Which anxiety disorders respond to treatment with antianxiety medications? What are the major drugs used and what are their side effects?

Answer:

In the past, the major class of drugs used to treat anxiety disorders was the benzodiazepine class. Examples of these drugs are diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). These drugs tend to reduce symptoms of anxiety, especially vigilance and subjective somatic sensations. They reduce muscle tension, palpitations, perspiration, and gastrointestinal distress. They have been used to treat generalized anxiety disorder and social phobias. The side effects include sedation and cognitive impairments; the most serious adverse effect is the potential for addiction. More recently, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. Luvox, Prozac, Paxil) have become the preferred drugs for treating almost all forms of anxiety disorders. These drugs have fewer unpleasant side effects and are safer to use.