Anti-Anxiety Medication Side Effects

"Like other medications, anti-anxiety medications may cause side effects. Some of these side effects and risks are serious. The most common side effects for benzodiazepines are drowsiness and dizziness. Other possible side effects include:
"Nausea
"Blurred vision
"Headache
"Confusion
"Tiredness
"Nightmares

"Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
"Drowsiness
"Dizziness
"Unsteadiness
"Problems with coordination
"Difficulty thinking or remembering
"Increased saliva
"Muscle or joint pain
"Frequent urination
"Blurred vision
"Changes in sex drive or ability (The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc, 2010)

"If you experience any of the symptoms below, call your doctor immediately:
"Rash
"Hives
"Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat
"Difficulty breathing or swallowing
"Hoarseness
"Seizures
"Yellowing of the skin or eyes
"Depression
"Difficulty speaking
"Yellowing of the skin or eyes
"Thoughts of suicide or harming yourself
"Difficulty breathing

"Common side effects of beta-blockers include:
"Fatigue
"Cold hands
"Dizziness or light-headedness
"Weakness
"Beta-blockers generally are not recommended for people with asthma or diabetes because they may worsen symptoms related to both.

"Possible side effects from buspirone include:
"Dizziness
"Headaches
"Nausea
"Nervousness
"Lightheadedness
"Excitement
"Trouble sleeping

"Anti-anxiety medications may cause other side effects that are not included in the lists above. To report any serious adverse effects associated with the use of these medicines, please contact the FDA MedWatch program using the contact information at the bottom of this page. For more information about the risks and side effects for each medication, please see Drugs@FDA."