Same-day online anxiety treatment*

Anxiety is diagnosed by a medical or mental healthcare professional, typically a psychiatrist or psychologist who will:

• Ask about your medical and mental health history and current status
• Ask you about your current symptoms, how intense they are, how long they last, how they affect your daily life, and when they started
• Use a standardized anxiety assessment tool, such as the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21 and DASS-42), and/or the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)

There are several classes of medications and many individual drugs used to treat anxiety.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

• Increase the levels of serotonin — the “feel good chemical” — in the brain
• Serotonin helps regulate mood and improve anxiety

Common  SSRI medications

• Prozac (fluoxetine) — providers may prescribe off-label for anxiety but is not U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat anxiety disorders
• Zoloft (sertraline) — FDA-approved to treat anxiety disorders
• Celexa (citalopram) — providers may prescribe off-label for anxiety but is not FDA-approved to treat anxiety disorders
• Lexapro (escitalopram) — FDA-approved to treat GAD

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

• Increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain
• Serotonin helps regulate mood and improve anxiety

Common SNRI medications

• Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) — providers may prescribe off-label for anxiety, but not FDA-approved to treat anxiety
• Cymbalta (duloxetine) — FDA-approved to treat GAD
• Effexor (venlafaxine) — FDA-approved to treat GAD, SAD, and PD

Tranquilizers (aka Benzodiazepines)

• May raise levels of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain to create a feeling of calm
• May cause addiction and be misused

Common tranquilizers for anxiety

• Ativan (lorazepam) — FDA-approved to treat anxiety disorders and short-term relief anxiety associated with depression
• Xanax (alprazolam) — FDA-approved to treat GAD and PD
• Valium (diazepam) — FDA-approved to manage anxiety disorders or short-term relief of anxiety symptoms

Beta-blockers

• Block adrenalin to slow down your heartbeat

Common beta-blockers used for anxiety

• Inderal (propranolol) — providers may prescribe off-label for anxiety, but not FDA-approved to treat anxiety
• Sectral (acebutolol) — providers may prescribe off-label for anxiety, but not FDA-approved to treat anxiety
• Zebeta (bisoprolol) — providers may prescribe off-label for anxiety, but not FDA-approved to treat anxiety

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

• Increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain and reduce acetylcholine

Common TCA medications

• Amitriptyline — providers may prescribe off-label for anxiety, but not FDA-approved to treat anxiety

Other medications are also used to treat anxiety. Your provider will work with you to determine the best medication, if any, for your needs.

Learn more about anxiety medications.

Important safety information
Medications, including those covered here, can have side effects, some serious. Xanax, Ativan, and Valium are controlled substances and have the risk of dependence or abuse. Talk to your provider or pharmacists before starting a medication and read the medication guide, so you understand what to expect.

Family Nurse Practitioner
Licensed in: Illinois

Amethyst has been practicing as a Nurse Practitioner for the last 3 years, practicing in the Chicagoland area. Prior to obtaining the Master’s degree, Amethyst worked as a Registered Nurse for 10 years in several different settings. She’s experience in mental health treatment, including depression and anxiety treatment. Amethyst’s approach to service and treatment is to always deliver extraordinary patient-centered care and is individualized to meet each patient’s needs.

Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 
Licensed in: California

Andrea has multiple years of experience in managing patients with anxiety, depression, MDD, GAD, ADHD, Addiction, and SMI. In her practice, she listens and practices therapeutic communication, and follows up while making sure patients have been prescribed the right medications for their symptoms. There’s no better feeling for her than working alongside her patients and helping them achieve their goals, and she’d love to work with you.