antianxiety drugs= anxiolytic drugs

1. ANTI-
ANXIETY
DRUGS

2. DEFINITION
An anxiolytic (antianxiety
agent) is a medication
that reduces anxiety.
Anxiety is a feeling of
unease, such as worry or
fear, that can be mild or
severe.

3. A N X I E T Y VS A N X I E T Y
D I S O R D E R
Anxiety is your body’s natural
response to stress. It’s a feeling of
fear or apprehension about what’s
to come. The first day of school,
going to a job interview, or giving a
speech may cause most people to
feel fearful and nervous. But if your
feelings of anxiety are extreme, last
for longer than six months, and are
interfering with your life, you may
have an anxiety disorder.

4. ANXIETY
DISORDERS :
• Panic Disorder
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Phobic Disorders
• Stress Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder

5. COMMON ANXIETY SIGNS AND
SYMPTOMS:
• Feeling nervous, restless or tense
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Hyperventilation
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other
than the present worry
• Having trouble sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal problems
• Having difficulty controlling worry
• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

6. ANTI-ANXIETY DRUGS
• Anti anxiety drugs are mostly mild CNS depressants
• Control the symptoms of anxiety, produce a restful state of mind without interfering
with normal mental or physical functions.
• Do not produce extrapyramidal side effects
• Produce physical dependence and carry abuse liability

8. BENZODIAZEPINES
1. Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive drugs whose core chemical structure is
the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring.
2. They are in the family of drugs commonly known as minor tranquilizers.
3. Benzodiazepines enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA at the GABAA
receptor, resulting in sedative, hypnotic (sleep-inducing), anxiolytic (anti-anxiety),
anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties.
4. Are useful in treating alcohol dependence, seizures, anxiety disorders, panic,
agitation, and insomnia.
5. Most are administered orally; however, they can also be given intravenously,
intramuscularly, or rectally.

9. BENZODIAZEPINES
• There are different types of
benzodiazepines, and they have
different uses. They include:
• alprazolam (Xanax)
• clonazepam (Klonopin)
• diazepam (Valium)
• lorazepam (Ativan)
• midazolam (Versed)

10. SIDE EFFECTS OF BENZODIAZEPINE
The side effects of benzodiazepine
use may include:
• drowsiness
• confusion
• dizziness
• impaired coordination,
increasing the risk of falls and
accidents
• depression
• increased anxiety
More serious effects include:
• memory problems
• behavioral changes — for example, increased
risk taking
• delirium, especially in older people
• risk of dependence, especially with long-term
use

12. W I T H D R AWA L S Y M P TO M S
The short-term use of these medications is
usually safe and effective, but long-term use
can lead to tolerance, dependence, and other
adverse effects.
Taking too much of a benzodiazepine can be
dangerous, and mixing it with alcohol or other
substances can be fatal.
Experts do not recommend using
benzodiazepines for more than 2 weeks.
A person who uses them for 3–4 weeks and
then stops suddenly is likely to experience
withdrawal symptoms. People who use them in
the long term may need to withdraw their use
over a 3–12 month period that their doctor
should oversee.

13. B A R B I T U R AT E S
Barbiturates exert an anxiolytic
effect linked to the sedation
they cause.
The risk of abuse and addiction
is high.
Many experts consider these
drugs obsolete for treating
anxiety but valuable for the
short-term treatment of severe
insomnia, though only after
benzodiazepines or non-
benzodiazepines have failed.

14. Azapirones have shown benefit in general
anxiety and augmenting SSRIs in social anxiety
and depression.
Side effects of azapirones may include dizziness,
headaches, restlessness, nausea, and diarrhea.
Azapirones have more tolerable adverse effects
than many other available anxiolytics, such as
benzodiazepines or SSRIs. Unlike
benzodiazepines, azapirones lack abuse potential
and are not addictive, do not cause
cognitive/memory impairment or sedation, and
do not appear to induce appreciable tolerance or
physical dependence. However, azapirones are
considered less effective with slow onset in
controlling symptoms
Azapirones are poorly but nonetheless
appreciably absorbed and have a rapid onset of
action, but have only very short half-lives
ranging from 1–3 hours. As a result, they must
be administered 2-3 times a day.
azapirones

15. BETA BLOCKERS
• Beta blockers—including drugs such as propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol
(Tenormin)—are a type of medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart
problems.
• However, they are also prescribed off-label for anxiety. Beta blockers work by blocking
the effects of norepinephrine, a stress hormone involved in the fight-or-flight
response. This helps control the physical symptoms of anxiety such as rapid heart rate,
a trembling voice, sweating, dizziness, and shaky hands.
• Because beta blockers don’t affect the emotional symptoms of anxiety such as worry,
they’re most helpful for phobias, particularly social phobia and performance anxiety. If
you’re anticipating a specific anxiety-producing situation (such as giving a speech),
taking a beta blocker in advance can help reduce your “nerves.”

16. WHO SHOULDN’T TAKE BETA-
BLOCKERS?
While beta-blockers are generally safe, certain people shouldn’t take them.
Before taking beta-blockers, make sure to tell your doctor if you have:
• asthma
• low blood sugar
• final stage heart failure
• very low blood pressure
• very slow heart rate
Beta-blockers can also interact with other medications used to treat many heart
conditions and antidepressants,

17. SOURCES
• https://www.healthline.com/health/beta-blockers-for-anxiety#safety
• https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/anxiety-medication.htm
• https://www.verywellmind.com/how-is-vistaril-used-to-treat-social-anxiety-disorder-
3024963
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azapirone
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262809#side-effects
• https://www.slideshare.net/ParasuramanParasuraman/antianxiety-drugs
• https://www.slideshare.net/renjusravi/antianxiety-drugs-60364697
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine#Contraindications
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiolytic#Alternatives_to_medication

18. THANK YOU!
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