You’re probably wondering, what are the side effects of common anxiety medications?
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), 3.1% of the U.S. population suffers from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). That’s 6.8 million adults.
Many of those Americans are probably on anxiety medication, which is likely doing good things for some of them. The proper anxiety medicine in the right doses can allow people with anxiety disorders to manage their symptoms, aid in their recovery, and prevent relapse. Anxiety drugs also often come with side effects.
Part of understanding whether anxiety medication is right for you is knowing what the potential side effects are of the most commonly prescribed drugs and whether they’re okay with you.
Classes of Anxiety Medication
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are commonly used as a short-term treatment for anxiety disorders or as a second form of medication. They are not recommended for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Benzodiazepines promote relaxation, reduce muscular tension, and ease other physical symptoms of anxiety.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are meant to improve mental health by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin by the nerve cells in the brain. The effect of this is that more serotonin becomes available, leading to improvements in your mood.
SSRIs are commonly prescribed for clinical depression, but they’re also considered effective for various anxiety disorders. SSRIs tend to have fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants, which are also used for managing anxiety.
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
SNRIs work by increasing the levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain. They do this by blocking their reabsorption into brain cells, just like SSRIs do. SNRIs can be just as effective as SSRIs for treating all anxiety disorders for which SSRIs are recommended, except obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Many doctors have been concerned about the long-term use of benzodiazepines, given their potential for dependency. This is why some suggest patients with anxiety disorders try tricyclic antidepressants instead. Tricyclic antidepressants can effectively treat some anxiety disorders but not others, such as social anxiety disorder.
Common Anxiety Medications and Their Side Effects
Diazepam
Nearly 9 million prescriptions are made for diazepam every year in the U.S. It is a short-acting medication, which means within 30 to 60 minutes, people with an anxiety disorder find their symptoms of anxiety significantly reduced or gone altogether.
Drug Class: Benzodiazepine
Common Brand Names: Valium®, Diastat® Acudial™, Diazepam Intensol
Potential Side Effects:
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Spinning sensation
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Ataxia (loss of balance)
- Memory problems
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Muscle weakness
- Drooling
- Dry mouth
- Slurred speech
- Blurred or double vision
- Skin rash
- Itching
- Lower sex drive
When taking Valium in the long-term, substance abuse is a potential adverse effect. Some people with anxiety get legitimate Valium prescriptions but take it longer than prescribed because of the sedative effects, which makes tolerance, dependency, and addiction risks.
With long-term use of Valium, many people report withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the drug. These include:
- Abdominal cramps
- Headache
- Sweating
- Muscle pain
- Severe anxiety
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
Alprazolam
Alprazolam was first introduced into the market in 1981 and is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Like diazepam, it works by binding to GABA receptors in your brain, decreasing the hyperactive levels of brain activity that lead to anxiety and panic. Doctors in the U.S. wrote over 47 million prescriptions for Xanax® in 2012.
Drug Class: Benzodiazepine
Common Brand Names: Xanax®, Xanax® XR
Potential Side Effects:
- Drowsiness
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Sleep problems (insomnia)
- Memory problems
- Poor balance or coordination
- Slurred speech
- Trouble concentrating
- Irritability
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Increased sweating
- Blurred vision
- Appetite or weight changes
- Swelling in your hands or feet
- Muscle weakness
- Dry mouth
- Stuffy nose
- Loss of interest in sex
Like Valium, Xanax has the potential for abuse, dependency, and addiction. This is because it can produce a feeling of euphoria in higher doses. When taken outside of a doctor’s recommendations and care, withdrawal symptoms can be significant and include:
- Intense anxiety
- Insomnia
- Seizures
Clonazepam
Clonazepam is a medication that is used to treat general anxiety, panic disorder, and seizures in epilepsy. Nearly 22 million prescriptions for clonazepam are made per year in the U.S.
Drug Class: Benzodiazepine
Common Brand Names: Klonopin®, Rivotril®
Potential Side Effects:
- Drowsiness
- Weakness
- Unsteadiness
- Depression
- Loss of orientation
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Problems with thinking or memory
- Slurred speech
- Dry mouth
- Sleep disturbances
- Sore gums
- Runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Blurred vision
If you abruptly stop using Klonopin after long-term use, then you run the risk of:
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Muscle cramping
- Vomiting
- Sweating
Lorazepam
Doctors prescribe lorazepam for a wide range of anxiety disorders, as well as depression related to anxiety. Over 15 million prescriptions of lorazepam have been made for lorazepam in a year in the U.S.
Drug Class: Benzodiazepine
Common Brand Names: Ativan®, Temesta®
Potential Side Effects:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Forgetfulness or amnesia
- Tiredness
- Muscle weakness
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Sleep problems (insomnia)
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Changes in appetite
- Skin rash
- Difficulty concentrating
Ativan is strong and fast-acting, which means it has some potential for addiction. For this reason, it’s only intended for short-term use.
Temazepam
Temazepam is a drug that doctors prescribe for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia, two problems that often co-occur. An anxiety disorder can cause sleep problems, and if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you lose out on the amount of restorative sleep you need to protect your mental health.
This lack of rest can worsen your anxiety, leading to further sleep issues, and so on.
Temazepam has addictive potential because of its sedative and euphoric effects. This is why it’s recommended as a short-term treatment for insomnia, lasting no longer than four weeks.
U.S. doctors write over 3.7 million prescriptions of temazepam in a year.
Drug Class: Benzodiazepine
Common Brand Names: Restoril®, Normison®
Potential Side Effects:
- Dizziness
- Daytime drowsiness
- Amnesia or forgetfulness
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Depression
- Nervousness
- Excitability
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach discomfort
- Dry mouth
- Increased thirst
- Numbness
- Burning
- Pain
- Tingly feeling
Imipramine
Drug Class: Tricyclic Antidepressant
Common Brand Names: Tofranil®
Potential Side Effects:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
Fluoxetine
Drug Class: SSRI
Common Brand Names: Prozac®, Sarafem
Potential Side Effects:
- Sleep problems (insomnia)
- Tremors
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
Venlafaxine
Drug Class: SNRI
Common Brand Names: Effexor®
Potential Side Effects:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Sleep disturbances
- Vision changes
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Changes in weight or appetite
- Increased sweating
- Dry mouth
Despite these side effects, many people with anxiety disorders find relief from medication for anxiety. If you’re not interested in the side effects of anxiety drugs, try transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). It’s drug-free and non-invasive, and it can effectively treat anxiety, getting you back on your feet in several 18-to-19-minute sessions. Call Success TMS today for more information!
