What anti-anxiety medications are there and how do they work?

Sedatives are in demand in therapeutic, psychiatric and neurological practice. They are prescribed to relieve panic attacks, neuroses, insomnia, fear, irritation and other ailments. To choose the right drug, you need to consult your doctor. You should not use medications on your own, as they have side effects.

How to choose a medicine?

Introduction

Stress, irritation, insomnia are clear signs of dysfunction of the nervous system. This problem can be solved by:

• sedatives;
• healthy lifestyle;
• balanced diet;
• eliminating anxiety.

But is it possible to stick to all this?

Unfortunately, the modern rhythm of life does not help to fully relax, and not everyone can afford a vacation at a resort. For this reason, in order to keep your nerves in good shape, you have to take sedatives. After all, as you know, all diseases are caused by nerves, therefore, the problem cannot be left to chance.

In the rating, we have collected the best sedatives that help prevent an impending nervous breakdown. Just remember, self-medication can be harmful to your health, so you must consult a doctor before using any medication.

Sedatives from other groups

For a long time, doctors have been using Magnesia (Magnesium Sulfate 25%) to reduce intracranial pressure and during hypertensive crises. Depending on the dose administered, the drug acts as a sedative or hypnotic. In addition, Magnesia is an antispasmodic and helps relax the muscles of the uterus and intestines. An overdose of the drug is dangerous, which can cause serious poisoning. It is relieved with calcium chloride.

Effect

The effect can last from several hours to days. They typically cause physical depression, muscle relaxation and sedation due to various types of drugs, there are a number of other effects depending on what substance was taken. They inhibit most body functions and therefore significantly affect the ability to drive, operate machinery, and participate in tasks requiring muscle coordination. Here are some effects:

• feeling of relaxation;
• reduction of anxiety;
• decreased intensity of physical sensations;
• dizziness;
• drowsiness;
• slurred speech;
• shallow breathing;
• slow heart rate;
• muscle dysfunction;
• decreased dexterity;
• impaired learning skills;
• interruptions in memory.

Sometimes unexpected and paradoxical side effects occur, such as anxiety, nightmares and aggression.

Although sedatives should never be mixed with other substances, especially those that cause drowsiness: depressants such as ethanol, cold medicines and opiates (codeine, heroin). Fatal respiratory depression can occur if two of these substances are mixed. If someone is difficult to wake up and you suspect they have used medication, seek medical attention immediately.

Combined herbal based sedatives

Combined herbal preparations allow you to achieve maximum effect.

Phenibut

Phenibut is a modern nootropic sedative for adults and children. The main task of the drug is to improve mental processes, attention and microcirculation. The main active ingredient is aminophenylbutyric acid.

Among the indications for use it is worth noting:

• feeling of fear;
• anxiety;
• difficulty falling asleep;
• other neurological diseases.

As an adjunct to primary therapy, Phenibut is used in the treatment of headaches, tension and dizziness. The tablets are effective for motion sickness (sea sickness), Meniere's disease, and benign positional vertigo.

Among the negative properties is the need for regular monitoring of liver function (tests for the amount of enzymes) during long-term use of the drug, as well as blood tests.

Important: at the moment the drug is available with a prescription from the attending physician.

Positive

The medicine is available in capsule form. The product belongs to the group of dietary supplements and is considered a food additive. Sold in pharmacies without a doctor's prescription. The complex includes:

• L-tryptophan - improves sleep, participates in the production of serotonin, which improves mood;
• Eleutherococcus, ginseng, griffonia, ginkgo biloba - increase immune defense;
• silicon dioxide, sodium selenite - sources of microelements;
• vitamins B6, B9, B12 - improve the conductivity of nerve fibers.

All components together help fight stress, anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. The effectiveness of the product is high with long-term use (2-3 weeks). Repeated courses can be carried out after 1-2 months (2-3 courses per year).

It is recommended to take the drug to calm yourself, 1 capsule 2 times daily. It is advisable to drink the product during meals so as not to irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Strong

Strong sedatives that are sold in pharmacies without prescriptions are combination tablets. The most effective tablets, as recommended by doctors, are:

• Pantogam;
• Phytosedan;
• Novo-passit;
• Persen.

As practice shows, strong drugs in most cases are taken without a doctor’s prescription, without taking into account contraindications and indications for use. As a result, good anti-anxiety medications can contribute to a variety of side effects.

For example, the strong sedative drug Persen is contraindicated for use:

• children under 12 years old;
• people who are allergic to any of the components;
• with high blood pressure;
• pregnancy;
• cholangitis;
• as well as deficiency of maltose, sucrose and lactose.

Novo-passit is strictly prohibited for use in childhood (before reaching 12 years of age), with myasthenia gravis, pregnancy, and acute gastrointestinal diseases. For this reason, before purchasing a sedative, you should definitely seek professional advice from a doctor.

Herbal sedatives

Modern sedatives of plant origin are medicines that have absorbed many years of experience in traditional medicine. After all, since ancient times, people have learned to use herbs to normalize the state of the nervous system. Naturally, all this experience has been systematized, studied and generalized by modern scientists, and also supplemented with methods of chemical analysis of a huge base of plant raw materials. Therefore, the choice of herbal-based sedatives is extensive, ranging from drugs with 1 component to herbal and plant infusions.

Preparations based on valerian are very popular. They are made from the rhizomes and roots of the plant, from its leaves and stems.

The modern market offers:

• Valevigran (capsules);
• Alcohol tincture;
• Pills;
• Valerian extract;
• Briquette from the rhizome of a plant;
• Filter bags for brewing tea.

All these medications help normalize night rest, reduce nervous excitability, and ease intestinal spasms. At the same time, alcohol tincture is more effective than tablets. So, 40 drops will be enough to normalize the nervous system of an adult man weighing about 80 kg. Provided that he is not an alcoholic and does not have neurasthenia. If the recommended dosage is exceeded, bradycardia may develop.

• Passion flower (Passiflora incarnate). Preparations based on this plant are used to normalize sleep and to treat neurasthenia, characterized by increased anxiety and irritability, and obsessive fears. The calming effect is due to the flavonoids and alkaloids contained in passionflower. In addition, preparations based on passionflower help reduce limb tremors and also have a mild antispasmodic effect. Alora with passionflower is used to improve the well-being of women during menopause. It helps reduce headaches and normalize heartbeat.
• Motherwort. Based on this plant, alcohol tincture, drops (lily of the valley-motherwort) and tablets are made. You can also buy motherwort herb in its pure form at the pharmacy and use it for brewing.
• St. John's wort. Preparations based on this plant act as an antidepressant and as a sedative, among them: Deprim, Negrustin, Neuroplant, etc.
• Peony. A tincture is made based on peony, which is good for treating neurasthenia and vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Lungs

Substances based on plant extracts are considered mild sedatives. Mild sedatives have a cumulative effect, so it will take 2 to 3 weeks of regular therapy to see improvement. For this reason, it is recommended to wait before drawing conclusions regarding the effect of a particular drug.

If stress requires urgent intervention or it has an acute form, it is better to resort to the use of stronger drugs based on a synthetic active ingredient.

For example, the sedative Chamomile Extract has anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and mild sedative effects. Helps normalize the functioning of all types of metabolic processes. With long-term use, it increases the level of glycine in the body, thus reducing muscle spasms and relaxing the nervous system. A natural, mild sedative that helps to relax during neurosis and fall asleep during insomnia.

Peony tincture is the best sedative, which increases the body’s ability to resist hypoxia through its high content of organic acids, tannins, and phenols. Prescribed for vegetative-vascular dystonia and neuroses. Sedatives are contraindicated in cases of excessive weakness, increased drowsiness and arterial hypotension.

When to use sedatives

Sedatives and sedatives are the same thing.

With their help you can achieve the following effects:

• Reduce the excitability of the nervous system.
• The person becomes less irritable, the level of aggression decreases, tearfulness decreases, and the desire to make trouble and swear disappears.
• The functioning of the autonomic nervous system is normalized, symptoms such as sweating, tremors of the limbs, intestinal spasms, and palpitations are reduced.
• After taking sedatives, a person falls asleep easier and faster. At the same time, sedatives are not sleeping pills; they only help normalize a person’s natural sleep by reducing susceptibility to exogenous and endogenous stimuli.

The simultaneous use of sedatives, tranquilizers, analgesics and antipsychotics helps to mutually enhance the effects. Therefore, with the right combination of these drugs, a wide variety of effects can be achieved. Including reducing the dose and severity of side effects.

Sedatives in medicine are used to treat neuroses and neurasthenia. They are widely used to eliminate problems falling asleep. It is possible to correct hypertension at the initial stages of its development by taking sedatives. Sometimes they are prescribed for menopause, irritable bowel syndrome, and heart and vascular diseases.

Under stress

Modern realities of life simply cannot do without stressful situations. For this reason, when stressed, it is better to resort to drug treatment. One of the most effective sedatives is Herbion. Active ingredients of the drug:

• lemon balm essential oils;
• peppermint;
• hop cones.

Herbion helps to effectively cope with irritability, anxiety, overexcitation, hyperactivity, and insomnia. Before starting treatment, we strongly recommend that you visit a doctor and carefully read the instructions, because the drug has a number of contraindications.

Alcohol-based sedatives available in liquid form

• Valocormid. This drug is prescribed for the treatment of cardiac neuroses that occur with bradycardia. It contains tincture of belladonna, valerian, lily of the valley and menthol, as well as sodium bromide.
• Valosedan. The drug is prescribed for stress and neurosis. It contains a small amount of sodium barbital, which enhances the sedative effect of components such as valerian extract, tincture of rhubarb, hawthorn and hops. Valosedan also contains ethyl alcohol.
• Valoserdin. The drug contains ethyl ester of bromesovaleric acid, a little mint and oregano, as well as phenobarbital. In addition to the calming effect, Valoserdin is good at relieving intestinal spasms and helping to reduce heart rate. It is prescribed for difficulties falling asleep, intestinal colic, high blood pressure and heart pain due to cardioneurosis.
• Nervoflux. This is a mixture of plants such as: licorice root, lavender and orange flowers, mint leaves, valerian rhizome extract, hop cones. Nervoflux is brewed and used before bedtime for difficulties falling asleep, as well as against the background of chronic stress.
• Sedariston. The drug is used for neuroses against the background of vegetative-vascular dystonia. It contains lemon balm, St. John's wort and valerian.

For irritability

Increased irritability is another condition of the nervous system that negatively affects the quality of life. For irritability, it is recommended to take lighter sedatives, such as Phytosedan. Phytosedan is the best panacea for mild nervous disorders. The drug has a minimum number of side effects, because it contains only natural herbal ingredients:

• liquorice root;
• sweet clover;
• thyme;
• oregano;
• valerian.

It is recommended not to take the sedative during lactation and pregnancy.

Nerves and emotions

Nerves and emotions, emotions and nerves are a vicious circle, the cycle of life, the state and proper circulation of which determines the quality of our life and the level of stress in it.
Emotions are undoubtedly of a physical and spiritual nature, influence and shape character, and are transformed over time and throughout life. But the most important thing is that they can be controlled and corrected. Thanks to which the nervous system is strengthened and the level of depression, blues and stress is reduced. This is interesting: emotions are born as a combination of the physical properties of the body, the flexible brain, the environment in which a person is located, as well as his culture and upbringing. But humans also have an emotional brain - the most ancient type of brain cells that has been with us from time immemorial. This is the limbic system in the very center of the brain. It is believed that this part of the brain is responsible for communication with the higher self, for the spiritual component of the personality. So if you want the quality of emotions to be at high vibrations, spend time on your culture, the environment you are in and self-education.

Fast acting

Another fast-acting sedative for nerves is Afobazole. The best modern tranquilizer and anxiolytic, which has a positive effect on well-being, stimulates thinking, helps treat withdrawal symptoms in narcology, relieve anxiety disorders and normalize sleep. The tranquilizer is really effective, but it is not recommended to use it without a doctor’s prescription. Among the advantages it is worth noting:

• absence of “addiction” syndrome;
• minimal number of side effects;
• high and fast efficiency.

Contraindicated for use by women during lactation, pregnancy, and also prohibited for use by children under 18 years of age.

Motherwort Forte

The medication is produced in tablet form. The composition contains motherwort extract, magnesium and vitamin B6. The medicine has a calming effect and does not cause drowsiness or lethargy. There is no addiction to the drug Motherwort Forte. The product helps increase resistance to stressful situations. Magnesium prevents irritability, and vitamin B6 improves nerve conduction.

Motherwort Forte Evalar 40 tablets

The medicine is used for therapy:

• autonomic dysfunction;
• neurotic disorders accompanied by fear, irritation, excitement;
• bad sleep.

The product is recommended for patients over 18 years of age.

The medicine should be taken 1 tablet twice a day with meals. If the patient has poor sleep, the drug is indicated for 1 tablet 30 minutes before going to bed. The duration of course therapy is up to 4 weeks. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor. Available at pharmacies without a prescription.

For adults

A variety of sedatives are prescribed for different age groups. For the nervous system of an adult, the ideal option would be to take drugs such as Afobazol, Gerbion, Phenibut. They help effectively combat a variety of neurological disorders with a minimum number of side effects.

Both adults and children from 6 years of age can take drugs such as Pantogam and Deprim.

Deprim is based on St. John's wort extract, which helps to effectively combat depressive disorders of varying severity. A sedative is recommended for frequent mood swings, anxiety, and sleep problems. Among the advantages it is worth noting:

• natural component composition;
• effective fight against depression;
• Suitable for use from 6 years of age;
• helps normalize mental health.

The downside is that the sedative is cumulative, therefore, the effect will not be visible from the first use. For advanced depression, it is recommended to choose a more powerful drug.

Pantogam is one of the best nootropic drugs, the main task of which is to normalize blood circulation in the brain. Available in the form of tablets and syrup, dispensed only after providing a prescription from a doctor. Indications for use of the drug: developmental delay, asthenovegetative syndrome. Among the advantages it is worth noting:

• effective sedative;
• stimulates improvement of attention;
• has a positive effect on memory;
• does not harm the body;
• has a persistent accumulative effect.

Please note that in the first 1-3 days there may be excessive excitability.

Afobazole

The medicine is a tranquilizer. It relieves anxiety, irritability, tension, timidity, fear, and activates the brain. The medicine does not cause drowsiness or muscle weakness. With the use of the drug, there is an improvement in memory and concentration. The product is not addictive. The sedative is sold without a prescription.

The product is available in tablet form (5.10 mg). It is recommended to drink 10 mg 1-3 times a day. Only the doctor chooses the treatment tactics. You should not take the medicine on your own.

Barbiturates and benzodiazepines

Barbiturates are non-selective CNS depressants that used to be the mainstay of treatment for sedation or sleep induction and maintenance. They have largely been replaced by benzodiazepines in modern medicine, primarily because they can cause tolerance, physical dependence, and severe withdrawal symptoms.

However, some barbiturates are still used as anticonvulsants (phenobarbital) and to induce anesthesia (thiopental). Representatives of this group are:

1. Amobarbital (Amytal).
2. Aprobarbital (Alurat).
3. Butabarbital (Butizol).
4. Mephobarbital (Mebaral).
5. Methohexital (Brevital).
6. Pentobarbital (Nembutal).
7. Phenobarbitol (Luminal).
8. Primidon (Misoline).
9. Secobarbital (Seconal).
10. Thiopental (Penotal).

Benzodiazepines are the most widely used group of sedatives. Because of their safety and improved effectiveness, they have largely replaced barbiturates as the drugs of choice in the treatment of anxiety.

They also have hypnotic, anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant effects, but do not exhibit analgesic or antipsychotic effects. Representatives of this group are:

1. Ethyl alcohol or ethanol.
2. Alprazolam (Xanax).
3. Chloral hydrate (Somnote).
4. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium).
5. Chlorazepate (Tranxen).
6. Clonazepam (Klonopin).
7. Diazepam (Valium).
8. Estazolam (Prosom).
9. Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol).
10. Flurazepam (Dalman).
11. Lorazepam (Ativan).
12. Midazolam.
13. Nitrazepam (Mogadon).
14. Oxazepam (Serax).
15. Temazepam (Restoril).
16. Triazolam (Halcion).

Cheap

Most often, when choosing medications, attention is paid to cost. From our ranking of the most popular and best sedatives, the following are relatively cheap:

• Phytosedan;
• Peony tincture;
• Deprim;
• Chamomile extract;
• Phenibut.

These drugs are available to everyone and at the same time have a mild calming and relaxing effect.

TOP 10 rating

So, based on the above, we have compiled a rating of the TOP 10 effective and affordable sedative tablets/capsules/syrups.

1. Phenibut.
2. Afobazol.
3. Persen.
4. Pantogam.
5. Peony tincture.
6. Phytosedan.
7. Novo-passit.
8. Gerbion.
9. Deprim.
10. Chamomile extract.

Important: the information is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute a direct recommendation for use. Only the attending physician has the right to prescribe medications; this is the only way to effectively cope with the problem, avoiding side effects.

Bromine preparations

There is probably not a single person who has not heard the story about army doctors who indiscriminately poured bromine into the food of all the soldiers. Allegedly, this is done in order to calm the defenders of the Fatherland and to reduce their excessive sexuality.

Bromides or bromine-based sedatives can actually reduce excessive brain stimulation. These are very inexpensive medicines that are produced in the form of tinctures and drops.

However, their uncontrolled intake in doses significantly higher than recommended can lead to serious poisoning of the body. This is expressed in rhinitis, skin rashes, dry cough and lacrimation.

No hypnotic effect

Sedatives help reduce emotional stress by affecting the central nervous system, but do not interfere with its functioning:

• excitement decreases due to dulling of nervous reactions;
• intestinal spasms are relieved, sweating and heart rate are reduced;
• help to gently get rid of conditions such as: irritability, mood swings, aggression, tearfulness;
• restore and normalize sleep, while preventing the hypnotic effect.

The best sedatives are medications that have a general calming effect on the central nervous system (CNS). Sedatives have an effect in reducing the reaction to various external stimuli and in a slight decrease in daily activity.

Sedatives regulate the action of the central nervous system, while reducing excitation processes or increasing inhibition processes. The best sedatives:

• facilitate, normalize and deepen natural sleep;
• restore mental state;
• support relaxation and calm;
• reduce irritability;
• enhance the effect of analgesics, hypnotics and other drugs that depress the central nervous system.

Sedatives do not provoke the development of addiction, unlike other drugs that help fight irritation and stress. But also calming tablets fully or partially relieve pronounced emotional stress and restore the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The most popular and best sedatives are those based on herbal components.

Medicines with natural composition, their effectiveness and benefits

The most popular on the pharmaceutical market are herbal sedatives. They are, according to patients and doctors, safe.

Popular herbal medicines:

• valerian extract;
• motherwort;
• peppermint;
• lemon balm.

A positive quality of herbal preparations is their availability (sold without a prescription). They can be purchased at a pharmacy without going to the doctor. Medicines containing herbal components do not cause drowsiness, lethargy, or addiction.

Some patients complain about the low effectiveness of herbal preparations. The effect of the medicine is influenced by the quality of the raw materials. Efficiency is reduced by: improper storage, collection, cultivation in different climatic zones.

Poor effectiveness is possible due to improper use. If patients do not follow the instructions, the therapeutic effect will be weak. It is very important to take the drug not just once, but in a course. The therapeutic effect of taking medicinal herbs may appear only after 1-2 weeks.

Stress is a serious problem for many people

Constant stress can contribute to fatigue and poor health. In this case, you should analyze the rhythm of life and eliminate the causes of stress that negatively affects the body.

Herbal remedies have advantages over other sedatives. They are well tolerated and do not produce serious unwanted effects, unlike tranquilizers.

Bromides have a stronger therapeutic effect, but can lead to chronic poisoning. This is due to the fact that bromine salts are poorly excreted from the body and overload the kidneys. When using bromides, nausea, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, and heartburn are possible. Bromides can only be taken with a prescription.

Valerian extract, which is suitable even for children and pregnant women, is an excellent remedy for mild agitation and anxiety. Severe forms of anxiety, neurasthenia, neuroses, and panic attacks require the prescription of stronger sedatives. Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, bromides and other drugs should be prescribed only by the attending physician (psychotherapist, neurologist, therapist). This will help maintain health and prevent complications.

Sedatives

Symptoms and diagnosis of sedative dependence

For a person holding a legal prescription, abuse or misuse of a sedative (or any other medication) is defined as taking that medication more often than prescribed and/or in larger quantities than prescribed. For a person who does not have a legal prescription, abuse occurs when any consumption occurs.

In some cases, people in both groups engage in abuse out of a desire to experience the euphoric effects caused by the barbiturate or benzodiazepine, which dissolve quickly in the bloodstream. However, in other cases, abuse results from a genuine desire to experience or enhance the therapeutic benefits of sedatives as hypnotics or sedatives.

The human brain adapts relatively quickly to altered GABA levels caused by barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Over the course of a few weeks or months, he will begin to view the presence of these drugs as an expected situation. When this brain switch occurs, the affected person may develop sedative addiction.

Addiction is different from addiction and can occur even in people who strictly follow their doctor's orders. When doctors recognize this condition, they can treat it and prevent its development. However, addiction is always present in a person who uses a sedative without proper medical supervision.

Common symptoms:

• constant desire to take another dose;
• deterioration of condition after discontinuation of therapy.

If symptoms are detected, you should immediately consult your doctor.

Persen

The medication is a natural sedative. The composition of the medicine includes valerian, lemon balm, mint. Together, these components provide a good calming effect, regulate sleep rhythms, and relieve fear and anxiety.

The product is produced in tablet form. A doctor's prescription is not required to purchase at a pharmacy.

For anxiety and stress, you should take 2-3 tablets three times a day. If insomnia is present, take 2-3 tablets half an hour before going to bed. Course therapy should not exceed 1.5-2 months. When using the product, there is no addiction or withdrawal syndrome.