You Do Not Have to Keep Living with Untreated Anxiety

If anxiety is interfering with your work, relationships, sleep, or daily functioning, medication may help. Many people delay seeking medication because they are unsure who to see, what to expect, or whether their anxiety is "bad enough" to warrant medication. The answer is straightforward: if anxiety is affecting your quality of life, you deserve treatment.

At Empathy Health Clinic in Orlando, our psychiatrists specialize in evaluating anxiety disorders and developing personalized treatment plans that may include medication, therapy, or both.

Who Can Prescribe Anxiety Medication

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are the ideal providers for anxiety medication because they specialize exclusively in mental health conditions. They understand the full range of anxiety medication options, how anxiety medications interact with other psychiatric medications, and how to manage complex cases where anxiety co-occurs with depression, ADHD, PTSD, or other conditions.

Primary Care Doctors

Your family doctor or internist can prescribe anxiety medication and many do. For straightforward anxiety that responds to a first-line medication, primary care management can work well. However, if your anxiety is severe, treatment-resistant, or co-occurs with other psychiatric conditions, a psychiatrist provides more specialized expertise.

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants

APRNs and PAs can prescribe anxiety medications. Some specialize in psychiatry and have significant experience managing anxiety disorders.

Who Cannot Prescribe

Therapists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers cannot prescribe medication. They can diagnose anxiety and provide evidence-based therapy (which is highly effective for anxiety), but medication requires a medical prescriber.

Types of Anxiety Medications

SSRIs (First-Line Treatment)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most commonly prescribed medications for anxiety disorders. They are effective, well-tolerated, and non-addictive.

Common SSRIs for anxiety:

Sertraline (Zoloft) — FDA-approved for panic disorder, PTSD, social anxiety, and OCD
Escitalopram (Lexapro) — FDA-approved for generalized anxiety disorder
Paroxetine (Paxil) — FDA-approved for multiple anxiety disorders
Fluoxetine (Prozac) — FDA-approved for panic disorder and OCD

What to expect: SSRIs take two to four weeks to begin working and six to eight weeks to reach full effectiveness. Starting doses are low and gradually increased. Common side effects (nausea, headache, sleep changes) typically resolve within the first two weeks.

SNRIs

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors work on both serotonin and norepinephrine. They are particularly useful when anxiety co-occurs with chronic pain or depression.

Common SNRIs: Venlafaxine (Effexor), duloxetine (Cymbalta)

Buspirone

Buspirone is a non-addictive medication used specifically for generalized anxiety disorder. It works differently from SSRIs and can be used alone or as an add-on to antidepressant treatment. Like SSRIs, it takes several weeks to become effective.

Benzodiazepines

Medications like alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and clonazepam (Klonopin) provide rapid anxiety relief but carry risks of dependence and withdrawal. At Empathy Health Clinic, we prescribe benzodiazepines cautiously and typically only for short-term use while longer-acting medications take effect.

Beta-Blockers

Propranolol and other beta-blockers can manage the physical symptoms of anxiety (racing heart, trembling, sweating) in situational anxiety. They are commonly used for performance anxiety and are non-addictive.

Hydroxyzine

An antihistamine with anti-anxiety properties, hydroxyzine provides mild anxiety relief without addiction risk. It can be useful as a PRN (as-needed) medication for acute anxiety episodes.

How to Choose the Right Medication

The right anxiety medication depends on several factors that your psychiatrist evaluates:

Type of anxiety disorder: Generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, OCD, and PTSD may respond differently to different medications.

Severity: Mild to moderate anxiety may respond well to SSRIs alone. Severe anxiety may require combination approaches.

Co-occurring conditions: If you also have depression, an SSRI or SNRI treats both simultaneously. If you have ADHD, your psychiatrist considers how stimulant medications interact with anxiety treatment.

Previous medication experience: What you have tried before and how you responded guides current recommendations.

Side effect concerns: Your psychiatrist considers your lifestyle, medical conditions, and personal concerns when recommending medications. For example, if weight gain is a significant concern, some medications are better choices than others.

The Evaluation Process

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Your initial psychiatric evaluation includes:

A comprehensive clinical interview about your anxiety symptoms, triggers, duration, and impact
Assessment for co-occurring conditions that may influence treatment
Review of any previous medication trials
Physical health review to rule out medical causes of anxiety (thyroid disorders, cardiac conditions, medication side effects)
Collaborative discussion about treatment options

Starting Medication

If medication is recommended, your psychiatrist explains:

Which medication and why
Expected benefits and timeline
Potential side effects and how to manage them
How long you will likely need medication
When to call with concerns

Follow-Up Care

After starting medication, follow-up appointments are scheduled every two to four weeks initially, then monthly once stable. Your psychiatrist monitors effectiveness, manages side effects, and adjusts the treatment plan as needed through ongoing medication management.

Getting Started

If anxiety is affecting your life and you are ready to explore medication, schedule an evaluation at Empathy Health Clinic. We offer same-week appointments and accept most insurance plans including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Cigna.

Virtual appointments are available throughout Florida.

Empathy Health Clinic is located in Winter Park, serving the greater Orlando area.

Anxiety Medication: Who Can Prescribe It and How to Get Started