZealandCalabash Speakers · New ZealandCalabash Talks · New ZealandCalabash Sign up · New ZealandCalabash Sign in · New ZealandPsychologists CPD courses & CPD points · New ZealandOccupational Therapists CPD courses & CPD points · New ZealandPhysiotherapists CPD courses & CPD points · New ZealandArticle · Help! I caught my child watching porn, what must I do?! · New ZealandArticle · Why conventional hearing tests are not sufficient · New ZealandArticle · Why home treatment for dizziness is not a good idea · New ZealandUnited Kingdom CPD courses & CPD points · New ZealandNew Zealand CPD courses & CPD points · New ZealandNHI CPD courses & CPD points · New ZealandTalk · Building Brains: Foundations of Neuroanatomy · New ZealandTalk · Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy · New ZealandTalk · Family Constellations Therapy: Core Concepts & Practice · New ZealandPrivacy Policy · New ZealandFrequently Asked Questions · New ZealandAbout Calabash · New ZealandCalabash · United KingdomCalabash Articles · United KingdomCalabash Partners · United KingdomCalabash Contributors · United KingdomCalabash Speakers · United KingdomCalabash Talks · United KingdomCalabash Sign up · United KingdomCalabash Sign in · United KingdomPsychologists CPD courses & CPD points · United KingdomRegistered Counsellors CPD courses & CPD points · United KingdomAudiologists CPD courses & CPD points · United KingdomArticle · Who's Afraid of Stuttering? · United KingdomArticle · The Concept of Mentalisation · United KingdomArticle · General Exam Tips for Writing the Board Exam · United KingdomUnited States CPD courses & CPD points · United Kingdom CPD courses & CPD points · United KingdomSex therapy CPD courses & CPD points · United KingdomTalk · Building Brains: Sub-cortical structures of the brain · United KingdomTalk · Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders I: Diagnosis & Risk Factors · United KingdomTalk · The Paternal Function: An Object Relations Perspective · United KingdomAbout Contributors · United KingdomFrequently Asked Questions · United KingdomAbout Partners · United KingdomCalabash · United StatesCalabash Articles · United StatesCalabash Partners · United StatesCalabash Contributors · United StatesCalabash Speakers · United StatesCalabash Talks · United StatesCalabash Sign up · United StatesCalabash Sign in · United StatesMedical Professionals CPD courses & CPD points · United StatesPsychiatrists CPD courses & CPD points · United StatesRegistered Counsellors CPD courses & CPD points · United StatesArticle · Locating Dyslexia in the South African Schooling Context · United StatesArticle · Tidbits on Treating the Dizzy Patient · United StatesArticle · Help! I caught my child watching porn, what must I do?! · United StatesNew Zealand CPD courses & CPD points · United StatesCoaching CPD courses & CPD points · United StatesMediation CPD courses & CPD points · United StatesTalk · Traumatic Brain Injury: Effects & Neuropsychological Considerations · United StatesTalk · Supporting People through Grief, Loss and Bereavement · United StatesTalk · Current Trends in Childhood Psychiatric Diagnosis · United StatesAbout Calabash · United StatesFrequently Asked Questions · United StatesUploading an Article · United StatesCalabash · CanadaCalabash Articles · CanadaCalabash Partners · CanadaCalabash Contributors · CanadaCalabash Speakers · CanadaCalabash Talks · CanadaCalabash Sign up · CanadaCalabash Sign in · CanadaOccupational Therapists CPD courses & CPD points · CanadaDieticians CPD courses & CPD points · CanadaAudiologists CPD courses & CPD points · CanadaArticle · SAPC Dialogues: Sue Hawkridge · CanadaArticle · The Concept of Mentalisation · CanadaArticle · Tips for therapists in a School Setting · CanadaAustralia CPD courses & CPD points · CanadaUnited States CPD courses & CPD points · CanadaContracting CPD courses & CPD points · CanadaTalk · Emotionally dysregulated clients: Supporting Families - 1. The Distress Cycle · CanadaTalk · Dialectical Behaviour Therapy : Distress Tolerance · CanadaTalk · Confidentiality in Schools · CanadaPrivacy Policy · CanadaAbout Contributors · CanadaTerms of Use · Canada
Psychologist in Sydney