ANXIOLYTICS: NAMES AND THE 5 MOST COMMON - ARTE - 2025

The anxiolytic are consumed pills to treat anxiety. Some of the most common names are Lorazepam, Bromazepam, Alprazolam, Diazepam, Clorazepato…

If generic names are not familiar to you, it is because you may know them by their trade names: Orfidal, Lexatin, Trankimazin, Valium, and Tranxilium. Now they do sound familiar to you, right?

Pills for anxiety are the order of the day: you know them, you consume them now or have you ever done them in the past, you know someone who consumes them or has used them, they are talked about on television and in the press…

And it is that they are the first choice drugs in medical consultations for many health problems: anxiety disorders, nervousness, tension, insomnia, phobias…

Since the 90s, the consumption of anxiolytics has been increasing progressively until reaching the present, where it is one of the most widely consumed drugs worldwide in developed countries, among which is Spain.

To give you an idea of ​​the seriousness of this consumption, anxiolytics are the third most consumed substance in Spain (12.2% of the population consumes them), after tobacco (78.3%) and alcohol (40 '7%).

In fact, Spain is the second country that consumes the most anxiolytics of the countries that make up the OECD (The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). The top country on the list is Portugal.

Regarding gender, women consume more antidepressants than men, regardless of age range.

Precautions when taking anxiolytics

Anxiolytics are minor tranquilizers that slow down the activity of the Central Nervous System, so you must be careful when taking them.

They should only be consumed if they have been prescribed by a healthcare professional.

Doctors should know your current situation and your emotional state before prescribing any anxiolytic, since there are many drugs that cause anxiety, so by withdrawing this drug, the anxiety problem you are consulting for would disappear.

In the same way, they should take into account if you have any type of organic problem, such as thyroid problems, respiratory problems, cardiovascular problems… since they can alter the effects of anxiolytics.

If these types of drugs are not administered properly, they can cause you:

Addiction

Alteration in the ability to react

Alteration in alertness

Amnesia

Headaches

Confusion

Muscular weakness

Depression

Attentional difficulties

Difficulty coordinating your movements

Driving difficulties

Affective dullness

Dizziness

Sedation

Drowsiness

Etc.

The 5 most common anxiolytics

Next, I will briefly analyze the five anxiolytics most consumed today, specifically I will explain what they are used for, their properties, their side effects and the considerations that you must take into account when taking them.

1-Lorazepam

Lorazepam, better known as Orfidal, is mainly used to treat anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, insomnia problems and states of tension. It is also used to treat some psychosomatic and organic illnesses.

It has anxiolytic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, sedative, amnesic and muscle relaxant properties.

Main side effects:

Drowsiness

Fatigue

Considerations to take into account:

You should not consume alcohol during treatment with Lorazepam, as there is an increase in its sedative effect. The result of mixing both substances is a great difficulty in performing any activity.

You should not drive in the first moments of treatment or when a dose change occurs, since its side effects affect your driving ability.

Once the drug is withdrawn, withdrawal symptoms can occur such as: anxiety, sadness, depressed moods, insomnia… so withdrawal should be gradual and guided by a doctor.

2-Bromazepam

Bromazepam, better known as Lexatin, is used to treat anxiety problems, obsessive-compulsive problems, phobias, and hypochondria.

It has anxiolytic properties.

Main side effects:

Decreased reflexes

Drowsiness

Considerations to take into account:

If you are taking any other medication, consult your doctor before taking Bromazepam, since the combination of this anxiolytic with some medications causes depression.

You should be very careful with this drug if you have had addiction problems at some other time in your life, as it can easily cause drug dependence.

Do not consume alcohol together with this drug, as the interaction of both in your body can lead to an overdose.

It is not advisable to drive at the beginning of the treatment or when there are changes in the intakes as explained above.

You must stop Bromazepam progressively. If you stop abruptly, the resulting withdrawal syndrome could be dangerous.

3-Alprazolam

Alprazolam, better known as Trankimazin, is prescribed to those who suffer from anxiety disorders, panic disorders, panic attacks and agoraphobia.

It has anxiolytic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, sedative and muscle relaxant properties.

Main side effects:

Sedation

Drowsiness

Considerations to take into account:

Like Bromazepam, Alprazolam is easily addictive, so you should be careful when taking it.

If you are taking other medications, consult your doctor before taking this anxiolytic to avoid possible problems such as cardiorespiratory problems or depression.

If you mix it with alcohol, its sedative effects are enhanced, making your daily activities difficult.

You should not drive in the first moments of treatment or when the dose is modified, as is the case with the drugs described above.

4-Diazepam

Diazepam, better known as Valium, is used primarily for the treatment of anxiety disorders, psychosomatic disorders, and for the treatment of muscle spasms.

It has anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative and relaxing properties.

Main side effects:

Drowsiness

Sedation

Considerations to take into account:

If treatment is abruptly abandoned, various symptoms will appear (anxiety, depression, insomnia, nervousness, seizures…) typical of the withdrawal syndrome.

You should not consume alcohol, as it increases its sedative effect.

You should not drive until you verify that the effects of the drug do not affect the abilities necessary for driving (attention, reaction capacity, reflexes…).

5-Chlorazepate

Clorazepate, better known as Tranxilium, is prescribed for the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, specific stress situations, alcoholism and drug addiction problems.

It has anxiolytic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, sedative, amnesic and muscle relaxant properties.

Main side effects:

Drowsiness

Dizziness

Considerations to take into account:

Clorazepate can cause dependence, so its consumption must be supervised by medical personnel.

If you stop taking this drug, do so progressively and under medical supervision to prevent the withdrawal syndrome from worsening.

Its side effects increase if you drink alcohol.

You should not drive under the influence of the drug.

Doctors recommend not taking these types of drugs for more than a month, but not everyone heeds this recommendation and takes them for years and even decades.

The problem of prolonged use of anxiolytics is that it generates tolerance in the person who consumes them and a great physical and psychological dependence, even leading to serious addiction problems.

To avoid this problem, doctors should periodically evaluate users of this substance, in order to adjust their dose, maintain it, or withdraw it, as deemed appropriate.

Pills for anxiety in everyday life

In recent years, a trend has increased among the very unhealthy population: the trend to medicalize the problems of everyday life.

Every time a problem arises in our life, we tend to go to the doctor or pharmacies in search of pills that take away the pain and suffering associated with that situation. Among those pills, the anxiolytics stand out.

This is a serious mistake, since anxiolytics or any other type of pills will not solve the problem you have, they will simply act on some of the symptoms you suffer, without modifying the initial problem.

They may take away your anxiety, insomnia or tension, but divorce, arguments, problems with your boss, financial problems, fears or pain over the death of a loved one will continue to be there.

They are real problems that are not eliminated by taking any pill, if not by facing them, either autonomously or by going to a health professional.

It is clear that there are certain pathologies for which these drugs are essential and necessary, but most people who go to the doctor complaining of anxiety do not need to take any medication.

And at this point the action of doctors is essential, who must spend more time listening to their patients and see what their real needs are, thus avoiding the high consumption of unnecessary drugs.

We must stop this medicalization and psychiatrization of the problems of daily life because it is not healthy that Spain is the second country in the OECD in consumption of anxiolytics and that these drugs are the third most consumed substance in our country.

Alternatives to the consumption of anxiolytics

If you are looking for help to deal with a problem, the ideal is that you look for several options from which to choose, in order to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Among the different options, it is common to find the possibility of going to the doctor with the aim of taking medication, but this should not be the first option to choose, because as you have already concluded, it is not the healthiest.

There are better alternatives to solve those problems that concern you, such as going to therapy, either individually or in groups. This choice will depend on your preferences.

To deal with a problem you must use all the tools you have, but in the event that you do not have these tools, they are scarce or they do not help you with the problem you have, it is best to go to a psychologist.

With the help of a professional, you will acquire the necessary skills to deal with the current situation that causes you discomfort and possible future problems.

All those symptoms for which most people go to the consultation are symptoms that can be treated in consultation through the therapist-patient work, without the need for any drug to act.

Here are some recommendations that will help you lead a healthier lifestyle, both physically and mentally:

• Sleep well
• Play sports regularly
• Eat healthy
• Avoid the consumption of harmful substances (tobacco, alcohol, stimulants…)
• Externalize your feelings with someone you trust or with a psychologist
• Accept the problems that arise in your life and the associated emotions

These recommendations have a positive impact on your life, helping you to lead a more organized, healthy life and eliminating many of the symptoms that you currently suffer (insomnia, tension, anxiety…).

A serious problem that affects the high consumption of anxiolytics at present is the fact that society does not accept the emotions that derive from daily problems, such as: frustration, overwhelm, tension, uncertainty, discomfort…

We want to be continuously happy, content and carefree, and that is practically impossible.

If you accept both types of emotions, both positive and negative, the problems that currently worry you will lose steam and your mental health will improve.

conclusion

Anxiolytics are necessary in serious mental illnesses and in severe and disabling disorders, in which these drugs are a basic pillar in terms of treatment.

What is not necessary or healthy is the consumption of anxiolytics for problems that we can consider in daily life, such as: feeling anxiety before important exams, when interacting with other people, when you argue with your partner…

We must avoid consuming anxiolytics if they have not been prescribed by a healthcare professional and they are strictly necessary, since they carry a series of risks and side effects that are harmful to your physical and mental health.

In the event that the person consumes these drugs, it is very important that you follow your doctor's instructions, that you take them regularly and for as short a period of time as possible.

I hope that with the passage of time and with the awareness of society, we stop medicalizing everyday problems and learn to solve them in a much healthier way.

References

1. Survey on alcohol and drugs in Spain. Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality. Secretary of State for Social Services and Equality. Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs. Madrid, March 3, 2015.
2. John, A. Marchant, AL McGregor, JI Tan, J. Hutchings, HA Kovess, V. Choppin, S. Macleod, J. Dennis, MS Lloyd, K. (2015). Recent trends in the incidence of anxiety and prescription of anxiolytics and hypnotics in children and young people: An e-cohort study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 183, 134–141.
3. Medrano, J. (2014) Boticarium. Journal of the Spanish Association of Neuropsychiatry, 34, 121.
4. Olfson, M. (2015). Surveillance of Adverse Psychiatric Medication Events. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 313 (12), 1256-1257.
5. Outhoff, K. (2010). The pharmacology of anxiolytics. South African Family Practice Journal, 52 (2),

   99-105.

6. Svab, V. Subelj, M. Vidmar, G. (2011). Prescribing changes in anxiolytics and antidepressants in Slovenia. Psychiatria Danubina, 23 (2),

   178-182.