Navigating Anxiety Medication | Types, Side Effects, Withdrawal & More

Medication has been a huge help for me on my journey to master my anxiety, which is why I’ve put together this post on navigating anxiety medication.

It’s a hard and intense journey to find the right medication and then an even harder journey to get off them. I’ve had some pretty horrible experiences. But now that I’m on the right combination (with the right psychiatrist), I am super grateful that I’m on them.

If you’ve got questions about this tricky subject, I’ve covered the types, my experiences, side effects, and whether they’re worthwhile.

Just a reminder, I’m not a medical professional. I am here to share my experience. If you have any questions or concerns about meds please reach out to a licensed professional.

Does Anxiety Medication Actually Work?

The answer to this one is ‘it depends’ and it really really does.

It depends on:

• Your body
• The medication
• The dosage
• The cocktail of meds
• Combination with therapy, exercise and all those other wonderful things
• Factors in your life
• And more

This is why it can be so hard to find something that really works for you and why so many people hate taking anxiety meds. It’s a really hard journey to find the right combination and dosage. And sometimes that stops working and you have to try something new.

Types of Anxiety Medication

Honestly, there are so many different types of medications for anxiety, depression, and all the other offshoots. I think I’m pretty well versed on anxiety meds and even I didn’t know half of the things that came up when I was doing my research.

To make things easier, I’ve put it in a table.

I’ll also give a brief explanation of what each medical type is used for down below,

Name (Generic)	Brand Names	Used to Treat	Medication Type	Drug Class
Escitalopram	Lexapro, Cipralex	Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder	Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)	Antidepressant
Sertraline	Zoloft, Lustral	GAD, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)	SSRI	Antidepressant
Paroxetine	Paxil, Seroxat	GAD, SAD, Panic Disorder	SSRI	Antidepressant
Venlafaxine	Effexor XR, Viepax	GAD, SAD, Panic Disorder	Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI)	Antidepressant
Duloxetine	Cymbalta, Yentreve	GAD	SNRI	Antidepressant
Alprazolam	Xanax, Niravam, Kalma	Acute anxiety, Panic Disorder	Benzodiazepine	Anti-anxiety (sedative)
Lorazepam	Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol, Temesta	Acute anxiety, GAD	Benzodiazepine	Anti-anxiety (sedative)
Clonazepam	Klonopin, Rivotril	Panic Disorder, Short-term anxiety relief	Benzodiazepine	Anti-anxiety (sedative)
Buspirone	Buspar	GAD	Atypical Anxiolytic	Anti-anxiety (non-sedative)
Propranolol	Inderal, Hemangeol, Bedranol	Performance anxiety (situational)	Beta-blocker	Beta-blocker
Atenolol	Tenormin, Normiten	Performance anxiety	Beta-blocker	Beta-blocker
Amitriptyline	Elavil, Endep, Tryptanol	GAD, Panic Disorder (less commonly used now)	Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)	Antidepressant
Clomipramine	Anafranil, Clomicalm	Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)	TCA	Antidepressant
Phenelzine	Nardil	Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder	Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI)	Antidepressant
Tranylcypromine	Parnate	SAD, Panic Disorder	MAOI	Antidepressant
Hydroxyzine	Vistaril, Atarax	Short-term anxiety relief	Antihistamine	Antihistamine
Gabapentin	Neurontin, Gralise	Off-label for anxiety	Anticonvulsant	Anticonvulsant
Bupropion	Wellbutrin, Zyban	Depression, off-label for anxiety, smoking cessation	Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor (NDRI)	Antidepressant
Lamotrigine	Lamictal	Bipolar Disorder, off-label for anxiety	Mood Stabilizer	Anticonvulsant

NOTE: For more information on what the different medication type column means, check out my post on types of anxiety medication.

Side Effects

Probably the biggest issue with anxiety medication is the side effects and I’m not going to lie to you and say they’re not that bad. Honestly, they really suck sometimes.

I’ve suffered from some pretty bad reactions to meds and dealt with some horrific side effects but a lot of this was due to poor communication on my part and a mismatch with the psychiatrist. Finding a psychiatrist that listens to you is as important as finding a therapist that gets you. Trust me on this.

In essence, slight discomfort with meds is okay. Sometimes psychiatrists will tell you to wait 2 weeks and it’ll get better. And I have had medications where this is the case, but I’ve also had medication where this is NOT the case. Basically, side effects tend to subside as your body adjusts, while adverse reactions can persist or worsen and often need medical intervention.

For more information on this, check out my post on anxiety medication side effects.

It’s about deciding whether the benefits of the medication outweigh the side effects that come with them. I’m in a space where the answer is yes (and I’ve been in that space for the past 3 or so years).

Withdrawal

All of my previous psychiatrists have told me, “do not go cold turkey”. Deciding one day to just stop taking your meds is a bad idea. I was and still am a HUGE advocate for weaning off of meds.

But in my most recent experience with weaning, I went cold turkey and it was the biggest mistake. The first 2 days I felt fine so I didn’t think weaning was necessary, but I didn’t factor in the half-life of the drug (in this case it was Escitalopram which has a half-life of 27-32 hours). By the third day, I was an absolute wreck. I was in so much mental and physical turmoil.

In summary, I went back on half the dose of the drug after 2 weeks of insane brain zaps and immense discomfort. I am still on that dose and now am very hesitant to wean off it.

Weaning

This is a process where you gradually reduce the dose of your medication, instead of stopping abruptly. This allows your body to adjust slowly, minimizing withdrawal symptoms or any potential rebound effects.

When I had to get off Cymbalta, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I was literally opening the capsules and counting the beads inside. I’ve learned from experience that it is always worth finding out how hard medication is to get off before going on it.

It’s super important to work closely with your doctor when weaning off, as they’ll help create a plan that suits your specific needs and monitor how it goes. Everyone’s experience is different, so some might feel fine during the process, while others may experience mild symptoms like mood changes or physical discomfort. I always end up reacting really intensely to weaning off meds so I’m extra careful (and my psychiatrist is aware of this).

In essence, the key is taking it slow and steady, and always communicating with your doc to ensure it’s done safely.

Addiction

For this section, it’s worth differentiating between addiction and dependency. 

Dependency refers to the physical reliance on a substance, where the body becomes accustomed to it and experiences withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly. This can happen with medications taken as prescribed.

Addiction, on the other hand, involves a psychological and behavioral compulsion to use a substance, often despite negative consequences. It’s characterized by a loss of control over use and a strong craving.

While you can be dependent on a substance without being addicted, addiction typically involves both physical dependence and a psychological craving

I never want to experience addiction so I have always been SUPER careful with medication, specifically with benzos.

Stopping Your Anxiety Meds for Good

So I can’t actually write in this section. I can’t tell you what it’s like. I’m still on three different kinds of medication and the last time I tried to get off the one wasn’t a good time. It’s hard to get off them and even though I’d like to… it’s not the right time (but is it ever going to be the right time).

I think when my life has stabilized, I will try to reduce them again. But right now I’m traveling a lot and pushing my own limits. And the meds have gotten me here. I wouldn’t be able to hop on a plane alone and head to a new country I’ve never been to before to see a band I love without the progress I made while taking them.

I fully support being on meds and being off them. There’s no correct solution, only what works FOR YOU. And for me, being on my anxiety meds is good for now. I hope not forever, but for now this is my reality. And that’s okay.

If you do want to stop your meds for good, please please please do so with the help of a professional and support from your village.

It’s a Personal Journey

Your journey with anxiety medication is just that, YOUR JOURNEY. You know what’s right for you and with the guidance of professionals you can navigate your anxiety in a way that works for you.

Honestly, I’d rather take three pills a day and be able to scream my lungs out while headbanging to Sleep Token than not be on them and live a sheltered life.

My meds help me to live the life I want right now and for that I am grateful.

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