Praktické lekárnictvo 4/2023

Treatment of anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are a very frequent group of mental disorders. Up to 15 % of the population experience some type of anxiety disorder during their lifetime. The most common types of anxiety disorders include social phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, mixed anxiety depressive disorder, agoraphobia, specific phobias, and post‑ traumatic stress disorder. Anxiety therapy should be comprehensive. Along with pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy plays essential role here. Anxiolytics are used for the treatment of anxiety disorders. The spectrum of anxiolytic drugs includes antidepressants, benzodiazepines, non‑ benzodiazepine anxiolytics, sedative antihistamines, some of the antiepileptics, or antipsychotics and beta‑ blockers. Their effectiveness varies according to the type of anxiety disorder. SSRI antidepressants are usually the drugs of choice in the treatment of anxiety. An anxious patient requires sensitive communication when dispensing the drug in pharmacy. Emphasis should be placed on compliance support, education about individual psychotropic drugs and warning of the dependence potential of benzodiazepines.

Keywords: anxiety disorders, pharmacotherapy, antidepressants, dispensation