“What are the top medications for anxiety?”

- * Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)*: Examples include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro). SSRIs are often the first choice due to their relatively mild side effect profile and effectiveness for both depression and anxiety. - * Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)*: Venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) are examples. These are also effective for anxiety and depression but can have more pronounced side effects compared to SSRIs. - * Benzodiazepines*: Such as lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), and alprazolam (Xanax). These are fast-acting but are generally recommended for short-term or situational anxiety due to their potential for dependence. - * Pregabalin (Lyrica)*: Although not a first-line treatment, it's sometimes used for generalized anxiety disorder. - * Buspirone (Buspar)*: This medication is less sedating than benzodiazepines and is used specifically for chronic anxiety, though it's generally less effective than SSRIs and SNRIs. - * Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)*: This antihistamine is sometimes used for short-term treatment of anxiety. - * Other Antidepressants*: Some older classes of antidepressants, like tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs, are also used but generally have a less favorable side effect profile.

The most effective medications for short term treatment of anxiety are benzodiazepines, but several of them have addictive potential. Antidepressants are the most effective for long term treatment of anxiety.