Antianxiety Medications: Effects and Side Effects

Antianxiety Medications

Alprazolam (Xanax)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases anxiety, seizures, sleep disorders, alcohol abuse, and catatonic schizophrenia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Sedation, potential for abuse, difficult to taper (gradual dose reduction).

Buspirone hydrochloride (BuSpar)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases depression, anxiety, addictions, and ADHD.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Tremors, decreased appetite, insomnia, restlessness.

Chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Mitran, Reposans-10)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases anxiety, seizures, sleep disorders, alcohol abuse, and catatonic schizophrenia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Sedation, potential for abuse, difficult to taper.

Clorazepate dipotassium (Tranxene, Gen-Xene)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases anxiety, seizures, sleep disorders, alcohol abuse, and catatonic schizophrenia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Sedation, potential for abuse, difficult to taper.

Diazepam (Diastat, Valium)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases anxiety, seizures, sleep disorders, alcohol abuse, and catatonic schizophrenia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Sedation, potential for abuse, difficult to taper.

Estazolam (Prosom)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases insomnia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Cognitive impairments, dizziness, daytime sleepiness, anxiety, uncoordinated motor movements, intoxication, drug accumulation.

Flurazepam hydrochloride (Dalmane)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases insomnia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Cognitive impairments, dizziness, daytime sleepiness, anxiety, uncoordinated motor movements, intoxication, drug accumulation.

Hydroxyzine hydrochloride (Vistaril)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases insomnia, tremors, weight gain, anxiety.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Dizziness, sedation, constipation, cotton mouth, weight gain, urinary retention, blurred vision, hypotension, confusion.

Lithium carbonate (Eskalith, Lithobid)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases mania and suicidal ideation, stabilizes mood.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Toxicity can be lethal, increase weight, nausea, acne, sedation, psoriasis, diarrhea, polydipsia, tremors, edema, uncoordinated motor movements.

Lorazepam (Ativan)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases anxiety, seizures, sleep disorders, alcohol abuse, and catatonic schizophrenia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Sedation, potential for abuse, difficult to taper.

Oxazepam (Serax)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases anxiety, seizures, sleep disorders, alcohol abuse, and catatonic schizophrenia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Sedation, potential for abuse, difficult to taper.

Temazepam (Restoril)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases insomnia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Cognitive impairments, dizziness, daytime sleepiness, anxiety, uncoordinated motor movements, intoxication, drug accumulation.

Triazolam (Halcion)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases insomnia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Cognitive impairments, dizziness, daytime sleepiness, anxiety, uncoordinated motor movements, intoxication, drug accumulation.

Zaleplon (Sonata)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases insomnia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Dizziness, drowsiness.

Zolpidem tartrate (Ambien)

  • Summary of Effects:
    • Decreases insomnia.
  • Adverse Side Effects:
    • Dizziness, drowsiness.