Anxiety is one of the most common psychological issues most people experience at some point in their lives. Feeling anxious is normal and it goes away by itself, but an anxiety disorder is different and it needs to be addressed.
If you have been diagnosed with this mental health disorder, you may need help managing it with anxiety treatments, which typically include psychotherapy and medications.
Anxiety drugs do not cure the condition, but they can help you manage your symptoms so you can feel better and function well in your day-to-day life.
In the United States, anxiety is the most common mental health condition affecting more than 40 million adults. The condition is highly treatable with anxiety medications that have been available for the last 5 decades.
Here are some of the generic drugs for anxiety available on the market today.
Benzodiazepines: These prescription drugs alleviate anxiety by inducing relaxation and reducing muscular tension. These drugs are used for short-term treatments or episodic anxiety, such as panic attacks. Some of the most popular generic drugs for anxiety belonging to this class include:
- Alprazolam (Generic Xanax)
- Diazepam (Generic Valium)
- Lorazepam (Generic Ativan)
- Clonazepam (Generic Klonopin)
- Chlordiazepoxide (Generic Librium)
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): These drugs work by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter. They improve the secretion of serotonin levels in the brain, regulating mood and treating anxiety. The best-known generic drugs for anxiety that fall in SSRI categories are:
- Escitalopram (Generic Lexapro)
- Paroxetine (Generic Paxil)
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): These drugs work by blocking the reabsorption of norepinephrine and serotonin, which are important brain chemicals. SNRIs stabilize your mood and control your stress response. Generic drugs for anxiety that belong to SNRIs include:
- Venlafaxine (Generic Effexor)
- Duloxetine (Generic Cymbalta)
Other anxiety drugs: There are two more additional anxiolytics that are highly effective when it comes to treating anxiety, which are:
- Hydroxyzine (Generic Vistaril)
- Buspirone (Generic Buspar)
Please note that your anxiety treatment may require some trial and error before your doctor sticks to one or more drugs. Undeniably, generic drugs are quite cheaper than branded ones. Most patients may want to consider generic drugs for anxiety as an alternative to brand names but before that, they need to seek medical approval.
Several drug companies manufacture generic drugs for anxiety and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires them to prove their products can be used as an alternative to branded ones when it comes to efficacy and safety.
Most pharmacies have been dispensing generic anxiety medications as they are available unless the doctor has specifically asked them not to. Remember, switching to a generic medication requires a consultation with your doctor. There have been concerns about the safety and efficacy of certain generic drugs made in other countries.
