OF THE MEDICATIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR ANXIETY, WHICH ARE HAVING THE MOST SUCCESS?

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The most popular medications for the treatment of anxiety are the newest class of antidepressants, the SSRIs—Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa. Some of the non-SSRI antidepressants (for instance, Effexor) are also promising.

Since the 1960s, the stand-by medicines for anxiety have been the benzodiazepines, known by names such as Valium, Librium, Ativan, Xanax, and Klonopin. They are quite effective and work quickly. They can also be sedating and are often used to help with insomnia. The biggest disadvantage of these drugs is that some people can become psychologically and/or physiologically dependent on them. Sometimes, a person may get a “buzz” from one of these drugs and subsequently abuse it like alcohol or other intoxicating substances. If a person becomes physiologically addicted, sudden withdrawal has been known to lead to seizures and even death. A subtler side effect of these drugs is a very slight loss of memory.

Unlike the benzodiazepines, the SSRIs were designed to treat depression. However, abundant research and clinical practice have shown that they are also effective in combating many forms of anxiety. Today, SSRIs are considered the first-line medication treatment for anxiety. Whereas SSRIs take longer to work—sometimes several weeks—they don't lead to marked physiological dependence. Sudden discontinuation of some SSRIs is associated with uncomfortable withdrawal-like symptoms, although rarely associated with seizures or death. Additionally, SSRIs do not produce an intoxicated feeling, and they generally do not impair memory. Unfortunately, SSRIs are usually more expensive because most of the patents on these drugs have not expired. Older antidepressants, such as tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, can be effective in treating anxiety and are often less expensive. The downside is that they are loaded with side effects and are less safe than the SSRIs.

Source: The Anxiety Answer Book by: Laurie A. Helgoe, PhD, Laura R. Wilhelm, PhD, Martin J. Kommor, MD