Pills for Anxiety Relief
There are many different pills that can be taken to relieve anxiety. Some you take on a regular basis, others you take only on a need basis.
Anxiety Pill - Prozac
Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Technically, SSRIs are antidepressants, though they are often prescribed in smaller doses to treat anxiety. They have to be taken every day, sometimes twice a day, and they usually take a few weeks for the user to feel the effects. Many users may feel jittery or have trouble sleeping at the beginning of treatment and should talk to their doctors about adjusting the dosage if problems continue to exist.
Anxiety Pill - Zoloft
Zoloft is a SSRI used for treating depression and anxiety. Zoloft works to correct a chemical imbalance in the brain that may be related to symptoms of depression or anxiety. It has been prescribed to millions of people for over 15 years.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Zoloft for the treatment of a number of mood and anxiety disorders. It is also approved for OCD in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years.
Anxiety Pill - Paxil
Paxil was released in 1992 by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. By 2006 it was the fifth-most prescribed antidepressant in the United States with more than 20 million prescriptions. This drug is very controversial because of side effects such as suicidal ideation and withdrawal syndrome, which have resulted in legal proceedings against the manufacturer.
Anxiety Pill - Buspirone
Buspirone is chemically similar to SSRIs, but the FDA has approved it only for treating generalized anxiety disorder. This disorder makes the person feel a little bit edgy all the time. This drug is usually taken twice a day. Buspirone has an efficacy comparable to diazepam in treating generalized anxiety disorder. There have been no problems with addiction compared to other drugs commonly prescribed for anxiety.
Anxiety Pill - Xanax
Xanax usually works within 20 minutes, making it particularly useful for treating panic attacks and phobias. Because of the rapid way the drug works, most doctors feel Xanax is very addictive. Xanax is FDA approved for short term treatment lasting no longer than 8 weeks. This drug is very common on the black market and is commonly known as "Totem Poles", "Ladders", "Bars", or "Yellow Buses".
Anxiety Pill - Ativan
This drug usually works within an hour after being taken. It has no damaging effects on the liver like so many of the other anxiety drugs do.
Anxiety Pill - Klonopin
Klonopin lasts longer in the body and therefore is more sedating than Xanax or Ativan. Users often times feel groggy the day they take it, and hung-over the next day. Enjoying this feeling of sedation is a warning sign of addiction.
