What to Know About Anti-Anxiety MedicationsWhat to Know About Anti-Anxiety Medications

Your heart is pounding, your thoughts are racing, and you feel a sense of dread that you just can’t shake. When you are in the grip of intense anxiety or a full-blown panic attack, the feeling can be overwhelming. In these moments, you want relief. Anti-anxiety medications, also known as anxiolytics, are designed to provide that relief by calming the brain and the body’s overactive stress response.

At Televero Health, we know that the idea of taking medication for anxiety can bring up questions. It’s important to understand that there are different types of anti-anxiety medications that work in different ways. Some are meant for long-term management, while others are used for short-term, immediate relief.

The Long-Term Strategy: Antidepressants

This might seem confusing, but the first-line and most common long-term treatment for anxiety disorders is actually a class of medication called antidepressants (like SSRIs and SNRIs). As we’ve discussed, these medications are not just for depression. They are very effective at treating the constant, underlying worry of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, the obsessions of OCD, and the fear in Panic Disorder and PTSD.

Antidepressants work gradually over several weeks to rebalance the neurotransmitter systems in the brain, particularly serotonin. This helps to lower your baseline level of anxiety over time, making you less prone to worry and fear. They are taken every day to provide a steady, preventative effect.

The Short-Term Tool: Benzodiazepines

Sometimes, however, you need help right now. This is where another class of anti-anxiety medication, called benzodiazepines, can play a role. These medications are very different from antidepressants. They work by enhancing the effect of GABA, the brain’s main calming neurotransmitter. They act like a brake on the central nervous system.

What to know about benzodiazepines:

  • They Work Quickly: Unlike antidepressants, benzodiazepines provide rapid relief. They can often calm a panic attack or a state of high anxiety within 30 to 60 minutes.
  • They Are Used for Acute Situations: Because they work so quickly, they are very useful for intense, short-term situations. This could be for a panic attack, a specific phobia (like a fear of flying), or a period of extreme stress.
  • They Can Be Habit-Forming: This is the most important thing to understand about this class of medication. If taken regularly over a long period, your body can develop a tolerance and a physical dependence on them. For this reason, psychiatrists are very cautious about prescribing them.
  • They Are Usually Prescribed for Short-Term or As-Needed Use: To avoid the risk of dependence, benzodiazepines are typically prescribed in two ways: for a very short period (e.g., a couple of weeks) to help you get through a crisis while you wait for a long-term medication like an SSRI to start working, or on an “as-needed” (PRN) basis to be taken only when you are experiencing acute, severe symptoms.

Examples of benzodiazepines include lorazepam, alprazolam, and clonazepam. It is absolutely crucial to take these medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor and to never increase the dose on your own.

Other Options

There are other medications that can also help with anxiety. Buspirone is a medication that can treat chronic anxiety and is not habit-forming, though it takes a few weeks to work. Some antihistamines, like hydroxyzine, can also be used for their calming effects in the short term. Your doctor will discuss which option is the safest and most appropriate for your specific situation.

The goal of treatment is to manage your anxiety in a way that is both effective and safe. This usually means using a long-term medication to control the underlying condition, and using a short-term medication cautiously and sparingly as a tool for managing acute episodes.

Key Takeaways

  • The most common long-term treatment for anxiety disorders is a daily antidepressant (like an SSRI), which works gradually to lower your baseline anxiety.
  • Benzodiazepines are a different class of medication that provides fast, short-term relief from acute anxiety or panic attacks.
  • Because they can be habit-forming, benzodiazepines are typically only prescribed for short-term or as-needed use, not as a long-term daily solution.
  • It is crucial to use all anti-anxiety medications exactly as prescribed and to communicate openly with your doctor about their effects.

Ready to take the first step? We can help. Get started with Televero Health today.

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