It is almost beyond belief how many people are suffering from anxiety disorders. While statistics may vary,reports are that 40 million people of all ages are in the throes of some form of the various anxiety disorders and are frantically looking for much  needed relief. That relief may come with the medications for anxiety, herbal or natural treatments or some sort of therapy  such as cognitive/behavioral therapy, relaxation therapy or faith based therapy to name a few. Although this is not intended to  be a scholarly analysis of these various medications, our purpose is to give you an enlightening overview of what they are, their use and their effects.

Let’s take a look at the solutions out there for you, and there’s more than one. This is not an advanced course in psychology or medicine - it’s just to help simplify your way to getting help. Our information is from the ADAA, the Anxiety Association of America. You will learn the names of specific medications, briefly see what they do and how they do it. First a word of caution: medications for anxiety are to be used only under a doctor’s care; and they are not a cure unto themselves. They are usually used before other therapies are introduced to reduce the debilitating symptoms so the individual is able to receive effective benefits from other therapies.

We’ll start with the antidepressants which increase the concentration of the substance known as serotonin, which then  alleviates the anxiety. There are three SSRI medications, the most recent antidepressants, and they are Zolaft, Paxil and  Prozac, names most of you are familiar with. These are used to treat social and generalized anxiety; posttraumatic stress  disorder; panic disorder; and obsessice compulsive disorder.

Next let’s look briefly at the Tricylic (TCA) antidepressants, also effective in treating anxirty, which are Doxeprin, Anafranil  and Vivactil. These antidepressants work in a similar way to the SSRIs and target basically the same disorders. In addition to  increasing the concentration of serotonin, the TCA also affects the activity of a substance called norepinepherine. Medical  reports indicate that while TCAs are effective medicines, their unpleasant side effects make them less preferable than the  SSRIs.

Finally, the MAOI which are the first or the oldest of the antidepressants are Marplan, Nardil and Parnate, and are classified  as inhibitors, because they work by blocking or inhibiting the influence of an important brain enzyme. The MAOI are  generally prescribed by doctors in the treatment of panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder.

Again, we recommend that before beginning any treatment including medication, you consult your doctor concerning both the  benefits and the side effects of each of these drugs. There are other medical interventions such as beta-blockers and anti  anxiety medication that are effective in relieving the symptoms of anxiety, but are usually short term treatment, and also carry  some unpleasant side effects such as dependency and withdrawal symptoms.

One of the main obstacles to be overcome in the decision to use medications for anxiety is the fear of the after effects - the  fear and stigma that you may become addicted to the drug and will have withdrawal symptoms. While that is a real possibility,  fear that you may become addicted to the drug and will have withdrawal symptoms.  While that is a real possibility, just make  sure you have a doctor well qualified to treat your specific anxiety disorder and that he knows his medicines and their side  effects.

Although this has not been a scholarly treatise on medications for anxiety, now you should know that anxiety disorders are  very treatable, and should hopefully know a little more about what the medications are and how they work. The good news  for you anxiety sufferers is that  these interventions are very effective in bringing the relief you’re seeking.