Medication and Anxiety
What Medications Are Used to Treat Anxiety Disorders?
When treating anxiety disorders, antidepressants, particularly the SSRIs, have been shown to be effective.
Other anti-anxiety drugs include the benzodiazepines, such as Valium, Klonopin, Ativan and Xanax. These drugs do carry a risk of addiction or tolerance (meaning that higher and higher doses become necessary to achieve the same effect), so they are not as desirable for long-term use. Other possible side effects include drowsiness, poor concentration, and irritability. Some anticonvulsant drugs (such as Neurontin) and some atypical antipsychotics (such as Abilify or Seroquel) are also occasionally used "off label" to treat anxiety symptoms or disorders.
This tool is designed to be used for educational purposes. If your students have any questions or concerns, they may wish to consult with their physicians.
