Medication & prescriptions
Anti-anxiety meds: Types and their role in treatment
For people navigating an anxiety diagnosis, this article explains how anti-anxiety meds work, the types available, and how to find a psychiatric provider covered by your insurance.
By Dr. Juli Fraga, Psy.D • Clinically reviewed by Dr. Anik Saha, M.D.
If you've ever felt your heart race before a big presentation or found yourself lying awake replaying a stressful conversation, you already know what anxiety feels like. For most people, that feeling eventually fades. But for others, anxiety sticks around longer than we'd like, and it can make everyday life feel a lot harder than it should.
Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people reach out for mental health support — and the good news is that it responds well to treatment for many people. Medication is one path forward — and whether you've just been diagnosed, are weighing your options, or simply want to understand a prescription you've already received from a prescribing provider, it helps to know what you're working with.
Think of this guide as a helpful overview: We'll break down how anxiety medications work, what types are out there, and what you might expect if you decide to try one.
How do anxiety medications work?
Anxiety medications work by acting on the brain and nervous system to reduce symptoms like excessive worry, racing thoughts, and tension. How they do that depends on the type.
Different medications work in different ways. Some act quickly to ease physical symptoms like a rapid heartbeat or muscle tension. Others, like medications that act on serotonin and norepinephrine, build up their effects over weeks to support more stable, long-term mood regulation.
It's worth knowing that medication rarely works overnight. Finding the right fit takes time, and responses vary from person to person. Working closely with your psychiatric care provider is the best way to navigate that process and land on a treatment plan that works for you.
Types of anxiety medications
There are several types of anxiety meds a psychiatric care provider can prescribe, and the right choice depends on your diagnosis, symptom pattern, and individual factors. Here are some commonly prescribed medications.
SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
SSRIs act on serotonin, a chemical your brain uses in mood and anxiety pathways. The exact way they reduce anxiety isn't fully understood — it likely involves slower changes in how the brain responds to stress over time, which is part of why they can take a few weeks to feel like they're working
SNRIs (Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
SNRIs act on two brain chemicals involved in mood and stress — serotonin and norepinephrine. They're considered a first-line treatment for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, along with SSRIs.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines reduce anxiety quickly — both the mental sense of worry or dread and the physical symptoms like a racing heart and tense muscles. They work by slowing activity in the central nervous system, which helps you feel calmer within one to two hours. Examples include alprazolam, diazepam, and lorazepam.
Because the body adjusts to benzodiazepines over time, they're generally meant for short-term or occasional use — for example, helping with a fear of flying or a brief, high-stress period. With regular use, tolerance and physical dependence can develop even when the medication is taken as prescribed. Stopping a benzodiazepine suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms that range from rebound anxiety and insomnia to, in serious cases, seizures. Never stop or change a benzodiazepine on your own. If you're worried about dependence, talk to your prescriber — there are safe ways to taper.
Buspirone
Buspirone is FDA-approved for generalized anxiety disorder. Providers may prescribe it on its own, or alongside an SSRI to boost its effect — and it's sometimes a good option for people who can't tolerate SSRI side effects. Like SSRIs, it takes a few weeks of daily use to feel the full benefit, and it's not habit-forming.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers are most commonly used to treat high blood pressure, but they can also help with the physical symptoms of anxiety. Rather than acting on the brain, they block adrenaline from reaching the heart and blood vessels — which calms a pounding heart, tremor, or shaky voice. That makes them useful for situational anxiety, like giving a speech or performing. Unlike benzodiazepines, they aren't habit-forming.
Beta-blockers aren't right for everyone. They aren't safe for people with asthma, and they require careful use in people with certain heart conditions or diabetes, so they should only be started in conversation with a provider.
When you may need anxiety medications
Anxiety, like stress, is part of life. While different life experiences can trigger anxiety — such as a break up, an illness, or a work issue — sometimes anxiety lingers even after the stressful period ends.
If anxiety feels overwhelming or if it doesn’t go away, speaking with a mental health professional can help. There are many different treatments for anxiety, including psychotherapy, group therapy, and medicine.
You might want to consider speaking to a professional if:
- You’ve experienced anxiety symptoms that are persistent and interfere with daily life, work, or relationships.
- Therapy alone hasn’t provided enough relief.
- Physical symptoms of anxiety — like chronic muscle tension or insomnia — or panic attacks are significantly affecting your quality of life.
- You received a recent diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, like generalized anxiety disorder, from a licensed provider.
- You’re feeling unable to manage anxiety during high-stress periods, even with coping strategies.
- A therapist or primary care doctor has recommended a psychiatric evaluation.
Not everyone who feels anxious needs medication; a psychiatrist can conduct an evaluation, recommend a treatment plan, and talk about next steps.
Anti-anxiety medications side effects
Nearly every type of medication can cause side effects. That said, side effects can vary widely depending on the class of medication, the dosage, and each person’s individual response.
A psychiatrist will talk with you about the pros and cons of taking medication and monitor you for side effects throughout treatment. Sometimes side effects go away on their own, but when they don’t, your provider may adjust the dosage or recommend a different medicine.
Remember: Always talk to your prescribing provider before stopping or changing your anti-anxiety medication regimen.
Here are some commonly reported side effects:
- Nausea or digestive discomfort: Common when starting SSRIs and SNRIs. You may have a queasy stomach, but this side effect generally improves over time.
- Drowsiness or fatigue: A common side effect of SSRIs, SNRIs, and benzodiazepines. You may feel sluggish or need extra sleep. With SSRIs and SNRIs, this side effect can improve over time. With benzodiazepines, extreme drowsiness can linger until the medicine wears off, generally a few hours after taking it.
- Headaches: Experiencing more frequent headaches can be a side effect of SSRIs.
- Feeling light-headed: Extreme dizziness and lightheadedness can be side effects of benzodiazepines.
- Sexual side effects: SSRIs and SNRIs can affect libido, sexual function, or the ability to reach orgasm. These side effects are worth raising with your prescriber — there are usually adjustments or alternatives that can help.
- Risk of dependence or withdrawal: With regular use, benzodiazepines can lead to physical dependence, even when taken as prescribed. Stopping them suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms ranging from rebound anxiety, insomnia, and irritability to, in serious cases, seizures.
- Beta-blocker side effects: Most people tolerate beta-blockers well, but they can cause tiredness, lightheadedness, cold hands and feet, or a slower-than-usual heartbeat. They aren't safe for people with asthma and require caution in people with certain heart conditions or diabetes.
- Discontinuation symptoms (SSRIs and SNRIs): Stopping these medications suddenly can cause dizziness, flu-like symptoms, irritability, or sensations sometimes described as 'brain zaps.' This isn't addiction — it's the brain readjusting — but it's why these meds should always be tapered slowly with your prescriber rather than stopped on your own.
- Feeling jittery or more anxious early on: It's actually pretty common to feel restless, on-edge, or to sleep worse during the first one to two weeks on an SSRI or SNRI — this happens because the medication is starting to act on your system before it's settled in. It can feel counterintuitive, but it usually passes within a couple of weeks, and it doesn't mean the medication won't end up helping your anxiety. If it's intense or doesn't settle, your prescriber may adjust the dose or change medications — but it's not a reason to stop on your own.
- A note for people under 25: Antidepressants — including SSRIs and SNRIs — carry an FDA warning about a small possible increase in suicidal thoughts during the first few weeks or months of treatment in children, teens, and young adults. The warning is debated among clinicians, but the practical takeaway is the same: anyone in this age group starting one of these medications should be monitored closely, and any worsening mood or new thoughts of self-harm should be reported to a provider right away. If you're in crisis, call or text 988.
Never stop medication without the guidance of a prescribing provider. If you’re worried that dependency has formed, seek assistance from a mental health professional.
Are there alternatives to taking medications for anxiety?
Medication is not the only path for treating anxiety. Many people use a combination of approaches, including psychotherapy, exercise, meditation, and medication.
Here are some evidence-based approaches that can help with anxiety, with or without medications:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps you cope with anxious thoughts by teaching you how to reframe and challenge them.
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR): MBSR incorporates tenets of mindfulness, including breathing exercises, which can reduce anxiety and help the body relax.
- Regular physical exercise: Regular exercise can reduce bodily tension and improve your mood.
- Support groups or peer support: Support groups and peer support can teach you tools to cope with anxiety and help you feel less alone.
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): ACT helps you reframe anxious thoughts, accept them, and work towards change.
- Lifestyle adjustments (sleep, limiting alcohol and caffeine): Lifestyle adjustments, such as getting good sleep and limiting alcohol and caffeine, can help reduce symptoms of anxiety.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, support is available. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), or call 911 for a mental health emergency.
Find help for anxiety
If you’re feeling anxious or exploring whether or not anti-anxiety medication is right for you, the next step is speaking with a licensed psychiatric provider. You don’t have to spend hours on the phone with your insurance company or scroll through directories of providers with outdated availability.
With Headway, you can search for verified in-network providers, see upfront pricing, and book instantly. We take the headache out of finding a provider, so you can focus on what matters most: your mental health.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified clinical, legal, or other appropriate professionals.
© 2026 Therapymatch, Inc. dba Headway. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.
Medication & prescriptions
Antipsychotic medications: What they are and how they work
What are antipsychotic medications, how do they work, and who are they for? Here's what you need to know before your next appointment.
Understanding aripiprazole’s side effects
Learn about aripiprazole, or Abilify, side effects, from common symptoms to serious risks, plus tips on safe use and when to seek medical help.
How much is sertraline without insurance?
Understand sertraline medication costs, insurance coverage, and cost-saving options.