Anti-anxiety pharmacotherapy prioritizes non-addictive first-line agents — SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, hydroxyzine — for chronic anxiety, reserving benzodiazepines for defined short-term situations. Dr. Farkas selects medications based on anxiety subtype, comorbidities, side-effect priorities, and cardiovascular status, then measures outcomes with the GAD-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the safest anti-anxiety medications long-term?
SSRIs, SNRIs, and buspirone have the strongest evidence for chronic anxiety with acceptable long-term safety. Benzodiazepines are effective short-term but carry dependence and cognitive risks with chronic use.
What is buspirone?
A non-benzodiazepine, non-sedating anxiolytic approved for generalized anxiety disorder. It works via serotonin (5-HT1A) receptors, has no dependence potential, and takes 2–4 weeks to reach full effect.
When are benzodiazepines appropriate?
For acute, short-term anxiety — panic attacks during SSRI initiation, situational anxiety (medical procedures), or severe insomnia. Chronic benzodiazepine use is avoided where possible due to dependence, cognitive, and fall risks.
Related pages
Anti-Anxiety
Medications
Non-addictive options prioritized. Effective anxiety treatment doesn't require benzodiazepine dependency as the cost of relief. Dr. Farkas uses the full range of evidence-based pharmacological options — with dependency potential as a key factor in selection.
How Dr. Farkas approaches
Medications
Evidence-based, neurobiologically-informed. Every prescribing decision is grounded in mechanism — not tradition or trial-and-error.
From evaluation to
lasting results
Anti-Anxiety Medications is used to treat
these conditions
Don't see your condition? View all 28 conditions treated →
What to expect at
your first appointment
New patient evaluations are 30–60 minutes — never a rushed intake. Dr. Farkas takes your full psychiatric, medical, and medication history before making any prescribing decisions. You'll leave with a clear diagnosis, a treatment plan that makes sense to you, and a follow-up already scheduled.
Telehealth available throughout South Carolina, New York, and Virginia. In-person at our Hilton Head Island, SC office.
Ready for prescribing done
at the MD/PhD level?
30–60 minutes. Expert diagnosis. A treatment plan built around your specific neurobiology and goals.