What anti-anxiety medications are there and how do they work?

Sedatives are tablets, drops, suspensions, tinctures, powders and decoctions, the use of which helps people quickly calm down in a stressful situation. Sometimes it is enough to drink some over-the-counter medicine recommended by the pharmacist for a couple of days. However, hand tremors, nervousness, poor health and digestive disorders can be symptoms of serious illnesses. Therefore, instead of self-medicating, it is better to consult a doctor for the prescription of sedatives.

Taking sedatives is “first aid” for nerves. This will help solve the problem today, but will not eliminate it tomorrow. To cope more effectively with life’s difficulties and to be as nervous as possible, you will need the help of a psychologist. Nothing wrong with that. A specialist will help you understand what exactly caused stress, teach you how to behave correctly in critical situations, and help you “work on mistakes.” As a result, you will look at the situation in a new way, increase your personal effectiveness, and get more pleasure from life and everything that happens. Soothing drops and tablets will not be needed.

Figure 1 - Calming pills help you focus on solving the problem

Rating of the best calming tablets

What sedatives are there?

According to the type of effect on the body, sedative tablets, drops and mixtures are divided into:

• Sedative drugs. These are natural sedatives based on valerian, mint, lemon balm, motherwort, and combination preparations. This group also includes bromine-based drugs.
• Tranquilizers. Drugs that affect the psyche. They are needed when a person needs to get rid of unmotivated anxiety, fear, emotional stress, and various mental disorders.
• Neuroleptics. Strong sedatives used in psychiatry.
• Normotimics. Psychotropic drugs that doctors prescribe to patients with mental illness.

Figure 3 - Sedatives are of natural and artificial origin

When a person wants to buy a good sedative without a prescription, he will most often be recommended a sedative. Compared to tranquilizers, neuroleptics and mood stabilizers, such drugs are weaker, but they are relatively harmless - they work gently and have a minimal number of side effects. However, you should not extend the recommended course - addiction to sedatives may occur.

The best calming tablets based on herbal extracts

Herbs are humanity's first pharmacy. But herbal medicines, that is, dried parts of plants, themselves have some disadvantages. Firstly, the content of useful substances in them can vary greatly depending on the place and time of growth, time of collection, and environmental conditions. Therefore, the result is not always predictable. Secondly, in addition to useful substances, plants may also contain harmful substances: lead from the soil, if the plants were collected by “grandmother” near the highway, pesticides that are used to treat the fields. Therefore, modern pharmacology does not use herbs themselves, but extracts of beneficial substances - plant extracts. They can be reduced to standard doses and obtain a predictable result of action.

When talking in our rating about medicines created on the basis of plant extracts, we would like to remind you: “herbs,” although generally safer than “chemical” drugs, also have maximum dosages, contraindications and side effects that must be taken into account.

The effect of taking any herbal preparations is cumulative; it will take 2 to 3 weeks of regular use for it to appear. Therefore, before drawing conclusions about whether the medicine helps or does not help, you need to wait, and if the stress is acute and requires some urgent measures, it is better to use tablets with a synthetic active ingredient.

St. John's wort extract

Rating: 4.9

Trade names: Negrustin, Deprim Forte, Neuroplant.

The fact that St. John's wort acts like well-known antidepressants, regulating the amount of serotonin in the nervous system, became known in the 80s of the last century. Later studies confirmed the calming properties of this herb. Active ingredients - hypericin, pseudohypericin and hyperforin - improve the functional state of the nervous system and have a psychostabilizing effect. After taking tablets based on St. John's wort extract, your mood gradually improves, your psycho-emotional background is leveled, and your anxiety decreases. The active substances of St. John's wort normalize sleep, restore activity and performance, and reduce such bodily manifestations of anxiety and depression as surges in blood pressure, sweating, and weakness.

Unlike many sedatives, St. John's wort extract does not cause drowsiness and can be used by those who drive or work in environments that require concentration and quick reactions.

You can take St. John's wort extract 1 to 3 times a day, depending on how you feel. Among the side effects, the most common is allergies, possible discomfort in the abdominal area (dyspepsia).

St. John's wort increases sensitivity to sunlight, so when taking it in the summer, it is better to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, and if this is not possible, use sunscreen. It enhances the effect of traditional antidepressants, so this combination is best avoided. In addition, it is not recommended to take St. John's wort simultaneously with theophylline, cyclosporines, and anticonvulsants. Women using hormonal contraceptives should keep in mind that St. John's wort weakens their effect, so during its use it is better to use additional means of protection against unwanted pregnancy.

Not recommended for pregnant women and children under 12 years of age.

Advantages

• natural composition,
• high efficiency, comparable to “severe” antidepressants in the initial stages of depression.

Flaws

• increases sensitivity to the sun.

Persen

Rating: 4.8

Contains extracts of valerian, lemon balm and mint. Herbal components are selected to enhance each other's effects. Due to lemon balm and mint, which are not only sedatives, but also mild antispasmodics, it is optimal in situations where stress is accompanied by so-called psychosomatic manifestations - abdominal pain, bear sickness, headaches, and a slight increase in blood pressure. For the same reason, Persen should not be used by people prone to hypotension and fainting - the antispasmodic effect also extends to vascular smooth muscles, which can excessively reduce blood pressure. It is also not recommended for gallstone disease - mint has a weak choleretic effect, which can cause the stones to “move.”

Daily dosage of Persen: 2 - 3 tablets, they can be taken either evenly throughout the day or once before bed if the main complaint is difficulty falling asleep. If the minimum dosage does not help, you can increase the number of capsules taken to 12 per day - of course, in this case they should not be consumed simultaneously, but throughout the day.

Possible side effects are an allergic reaction to the herbal components of the tablets; with prolonged use of Persen, constipation is possible, again due to the antispasmodic properties of lemon balm and mint.

Due to the lack of safety data, Persen should not be used by pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children under 12 years of age - for obvious reasons, it is impossible to conduct a study on these groups of patients.

Advantages

• natural composition,
• safety of use.

Flaws

• relatively high price for extracts of common herbs.

Novo-passit

Rating: 4.7

Contains seven medicinal extracts that mutually potentiate each other's action and the semi-synthetic substance guaifenesin.

Plants included in Novo-passit:

1. valerian,
2. Melissa,
3. St. John's wort,
4. hawthorn,
5. passionflower (passion flower),
6. hop,
7. black elderberry.

Hawthorn and lemon balm, in addition to their sedative (calming) effect, have a mild hypotensive effect, that is, the ability to lower blood pressure. Passionflower and hops reduce anxiety and improve sleep. Black elderberry has calming and restorative properties.

Guaifenesin is a semi-synthetic substance created on the basis of guaiac tree extract. Traditionally used as an expectorant, but over time it was discovered that it has anxiolytic, that is, anti-anxiety properties, and also enhances the sedative and hypnotic effects of other drugs. Actually, for this purpose it was added to Novo-passit.

Recently, evidence has emerged that hop extract contains, among other things, phytoestrogens - plant substances with an effect similar to that of female sex hormones. Therefore, Novo-Passit is primarily suitable for older women to correct the effect of hormonal changes on the emotional sphere. It can also be useful for headaches and migraines caused by stress and insomnia.

Take one tablet 3 times a day.

The most common side effects are allergies and increased drowsiness. Therefore, Novo-Passit is not recommended for people who drive a car or those whose work requires attention and quick reaction.

Contraindicated under the age of 12 years.

Advantages

• complex composition.

Flaws

• not recommended for those who drive,
• with prolonged use may cause constipation.

What sedatives can you buy without a prescription?

The “simple” and cheapest sedatives are usually sold without prescriptions:

• soothing tablets and tinctures based on valerian, motherwort, mint, peony, St. John's wort;
• combination preparations on a plant basis - Fitosed, Persen, Novo-passit, Algoven-relax, Dormiplant;
• drugs to improve heart function that have a mild sedative effect - Valocordin, Corvalol, Zelenin Drops, Adonis Bromine, Bromcamphor;
• homeopathic medicines – Notta, Leovit, Gelarium, Edas, etc.

Inexpensive sedatives based on natural raw materials can also be purchased in “whole” form. Pharmacies sell dried valerian roots, mint leaves, motherwort herb, and special soothing mixtures that can be brewed and drunk like tea. To relax after a busy day, these infusions can be added to evening baths.

Figure 4 - Natural sedatives

Another type of safe sedatives are aromatic oils of jasmine, bergamot, sage, rose, orange, tangerine, ylang-ylang, and lavender. They are used for:

• saturating the air with aroma. For this purpose, water is poured into the aroma lamp, into which a few drops of the selected oil (or mixture) are dripped. The water and oil are heated by the candle, causing the oil to evaporate intensively;
• taking baths Since the oil does not dissolve in water, it is better to drip it onto sea salt. This will help reduce the oil droplets and distribute them more evenly in the water.

Figure 5 - Sedative medicinal herbs may be allergens

When using over-the-counter herbal sedatives, make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients.

Note! The number of poisonings with sedatives is second only to poisonings with sleeping pills. Therefore, you should not exceed the dosage recommended by your doctor. If after taking a high dose of the drug you experience the following symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor:

• a decrease in heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute at rest in an adult, 70 in children from one to 6 years of age, 100 in infants;
• fogginess, loss of consciousness;
• motor dysfunction;
• nausea, heartburn, indigestion, thirst, dry mouth;
• allergic rashes;
• weakness, lethargy, unmotivated fatigue, dizziness, headache.

While you wait for the ambulance to arrive, rinse your stomach and drink adsorbent.

The best calming pills for children

We included in this section of the rating tablets approved for use in children over three years of age. The fact is that, according to experts from the Ministry of Health, who created the criteria according to which drugs are registered, any pills are contraindicated in principle for children under three years of age, since it is difficult for children to swallow them and there is a considerable risk that the child will choke. That’s why there are various kinds of drops, syrups, and herbal teas for younger children. Calming tablets can only be used after three years.

But before you reach for drugs, especially when it comes to babies, it is better to start with time-tested non-drug methods. Soothing baths with valerian, motherwort or mint are good for babies: babies' skin is able to absorb medicinal substances. Warm baths with sea salt are suitable for older children. You can also put scented pillows in bed, inside of which the same soothing herbs are sewn. Of course, all this is permissible only if the child does not have allergies and does not suffer from bronchial asthma - for this disease, herbal medicine in any form is contraindicated.

You should not prescribe medications to your baby yourself; show him to the doctor: perhaps the cause of anxiety is a serious illness, and not stress. If the cause of his anxiety still lies in external factors: adaptation to kindergarten, overwork, excess impressions, the following tablets can help.

Glycine

Rating: 4.6

A medicine proven by generations of mothers. Strictly speaking, this is not a sedative, but a nootropic - a drug that normalizes processes in the central nervous system and increases mental performance. At the same time, it has the following properties:

1. improve your mood,
2. facilitate falling asleep and normalize the duration and depth of sleep,
3. reduce psycho-emotional stress,
4. reduce aggressiveness,
5. improve social adaptation.

Glycine tablets should not be swallowed, but dissolved behind the cheek or under the tongue. The medicine has a sweetish taste, so children usually do not mind taking it.

For healthy babies, glycine is prescribed as a sedative, 1 tablet 3 times a day, the course of use is from 2 weeks to a month. For sleep disorders, you can take 1 tablet at night.

The drug is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance.

Advantages

• time-tested tablets,
• safety of use.

Flaws

• It needs to be sucked, not swallowed.

Phenibut

Rating: 4.5

This medicine also belongs to nootropics: it helps to adapt to mental stress and improves metabolic processes in the central nervous system. But besides this, phenibut reduces anxiety, tension, restlessness, and normalizes sleep.

Reduces the severity of headaches caused by stress, eliminates weakness and psycho-emotional instability. An indirect indicator of how effectively phenibut reduces stress levels can be the fact that it is among the medications included in the astronauts’ first aid kit.

Phenibut is prescribed to children not only as a sedative, but also in the complex treatment of stuttering and tics.

The likelihood of developing side effects is low. The drug may cause drowsiness. Another option for undesirable effects is a paradoxical (reverse) reaction to the drug, when headache, dizziness, and irritability appear after taking it. Allergic reactions are possible.

Phenibut is contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women under 2 years of age.

Dispensed by prescription.

Advantages

• effectively reduces high levels of stress, maintaining a person’s activity and performance.

Flaws

• prescription drug.

Magne B6

Rating: 4.4

Restores the body's level of magnesium, a mineral that is vital for the functioning of all cells in the body, and pyridoxine, a vitamin that regulates the functioning of the nervous system. Natural magnesium is found in wheat bran, pumpkin and sesame seeds, pine and walnuts, spinach - in short, foods that are not often included in children's diets. Therefore, deficiency of this mineral in the body is not uncommon. In addition, its development is facilitated by dysbiosis and the use of antibiotics, which is also not uncommon in childhood.

Magnesium and B6 regulate the transmission of nerve impulses, eliminating increased irritability, fatigue, and restoring sleep.

Children over 6 years old are prescribed 4 - 6 tablets per day, which should be taken in 2 - 3 doses.

The drug is contraindicated in cases of severe renal failure. Safety of use during pregnancy and lactation has not been established.

When taking Magne B6, you need to remember that the absorption of magnesium is blocked by calcium, so it should not be taken simultaneously with dairy products or multivitamins containing calcium.

Advantages

• replenishes the deficiency of magnesium and vitamin B6,

Flaws

• cannot be combined with multivitamins and foods containing calcium.

The best synthetic sedatives

In this section of the rating we included drugs from different pharmacological groups that in one way or another regulate the functioning of the nervous system. Unlike herbal preparations, such tablets show the desired result already in the first days of use.

Afobazole

Rating: 4.3

Reduces anxiety and has a mild stimulating effect. Eliminates such manifestations of nervousness as:

1. irritability,
2. tearfulness,
3. timidity,
4. insomnia,
5. heartbeat,
6. feeling of lack of air,
7. weakening of memory,
8. inability to concentrate.

Appearing within a week after the start of use, the effects of afobazole reach a maximum by the end of the month and persist for another 2 weeks after the end of use.

It is recommended to take Afobazole 10 mg 3 times a day, course duration from 2 weeks to 3 months, as needed. Short courses can be prescribed to women in the second half of the menstrual cycle to reduce the manifestations of premenstrual syndrome.

Side effects include allergic reactions.

Afobazole is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding, under the age of 18 years.

Advantages

• can be used in relatively short courses,
• can be used for PMS,
• over the counter.

Flaws

• It is not recommended to combine with alcohol.

Adaptol

Rating: 4.2

Regulates the ratio of mediators - special substances that activate or inhibit various functions of the central nervous system, helping to normalize the emotional state. Eliminates unmotivated anxiety, anxiety, fear, reduces irritability, reduces internal emotional tension. By itself, it does not eliminate sleep disturbances and does not promote sleep, but it enhances the effect of sleeping pills.

Improves attention and mental performance.

The recommended dosage is 500 mg three times a day. Can be taken either in short courses or for 2-3 months, as needed. Adaptol can be combined with any other medications, including “heavy” tranquilizers and antidepressants, allowing you to enhance their effect and reduce the dosage.

Side effects are minimal - allergic reactions are possible.

The product is not recommended during pregnancy and children as safety has not been studied.

Advantages

• can be combined with any medications,
• rapid onset of effect.

Flaws

• prescription drug.

The best calming dietary supplements

In this section of the rating we included dietary supplements that help normalize processes in the central nervous system. Their sedative effect is somewhat similar to herbal preparations - it develops relatively slowly, but persists even after the end of use of the product. This kind of dietary supplement is gentle and rarely causes side effects.

Tryptophan

Rating: 4.1

This is an essential amino acid from which the body produces serotonin necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system. Tryptophan, often called the feel-good amino acid, must be supplied to the body through food. Most of it is found in red and black caviar, hard cheeses, peanuts, almonds, and cashews. In short, in products that are not available to everyone and not every day. Therefore, there is often a need for additional tryptophan intake.

Serotonin, which is produced from tryptophan, is often called the “happy hormone.” This substance creates a consistently good mood, an even positive emotional background. By participating in the synthesis of melatonin, serotonin ensures healthy and restful sleep.

Tryptophan may help with conditions such as:

1. depression,
2. increased anxiety,
3. increased irritability, aggressiveness,
4. chronic fatigue syndrome,
5. premenstrual syndrome,
6. sleep disturbance.

Tryptophan has another interesting side effect: it reduces the need for sweets and reduces appetite, so it can be specifically recommended for people who tend to “eat” stress.

The daily dosage of tryptophan is from 500 mg to 2 grams, depending on the general condition. To restore sleep, it should be taken at night, in all other cases - evenly throughout the day. You need to start with minimal dosages, since if there is an excess amount of tryptophan, side effects such as nausea may appear. dry mouth, drowsiness.

In no case should you combine it with “pharmacy” antidepressants prescribed by a doctor - this can lead to an excessive increase in the level of serotonin in the blood.

Tryptophan can be purchased both in pharmacies that sell Russian-made products and in foreign online stores.

Advantages

• gently and naturally regulates mood,
• helps in the fight against excess weight.

Flaws

• cannot be combined with antidepressants.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid

Rating: 4.0

Trade names: Aminalon, GABA, GABA.

This is one of the most powerful inhibitory neurotransmitters of the central nervous system or, more simply, a substance that calms nerve cells. In addition, GABA improves blood circulation and normalizes metabolic processes in the brain. By the way, modern doctors associate the calming effect of valerian with the fact that it increases the level of GABA in the brain.

The product reduces the level of general anxiety and prevents the occurrence of panic attacks. By reducing the overall level of excitability, it improves sleep and speeds up falling asleep. Reduces symptoms of PMS. Helps improve attention and memory. Has a mild hypotensive effect.

The initial dosage is 250 mg 3 times a day; with normal tolerance, the dose can be increased to 1.5 g per day.

Possible adverse events are nausea, blood pressure fluctuations, and a feeling of heat.

An interesting side effect: GABA stimulates the production of growth hormone. therefore, practicing bodybuilders often take it (at a dosage of up to 3 grams per day) to increase muscle mass and reduce the amount of fat tissue.

GABA is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with severe renal failure, and under the age of 3 years.

The product can be purchased both in Russian pharmacies (with a doctor’s prescription) and in foreign online stores in the form of an over-the-counter dietary supplement.

Advantages

• overdose is impossible: the body effectively neutralizes the excess substance,
• improves metabolic processes in the brain.

Flaws

• Use with caution for those driving.

Symptoms of depression

With depression, a person constantly feels worthless

Taking sedatives is indicated for patients who have identified symptoms of depressive disorder and neurosis. Drug treatment must be supervised by the attending physician. Otherwise, such therapy may have negative consequences for human health.

Medicines that help calm the nervous system should cope with the symptoms of neuroses and depression. Such tablets are offered to patients who have the following signs of pathology:

1. Consistently bad mood.
2. Insomnia or increased sleepiness.
3. A significant decrease in total body weight, which is observed due to the patient’s refusal to eat normally. In some cases, patients develop a strong appetite, which leads to the appearance of extra pounds.
4. A sharp decrease in interest in any type of activity that previously brought pleasure and excitement to a person.
5. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt that don't really exist.
6. The inability to concentrate on a specific topic or thought, the appearance of obvious indecisiveness in the deeds being performed.
7. Low motor activity and decreased intellectual activity. In some cases, doctors note the appearance of psychomotor agitation.
8. Loss of energy.
9. The appearance of thoughts about committing suicide, which are obsessive in nature.

Doctors can diagnose a patient with mental illness if they exhibit at least 5 of the symptoms listed above.

A person himself may notice that something wrong is happening to him. Also, signs of the disease are visible to people who are close to the patient. They are a good reason to contact a specialist. Do not hesitate to visit a doctor, as every day the patient’s condition will only worsen. In addition, there is a high probability that he will deliberately cause harm to himself, which can lead to death.