Common Medications
|
Chemical Category &
Brand Names |
Target Anxiety Disorders |
How It's Thought to Work |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
| Benzodiazepines:
|
GAD
Panic Disorder
Social Phobia
Insomnia |
Enhances the function of GABA. |
Fast-acting, with most people feeling better in the first week and many feeling the effects the first day of treatment. |
Potentially habit-forming; can cause drowsiness; can produce withdrawal symptoms. |
Beta Blockers:
Inderal
Tenormin |
Social Phobia |
Reduces effects of adrenaline. |
Fast acting; non-habit forming. |
Should not be used with certain pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma, congestive heart failure, diabetes, vascular disease, hyperthyroidism, and angina pectoris. |
Azaspirones:
BuSpar |
GAD |
Enhances the activity of serotonin. |
Effective for many people; less sedating than benzodiazepines. |
Works slowly; can't switch from benzodiazepines immediately. |
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs):
Eldepryl
Marplan
Nardil
Parnate |
Panic Disorder
Social Phobia
PTSD
OCD |
Blocks the effect of an important brain chemical, preventing the break-
down of serotonin and noradreniline. |
Effective for many people, especially for patients not responding to other medicines; 2 to 6 weeks
until im-
provement occurs. |
Strict dietary restrictions and potential drug interactions; low blood pressure, moderate weight gain; reduced sexual response; insomnia. |
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SRIs):
Celexa
Desyrel
Effexor
Lexapro
Luvox
Paxil
Prozac
Serzone
Zoloft |
Panic Disorder
OCD
Social Phobia
GAD |
Affects the concentration of serotonin, a chemical in the brain thought to be linked to anxiety disorders. |
Effective for many people; 2 to 6 weeks until improvement occurs. |
Nausea; some can cause nervousness; sexual difficulties. |
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs):
Adapin
Anafranil
Elavil
Janimine
Ludiomil
Pamelor
Pertofrane
Sinequan
Surmontil
Tofranil
Vivactil |
Panic Disorder
PTSD
OCD |
Regulates serotonin and/or noradreniline in the brain. |
Effective for many people; may take 2 to 6 weeks until improvement occurs. |
Dry mouth, constipation, blurry vision, difficulty urinating; dizziness, low blood pressure; moderate weight gain; sexual difficulty. |
Anticonvulsants:
Neurontin |
Social Phobia |
Affects GABA. |
May take 2-4 weeks to work. |
Sedation. |
Medicines used to manage anxiety disorders are grouped based on their chemical properties.
Most anxiety disorders respond best to a combination of medication and other treatments. |
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