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These can include duloxetine, escitalopram, buspirone, venlafaxine, and sertraline. Share on PinterestVladimir Godnik/Getty ImagesAnxiety disorders are common in older adults. Several medications may help treat anxiety in older adults. They typically include antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and some other forms of medication. This article reviews several common medications that may help older adults with anxiety. Overview table The following table outlines the medications that can help ease anxiety in older adults.Brand nameGeneric nameDose in milligrams per day (mg/day)Side effectsLexaproEscitalopram10 mg/day• anorgasmia• insomnia• ejaculation disorder• nausea• decreased libido• increased sweating• fatigue• drowsinessCymbalta Duloxetine30–60 mg/day• nausea• dry mouth• appetite loss• drowsiness• constipation• excessive sweatingBusparBuspirone15–60 mg/day• dizziness• nausea• headache• nervousness• lightheadednessEffexorVenlafaxine37.5–225 mg/day to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder (PD)75 mg/day to treat social anxiety disorder (SAD)• nausea• drowsiness• dry mouth• sweating• abnormal ejaculation• constipation• erectile dysfunction• decreased libido• appetite lossZoloftSertraline25–200 mg/day to treat SAD and PD50–200 mg/day to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).• nausea• diarrhea or loose stool• tremor• indigestion• appetite loss• excessive sweating• inability to ejaculate • decreased libido Escitalopram Lexapro Escitalopram is a type of antidepressant called an SSRI. Medical professionals often prescribe it to treat GAD in adults and MDD. SSRI medications block the receptors that absorb serotonin, resulting in an increase in serotonin levels. To treat GAD in older adults, a doctor may prescribe 10 mg a day. Side effects Though generally well tolerated, escitalopram can cause some side effects in people. Common side effects can include:anorgasmia, which is when a person is persistently unable to achieve orgasm despite sexual stimulationinsomniaejaculation disordernauseadecreased libidoincreased sweatingfatiguedrowsiness Duloxetine Cymbalta Duloxetine is a type of SNRI. Doctors often prescribe it for depression or GAD. Like other SNRIs, duloxetine helps to block the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine. This allows more of the chemicals to remain active in the brain, which can help alter a person’s mood. To treat GAD in older adults, a doctor may initially prescribe 30 mg per day and may increase the dose to 60 mg per day. Side effects Some common side effects can include:nauseadry mouthdecreased appetitedrowsinessconstipationexcessive sweating Buspirone Buspar Buspirone is a type of anti-anxiety medication that doctors prescribe to treat GAD and to help relieve the short-term symptoms of anxiety. A person takes buspirone orally as a tablet. It is not known exactly how it works to help with anxiety. According to a 2022 article, a doctor will initially prescribe 15 mg each day to treat GAD. A person can either take 7.5 mg twice a day, or 5 mg tablets three times a day. They may increase this dosage every 2–3 days until a person reaches the desired dose. A person should not exceed 60 mg per day. Side effects Common side effects can include:dizzinessnauseaheadachenervousnesslightheadedness Venlafaxine Effexor Venlafaxine is a type of antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication. It increases the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain. A doctor may prescribe the following to treat anxiety in older adults:Starting dose (mg/day)Target dose (mg/day)Maximum dose (mg/day)GAD37.5–7575225Social anxiety disorder (SAD)757575Panic disorder (PD)37.575225 Side effects Possible common side effects can include:nauseadrowsinessdry mouthsweatingabnormal ejaculationconstipationerectile dysfunctiondecreased libidoa loss of appetite Sertraline Zoloft Sertraline is a type of antidepressant that may help with anxiety disorders. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of sertraline to treat SAD and PD. However, doctors may also prescribe sertraline off-label to treat GAD. Sertraline increases the amount of serotonin in the brain. According to a 2022 article, a doctor will initially prescribe 25 mg once a day to treat PD and SAD. This increases by 50 mg each week until a person reaches the maximum dose of 200 mg per day. If a doctor is prescribing sertraline to treat MDD or OCD, the starting dose is 50 mg. Side effects Possible side effects can include:nauseadiarrhea or loose stooltremorindigestiondecreased appetiteexcessive sweatingejaculatory dysfunctiondecreased libido Considerations When starting a new medication, a person may wish to consider the following:How long it takes for the medication to start working: Many medications can take a while before they start to work. This means a person will need to continue to take them for some time before they start to notice any effects.Side effects: Anxiety medications can cause side effects in some people. People should keep a record of side effects and let the doctor know if they become unbearable. Interactions with other medications: Before starting a new medication, a person should provide a list of all over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications they take.Discontinuing the medication: Before stopping a medication, a person should speak with a doctor about safely discontinuing the medication. Some can cause withdrawal symptoms.Follow all instructions from a doctor or pharmacist: A person should make sure they follow and understand the instructions from the doctor regarding their medications. This can help ensure the medication will be as effective as possible. Paying for this medication Medications can be expensive. A person or caregiver can speak with a pharmacist or doctor to see if they have any information on prescription saving plans or coupons that they may qualify for. People may also find the following organizations helpful:NeedyMedsPharmacyCheckerRxHopeRxOutreachPanFoundation Summary Several medications can help to treat anxiety in older adults. A person should work with a doctor to determine the best options for them. Some options include escitalopram, duloxetine, buspirone, venlafaxine, and sertraline. Before starting a new medication, a person may wish to consider how long the medications take to work, their side effects, and how they will interact with their current medications. Last medically reviewed on August 8, 2022Anxiety / StressPharmacy / Pharmacist 11 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Crocco, E. A., et al. (2017). Pharmacological management of anxiety disorders in the elderly. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5609714/Chu, A., et al. (2022). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554406/Label: Buspirone hcl- buspirone hydrochloride tablet. (2021). https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=07a789a9-c9e8-4737-a56d-7d5405fe8100Label for cymbalta (duloxetine delayed-release capsules). (2017). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/021427s049lbl.pdfLabel for effexor xr (venlafaxine extended-release) capsules. (2017). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/020699s107lbl.pdfLexapro (escitalopram oxalate). (2017). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/021323s047lbl.pdfSheffler, Z. M., et al. (2022). Antidepressants. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538182/Singh, D., et al. (2022). Venlafaxine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535363/Singh, H. K., et al. (2022). Sertraline. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547689/Wilson, T. K., et al. (2022). Buspirone. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531477/Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) label. (2016).https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/019839S74S86S87_20990S35S44S45lbl.pdfFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Nicole Washington, DO, MPH — By Jenna Fletcher on August 8, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageWhat to know about geriatric depressionMedically reviewed by Jeffrey Ditzell, DO Geriatric depression is a mental health condition affecting older adults. 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