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Anxiety
19 min read
Written by Klarity Editorial Team
Published: Jul 21, 2023
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Zoe Russell
If you have an anxiety disorder and need non-addictive anxiety medications due to your medical history, then this article is for you! Medications like benzodiazapines might not be suitable for people who have a history of drug and alcohol dependency or who can’t take muscle relaxers due to their job.
However, there are plenty of effective, non-habit-forming anxiety medications available, and many of them are available online.
In this post, we will explore many non-addictive anxiety medications to help you gain a better understanding of your treatment options. We know that living with an anxiety disorder is exhausting and that its symptoms can distract you from taking the necessary steps to get the help you need.
That’s where we come in.
Klarity is a unique telemedicine service that connects people with mental health specialists who can diagnose and prescribe medication online. Our service is affordable, convenient, and fast—schedule virtual appointments within 48 hours and get online anxiety treatment on your own terms.
There are five types of anxiety, each with unique characteristics. These include
People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experience excessive worry and fear over everyday situations, tasks, and interactions. GAD feels like a constant distracting fear that interferes with your ability to function.
For a proper diagnosis, this excessive fear and worry must last over six months and include the following symptoms
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder have repetitive, intrusive, and distressing thoughts or fears—called obsessions. In order to relieve the anxiety and distress these obsessions cause, the person will engage in compulsions or behaviors that temporarily relieve the anxiety, fear, and distress.
Eventually, a person’s obsessions and compulsions interfere with their ability to function at home, work, and school. That person may avoid situations that trigger their obsessions to avoid having to act out their compulsions.
Here are two examples of obsessions and compulsions
Obsession: fear of germs or contamination
Compulsion: washing hands repetitively until hands are chapped and raw
Obsession: fear of messing up or being wrong
Compulsion: constantly checking the locks on doors and windows to make sure you locked them
People with panic disorder experience intense bouts of fear or panic that often happen unpredictably. These attacks can last for 5 to 20 minutes, or longer in some cases, and are very disorienting and frightening to experience.
People report the following symptoms when experiencing a panic attack
There are two types of panic attacks—expected panic attacks and unexpected panic attacks.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. People with PTSD may have trouble coping with the trauma of their experience and struggle to function normally at home, at work, or in society at large.
This type of anxiety can develop anywhere from a month to several years after the traumatic event. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by a persistent fear of everyday social interactions. Feelings of panic, anxiety, self-consciousness, and doubt overwhelm people with SAD. The anxiety and discomfort caused by certain triggers often cause people with the disorder to engage in avoidant behavior.
Symptoms of social anxiety disorder include
Before digging into the many non-habit-forming anxiety medications available to people with anxiety disorders, it’s important to learn about habit-forming anti-anxiety medications.
Benzodiazepines are sedative medications that are prescribed to treat anxiety disorders and sleeping disorders. Specifically, benzodiazepines work by increasing the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. This chemical reduces activity in regions of the brain responsible for:
By increasing the amount of GABA in the brain, a person experiences a sedative effect and will feel strong emotions—like panic, fear, and anxiety—to a much lesser degree.
Common long-acting benzodiazepines include:
Common short-acting benzodiazepines include:
These drugs do have pronounced side effects, making them not ideal for people who need to drive, operate heavy machinery, or use fine-motor skills during the day.
People quickly build up a tolerance to benzodiazepines, meaning they’ll require higher doses over time to receive the same benefits. This mechanism can be dangerous and lead to a person developing a dependence on benzodiazepines.
If you have an anxiety disorder and are unable to take benzodiazepines due to your job or because of a history of a substance use disorder, then you’ll want to explore various non-addictive anxiety medications.
Many antidepressants, allergy medications, and even blood pressure medications are approved by the FDA to help manage anxiety symptoms or are prescribed as “off-label” treatments for anxiety.
SSRIs are a type of antidepressant medication. Short for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs help elevate levels of serotonin in the areas of the brain where it is most useful—in the synaptic gap. By preventing serotonin from being reabsorbed, the neurotransmitter can build up over time in the synapses.
Serotonin is a vital neurotransmitter that helps to manage the following
Common side effects of SSRIs include
The following SSRIs are prescribed to help patients manage symptoms associated with OCD, GAD, PTSD, and panic disorder.
Fluoxetine (Prozac) is an oral medication used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorders by inhibiting serotonin reuptake.
Escitalopram (Lexapro) treats generalized anxiety disorders (GAD) by restoring serotonin balance in the brain.
Citalopram (Celexa) is sometimes used to treat symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders, social anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This helps decrease impulsivity in the brain and relieves symptoms of triggered anxiety.
Sertraline (Zoloft) is commonly used to treat patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety, and panic disorders.
SNRIs are another class of antidepressants that helps elevate serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the synapses of the brain. SNRIs are prescribed for many of the same reasons SSRIs are prescribed. However, because this medication class also elevates norepinephrine, people report a stimulant-like effect, which can make certain anxiety disorders worse.
Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter and hormone that plays a role in
Some common side effects of SNRIs are
SNRIs are commonly used as a treatment for depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social phobias. In addition to these applications, SNRIs are also prescribed to help manage symptoms of ADHD, menopause, chronic neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia.
Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) is commonly used to treat patients with generalized anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and social anxiety disorders. This medication is known to possibly increase blood pressure and is contraindicated for hypertensive patients.
Duloxetine (Cymbalta) is used to treat anxiety and patients that experience muscle aches and pain. This helps by relieving the tension that affects the body with chronic stress. This may worsen liver problems in patients with underlying issues.
Both SSRIs and SNRIs come with a black box warning from the FDA. Though rare, antidepressants can cause suicidal ideation in children and adolescents. These findings have not been duplicated in adult populations. However, everyone prescribed antidepressants in the United States must be informed of the risks.
Vistaril is an antihistamine used to treat short-term anxiety by reducing brain activity and slowing down brain conduction, therefore reducing anxiety symptoms. In addition to treating anxiety, antihistamines help control allergic reactions, reducing itching, hives, rashes, and inflammatory swelling.
Common side effects of Vistaril include
Buspirone, which used to be known as BuSpar, is an anxiolytic medication that helps people with anxiety relax, think clearly, and remain calm. Buspirone helps treat the physical symptoms of anxiety and works well when paired with an SSRI or SNRI.
Common side effects of Buspar are
Other, more rare side effects that should be closely monitored include
Patients are advised to use caution when driving and operating heavy machinery.
Beta-blockers are a class of medication that predominantly helps lower blood pressure, manage abnormal heart rhythms, and help the heart beat slower and with less force. Beta-blockers block receptors that usually respond to the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline) and trigger the fight-or-flight response.
People with anxiety have fight-or-flight responses that are more easily triggered than the average person. Therefore beta-blockers are sometimes prescribed to help people with panic disorder, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders manage the physical symptoms of anxiety, which include elevated heart rate, sweating, and feelings of panic or impending doom.
Some examples of oral beta-blockers include:
Acebutolol treats high blood pressure and chest pain and controls irregular heartbeat by relaxing blood vessels and arteries.
Atenolol is a beta blocker that helps reduce the effects of high blood pressure and chest pain, such as angina, by regulating circulation and widening arteries.
Propranolol is a medication used for chest pain such as angina and to reduce the chances of a heart attack. This medication also helps patients that suffer from fast and irregular heartbeat by slowing down the heart.
Pregabalin is an anxiolytic medication commonly used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, and nerve pain.
Some common side effects of pregabalin are
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant, which is a class of medication that treats seizures. This medication reduces anxiety symptoms by decreasing excitement in the brain.
Some common side effects of gabapentin to be aware of are
Diphenhydramine is a sedative antihistamine medication used to treat allergies. This medication treats the physical symptoms of anxiety and is also used as a sleep aid for patients with insomnia.
Diphenhydramine has not been FDA-approved as a treatment for anxiety but is prescribed as an off-label treatment.
Diphenhydramine may cause the following side effects:
If you have an anxiety disorder but can’t take benzodiazepines because of your medical history, there are many alternatives that are not habit-forming. From antihistamines to antidepressants, there are many non-muscle-relaxant medications that can help relieve anxiety symptoms.
Klarity can connect you with a medical provider who can diagnose and prescribe non-addictive anxiety medication online. Our unique telehealth service is fast and convenient. Take a quick self-evaluation to connect with a provider on Klarity within 48 hours!
Sources
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“Gabapentin.” MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a694007.html
“Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).” Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/generalized-anxiety-disorder
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).” Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967
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Mayo Clinic Staff. “Beta Blockers.” Mayo Clinic.
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Mayo Clinic Staff. “Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs).” Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/antidepressants/art-20044970
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).” Mayo Clinic.
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