Table of Contents
Buspirone tends to have less pronounced side effects than benzodiazepines and no withdrawal effects, even when the drug is discontinued quickly. Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea. Buspirone should not be used with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers, including propranolol (Inderal, generic) and atenolol (Tenormin, generic), block the nerves that stimulate the heart to beat faster. They affect only the physiologic symptoms of anxiety (particularly rapid heart rate) and are most helpful for phobias, particularly performance anxiety. They may be taken before entering a situation where anxiety symptoms tend to occur. Beta blockers are less effective for other forms of anxiety.
Atypical Antipsychotics
Atypical antipsychotics are mostly used for treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. They may sometimes be used for treating severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder. However, atypical antipsychotics (particularly olanzapine) can have severe side effects. These include weight gain and increased high blood sugar levels, which can increase the risk for diabetes. [For more information, see In-Depth Report #47: Schizophrenia.]
Anticonvulsants (Antiseizure Drugs)
Pregabalin (Lyrica) and gabapentin (Neurontin, generic) are drugs used to treat seizures and other conditions. Researchers are investigating whether these drugs may be useful for certain anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder and general anxiety disorder. Their exact role in the treatment of anxiety disorders is not clear, however.
Review Date: 01/27/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
