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Pills for anxiety - Types and Uses

Pills for anxiety available in the US fall into seven categories:beta blockers, benzodiazepines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, one azapirone (mild tranquilizer), and an anticonvulsant. Federal law requires that these anti anxiety pills only be dispensed under a physician’s supervision.

Following are anxiety medications as they apply to specific anxiety disorders.

Pills for anxiety :Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Clinical research has proven that as much as 65% of patients with this disorder are also afflicted with other psychological disorders as well, particularly major depression and panic disorder. That is the reason why medications for generalized anxiety disorder apply to these conditions as well. They are:

a) Benzodiazepines (also for panic attacks and phobia) – e.g., Activan ,Xanax
b) Antidepressants – usually Tofranil
c) Azapirone (mild tranquilizer) – only BuSpar is sold in the US

A recent clinical research also reveals SSRIs to be active against this disorder.

Pills for anxiety:Panic Attacks

The most effective panic attacks medications are those that address the two stages of this disorder, particularly the initial stage of anticipatory anxiety as well as the actual onset of panic. These medications  are:

a) Benzodiazepines – usually Klonopin and Xanax
b) Antidepressants – usually Trofanil
c) SSRIs (at times combined with the benzodiazepines) – e.g., Prozac, Zoloft
d) MAOIs – Nardil was most effective in clinical studies
e) The Anticonvulsant Depakote (valproate)

Anti Anxiety Pills for Social Anxiety Disorder/Phobia

These medications are for the tension associated with the disorders, relieving its symptoms, such as sweaty palms,shyness, or an unusually fast heartbeat. They are:

a) The Beta Blockers Inderal and Tenormin
b) Benzodiazepines – usually Klonopin or Xanax
c) MAOIs – especially Nardil (recently shown to be most effective against social phobia, registering a dramatic improvement rate in 70% of patients in 4 weeks)

Pills for anxiety:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

These drugs ,in fact,do NOT prevent OCD from occurring. They instead lessen its intensity so that the individual can use self-help methods to keep symptoms in check.

a) SSRIs – e.g., Prozac and Luvox (both vetted by the FDA for OCD), Paxil, Zoloft
b) Antidepressants – Anafranil (approved by the FDA for OCD) and Effexor

For those with tics or spasms (e.g., blinking) – seen in 20% of Americans afflicted with OCD – some doctors combine SSRI  pills for anxiety with the drug Haldol (haloperidol).