The Guide to Medications for Anxiety: Everything You Should Know

For most people, the number one concern with anxiety medications is usually side effects.

We want to know the potential side effects and how likely we are to experience them.

Most of the side effects of medications for anxiety have been well documented, and most people are aware that these drugs can have side effects to some degree or another.

The degree of intensity is what matters most.

Most people would probably be willing to put up with some minor fatigue if a medication took their daily anxiety from an 8 to a 4.

But if the fatigue were so bad they started falling asleep at work every day, they would probably want to switch medications.

The type of side effect can impact people differently.

Some people experience a minor to moderate increase in anxiety when first starting an antidepressant that diminishes over time.

This temporary increase in anxiety may lead them to believe the medication isn't working for them, or they may want to quit it early.

Other side effects like erectile dysfunction and other sexual side effects may be a deal-breaker for many.

The cognitive side effects of drugs like benzodiazepines or the fatigue experienced when starting an SSRI or SNRI may be problematic for those whose jobs require clear and focused attention.

Tolerance occurs with many prescription medications when they are taken repeatedly for an extended period.

Tolerance occurs due to the body's adaptation to the drug.

The body can adapt to medications due to faster drug metabolizing and reduced affinity between brain receptors and that particular medication.

Tolerance is a serious problem with benzodiazepine drugs like Xanax and Klonopin – which can build up in a few short weeks to the point where the prescribed dosage no longer has the same (or any) effect.

Increased tolerance eventually leads to higher and higher dosages to achieve the same results.

Of all the adverse effects of anxiety medications – the potential for physiological and psychological dependency and addiction are probably the worst.

Benzodiazepines have a well-known potential for physical dependency, abuse, and addiction.

While most in the medical field know of this potential, there has yet to be a real widespread effort to curb its use.

Many people are being prescribed these medications without being made aware of this issue.

Addiction to benzos is real and can be excruciatingly difficult to come off of.

I've often heard stories of withdrawals described as worse than heroin, with withdrawal symptoms lasting for weeks or even months.

Drugs like Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin are often sold on the street in the same way opioid medications like Percocet and Vicodin are illegally sold.

There is a real problem here that needs to be brought to public awareness in the same way the opioid epidemic has been.

Less often discussed – and not entirely accepted by the medical community – is the physiological dependence on antidepressants after extended daily use.

Hopefully, your goal on this journey is to not only reduce anxiety symptoms but also improve your ability to handle anxiety and stress and overcome your fears and resistances.

Whether you achieve this through psychotherapy, CBT, meditation, relaxation, or any other techniques or practices (like the ones discussed throughout this website) makes no difference.

All anxiety medication should ultimately be viewed as either helping you on this path or interfering.

Taking a pill to feel less anxious sounds much easier for most people than learning breathing techniques or going through therapy.

Often a person may feel a lot better on medication than before, so they neglect the additional work of therapy or learning learn how to cope with anxiety when it does arise.

Some people may think a pill will solve their problems, and they can avoid ever feeling anxiety, facing their fears, or dealing with the underlying causes.

Unless a person is planning to stay on medication permanently (and even on medication), there will come a time when they will need the skills and resources necessary to handle their anxiety.

Learning strategies for anxiety or going through therapy can help in this regard.

Exposure is common in many therapies.

Exposure therapy is where someone does the thing that makes them anxious and feels the anxiety to its fullest – seeing that it is safe.

Rebound anxiety refers to increased anxiety and panic experienced after stopping a medication prescribed for anxiety.

In many cases, rebound anxiety can be more severe than the anxiety experienced before starting the medication.

The resulting anxiety and panic symptoms directly result from withdrawal from the medication.

Most people will run back to taking the medication to reduce the feelings of intense anxiety.

Their physicians may oblige with a higher dose to combat the increased anxiety.

Attempts to stop the drug can create a vicious cycle of higher and higher doses and intense anxiety and panic when trying to reduce or eliminate the drug.

A common issue with almost all medications for anxiety is drug interactions, particularly with other medicines and alcohol, which can also include herbs, supplements, and certain foods.

You are probably well aware of the potential for drug interactions with most of these medications.

Still, you should always discuss with your doctor if in doubt.

Many potential interactions, even with potentially benign supplements, can lead to health issues.

For example: combining antidepressant medications with herbs or supplements that affect serotonin (such as 5-HTP or St. Johns Wort) can lead to serious issues such as "Serotonin Syndrome."

Also, potentially fatal interactions can occur with anxiety meds and other medications or drugs.

Combining nervous system depressants such as benzodiazepines or sedatives with other nervous system depressants such as alcohol or opioids can lead to overdose, coma, or even death.

Taking medication for anxiety can be extremely helpful for many people – and even necessary for some.

There is no denying the fact medications have helped many people deal with their anxiety and depression where nothing else would.

That being said, there tends to be an over-prescribing of these meds by overly eager family physicians and psychiatrists.

These medications CAN help – but they are not always necessary or needed.

Therapy, changes in diet, exercise, meditations such as Yoga and Mindfulness training, and many other techniques have proven to be just as effective as medication for anxiety and depression without the potential for side effects or physiological dependence.

Often anxiety medications are prescribed without looking at the patient's current diet or lifestyle.

Rarely are blood tests ordered to rule out possible biological causes for the patient's anxiety.