Anti-Anxiety and Insomnia Medications

Benzodiazepines for Anxiety

Benzodiazepines for Insomnia

Benzodiazepine drugs begin to work within 30-60 minutes. Ideally, their use should be limited to just a few weeks to manage anxiety or insomnia before long-term drugs, such as antidepressants, begin to work. Benzodiazepines become less effective when taken for more than a few weeks. These drugs can be habit-forming.

Non-Benzodiazepines for Insomnia

These medications are shorter acting, therefore, hypnotic effects wear off after 6-8 hours of sleep, and may be less habit-forming than benzodiazepines.

Miscellaneous Medications for Insomnia

Diphenhydramine and doxylamine are the active ingredients in non-prescription sleep aids. Trazadone is an antidepressant, but lower doses are effective for insomnia. It is not habit-forming.

Miscellaneous Medications for Anxiety

Buspirone is used to decrease general anxiety symptoms long-term. It can take two weeks before effectiveness begins. Hydroxyzine is considered a non-addictive alternative to benzodiazepines.