Transcript Anti-anxiety Medications

Mental Health Nursing:
Pharmacology: Anti-anxiety
Medications
C. Calzolari
2016
Anti – Anxiety Medications (Anxiolytics)
 Anti-anxiety medications, as the name implies, are
prescribed to reduce anxiety.
 They are prescribed for a number of illnesses:
Generalized Anxiety (GAD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Phobias
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic Disorder
Insomnia related to Anxiety
Anti – Anxiety Medications (Anxiolytics)
There are many classifications of drugs
used to treat anxiety:
Benzodiazepines
Antidepressants
Miscellaneous Drugs:
BuSpar, Depakote, Tenormin, Inderal.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are considered CNS
depressants.
How do they work? Enhance the actions of
the neurotransmitter, GABA, which slows
down brain activity. This produces a drowsy or
calming affect.
They are used to produce sedation, induce
sleep, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms,
and to prevent seizures.
Benzodiazepines
 Classified as a controlled substance: Schedule IV.
 Xanax (alprazolam)
 Klonopin (clonazepam)
 Valium (diazepam)
 Paxipam (halazepam)
 Ativan (lorazepam)
 Serax (ozazepam)
 Centrax (prazepam)
 Librium ( chlordiazepoxide)
Benzodiazepines
 Side Effects: drowsiness, dizziness, loss of
coordination, fatigue, mental slowing, confusion.
 Withdrawal reactions are possible. S/S: anxiety,
shakiness, headache, dizziness, seizures.
 Precautions: with elderly, lung disease, liver disease,
kidney disease, sleep apnea
 Contraindications: acute narrow angle glaucoma
Benzodiazepines
 Safety Concerns:
risk of addiction: should be only used short term.
Patient should not drive or operate heavy machinery.
Not to be mixed with ETOH, opiates, OTC cough/allergy
medications, dental anesthetics – can be life threatening
(resp. depression)
Discuss use of OTC medications and supplements and
other prescribed drugs with MD before taking them with
this type of medication.
MUST NOT be discontinued abruptly. Taper schedule is
prescribed.
Antidepressants
 Antidepressants used for anxiety:
Tricyclics – Elavil, Sinequan, Tofranil, Pamelor
MAOIs – Nardil, Parnate
SSRIs –Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft
Atypical – trazadone, Effexor
Miscellaneous Drugs Used to Treat
Anxiety Disorders
 BuSpar – a mild tranquilizer – affects dopamine
levels
 Depakote – an antiseizure medication
 Beta Blockers are classified as cardiac
medications, but are used for “performance
anxiety”.
 Inderal (propranolol)
 Tenormin (atenolol)