Anxiety Disorder Medication

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): SSRIs help control the amount of serotonin that the brain creates. Research suggests that it can help with general anxiety disorder and social anxiety.

Benzodiazepines: These are possibly the most effective types of anxiety medication, as they can actively help with social and general anxiety, as well as panic disorder.

Buspirone (Buspar): While effective in treating many long and short-term anxiety conditions, researchers are still trying to find out how exactly it works. The critical consensus is that it regulates mood in the brain.

Beta-Blockers: Although Beta-Blockers are useful in treating heart conditions, they can help alleviate some physical symptoms of social anxiety like chest pain.

Antipsychotic Medications: Although antipsychotic medication is often used for mental health conditions like schizophrenia, it can also alleviate symptoms of more intense forms of anxiety.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs are one of the most popular options for treating anxiety and its related mental health conditions, as they directly affect the amount of serotonin that your brain generates. Serotonin directly affects memory, sleep, appetite, sexual desire, and much more. Since it affects all of these aspects of the brain, it can help you feel more comfortable in your own skin and can uplift your mood. Many psychiatrists start medication with SSRIs and increase the dosage as needed.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are a class of sedatives that can help you relax your mind and your muscles. They are very potent and take as little as 30 minutes to activate in some cases. Relaxing the brain and body can completely subdue a person who is panicking. However, they are so effective at dealing with a wide variety of conditions, such as social anxiety, general anxiety, and panic disorder, that they can lead to dependence if not taken carefully.

Buspirone (Buspar)

Buspirone, when compared to other medications that are on this list, is lesser known. One of the strangest aspects about it is the fact that researchers do not know how buspirone works. While they do know that it affects your overall mood, they do not know why it does that. Regardless, it can still be effective in helping you better regulate your emotions and help you feel more at ease. The only difference is that Buspar can take some time before it becomes fully effective, with the fastest activation time being several weeks.

Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers are medications exclusively for individuals who struggle with certain heart conditions. In some cases, though, people struggling with more serious symptoms of anxiety will take it to relieve their pain. It is a muscle relaxant that can ease tension throughout the body, all while having a relatively quick activation time. Individuals with social anxiety are especially likely to use beta-blockers before they meet with important people or give a speech.

Antipsychotic Medications

Antipsychotics are a niche drug used to treat serious medical conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. But along with treating more serious types of mental health conditions, many are also using them to treat various types of anxiety. However, these are possibly the most expensive of all the other medications on this list and can have some serious side effects as well.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

• Dry mouth: Excess production of serotonin can affect acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that controls different involuntary actions, like creating saliva in the mouth.

• Sexual dysfunction: This is a common side effect of taking SSRIs, as too much serotonin production can affect dopamine and testosterone levels. Leading to difficulty maintaining erections and achievinging an orgasm.

• Drowsiness: This is also the result of too much serotonin, as it can make your body feel more relaxed.

Benzodiazepines

• Dependence: Since benzodiazepines can be effective and fast-acting, they can lead to dependence if used too frequently, which can require a higher dosage for the same effect.

• Withdrawal: Trying to stop consuming benzodiazepines can result in withdrawal-like headaches, sweating, and anxiety.

• Vision Problems: Studies on the long-term use of benzodiazepines show that 19% of the test population had trouble reading or seeing objects close to their face.

Buspirone (Buspar)

Since buspirone has yet to be studied in detail, its side effects are still relatively unknown. However, they did find headaches, nausea, and dizziness were common among patients who took it.

Beta-Blockers

• Drowsiness: As a muscle relaxant, it is very common for beta blockers to have drowsiness after taking them.

• Fatigue: The same goes for fatigue, as your relaxed muscles can make you feel tired.

• Nausea: Nausea is often a side effect if you take the medication on an empty stomach. Try to take it with food and avoid eating anything spicy.