Wondering if You Need Anxiety Meds?

If you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (like one in four women in the US have), then you know how crippling it can feel. Thankfully, medication can help you manage your anxiety — but finding the right meds can feel like a complicated process. That’s why we asked Sasha Hamdani, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in anxiety disorders, what you need to know.

How do I know if I even need meds?

“If you are experiencing persistent and severe symptoms of anxiety that significantly impact your daily life and functioning, you should discuss anxiety medication with your medical provider,” Hamdani says. “[Even] if it’s even remotely annoying for you, it’s probably worth a conversation. Anxiety can be so debilitating that I don’t feel like there is harm in at least talking about it with a doctor.”

What are my medication options? 

There are a few different kinds, including SSRIs, SNRIs, benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants. Where they can differ is how long they can relieve symptoms. “Long-acting [medications] generally give you the most coverage throughout the day … [and] can be given scheduled or as needed,” Hamdani explains. With short-acting ones, like benzodiazepines, “you have to worry about abuse and addiction potential,” she adds.

So how do I know which one is right for me?

“Start by discussing your symptoms and concerns with your doctor and explore non-medication options like therapy and lifestyle changes first,” Hamdani advises. From there, your doctor can help you determine if meds are appropriate and “evaluate your needs given underlying conditions, length of coverage, and severity. They will also help you [understand] pros and cons of different medications and help monitor side effects,” she adds.

Any side effects I should know about?

Depends on what medication you take, but Hamdani shared some physical and mental side effects you could experience:

• Nausea

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• Changes in appetite or weight

• Drowsiness

• Confusion

• Difficulty concentrating

• Initial heightened anxiety before meds take full effect

If you’re concerned about side effects, make sure to talk to your provider.

Once I start, how quickly will they work?

This also depends on the medication. “Some are taken as needed and they can work within 15 minutes, [while] some need four to six weeks to build up,” Hamdani explains. When you’re discussing this issue with your doctor, make sure to “figure out how significant the anxiety is as well as how frequently it comes up. [For example,] if the anxiety is all the time, taking an as-needed medication wouldn’t be great because you’d be taking it all the time,” she adds.