When people search for "the best medicine for anxiety", they are usually doing one of two things: looking for a faster path to relief, or weighing up whether to start (or come off) a prescription their GP has offered.
This is an honest, non-judgemental guide. We are not anti-medication. We are simply clear about what medication can and cannot do for an anxiety disorder.
SSRIs (Sertraline, Citalopram, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine)
These are the first-line UK prescription for generalised anxiety, panic disorder and OCD. They work by altering serotonin signalling. They are not addictive in the classical sense, but discontinuation can be difficult.
What they do well: blunt the intensity of anxious feelings within 4–8 weeks for many people.
What they do not do: address the sensitised anxiety response that is generating those feelings. Relapse rates after discontinuation are high.
Benzodiazepines (Diazepam, Lorazepam, Alprazolam)
Fast-acting, highly effective in the moment. Officially recommended for short-term use only — typically 2 to 4 weeks — because of dependence risk.
What they do well: stop a panic attack within 20–30 minutes.
What they do not do: solve the underlying problem. Long-term users often find their anxiety worse between doses.
Beta-blockers (Propranolol)
These block the physical effects of adrenaline — racing heart, trembling, sweating — without affecting the brain. Useful for performance anxiety, public speaking, driving tests.
What they do well: take the edge off the physical symptoms in a specific situation.
What they do not do: change the underlying anxiety disorder.
Pregabalin (Lyrica)
Sometimes prescribed for generalised anxiety. Effective for some, with a meaningful side-effect and dependence profile. The MHRA reclassified it as a controlled drug in 2019.
The honest summary
Every medication on this list is, at best, a symptom dampener. None of them address the physiological sensitisation that defines an anxiety disorder. That is why discontinuation so often leads to relapse — the underlying machinery has not changed.
Where LAR Coaching fits
LAR Coaching is fully compatible with medication. We do not ask you to come off anything. We work alongside your GP. The goal is to address the underlying anxiety response so that — if and when you and your prescriber decide to taper — there is nothing left for the medication to suppress.
650,000+ people have followed this path. Many came to us already on SSRIs and finished the programme medication-free, with full GP support.
The next step
If any of this resonates, book a free 30-minute Recovery Call with one of our LAR Coaches. No pressure, no obligation — just a real conversation about what is happening to you and whether the LAR programme is the right fit. Sessions are delivered worldwide via Zoom, Phone or FaceTime.
