Home Symptoms Anxiety

Anxiety — what to take?

Anxiety is a state of excessive restlessness with physical symptoms (palpitations, sweating, tremor) and psychological ones (fear, worry). Anxiety disorder affects 10-15% of adults.

5 recommended OTC drugs
4,387 pharmacies available

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for anxiety

Informativ. Nu înlocuiește sfatul medicului. Consultă medicul sau farmacistul înainte de a lua orice medicament.

Common forms

Generalised anxiety disorder (chronic worry), panic disorder (acute attacks), social phobia, agoraphobia, anxiety associated with somatic conditions, anticipatory anxiety.

OTC treatment / supplements

Magnesium, valerian, passionflower, St John's wort (caution - interacts with many medications), L-theanine. Modest effects - useful in mild anxiety as adjunct.

Ashwagandha has the most solid evidence among plants for anxiety reduction. CBD oil has emerging evidence.

Effective treatments (Rx)

SSRIs (sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine) - first line for chronic anxiety. Benzodiazepines (diazepam, alprazolam) - strictly short-term (maximum 2-4 weeks) for acute crises, risk of dependence. Buspirone, pregabalin - alternatives.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is the treatment with the best evidence - efficacy comparable to medication, durable effect. Techniques: breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, gradual exposure, cognitive restructuring.

What helps daily

  • Regular aerobic exercise - anti-anxiety effect comparable to SSRIs.
  • Reducing caffeine (increases anxiety in sensitive people).
  • Quality sleep (anxiety and insomnia feed each other).
  • Meditation, yoga.
  • Avoid alcohol as medication - amplifies anxiety in the long run.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a physician or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a healthcare professional.

Nights, weekends, holidays

24/7 pharmacies for anxiety

Anxiety doesn't wait for office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 AM or on a weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter on and find the nearest on-call pharmacy. Major cities have several round-the-clock pharmacies — the per-city pages below list them all, with address, phone and verified opening hours.

Call ahead before you leave, especially at night — on-call schedules can change and stock for some prescription items may be limited between deliveries.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for anxiety

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for anxiety

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it's night or a weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-call ones. For anxiety most of the listed remedies are over the counter, so you can walk in without a prescription, but check stock and prices first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), search it in the comparator before you leave — you'll see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it's in stock. For chronic prescriptions, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and turn on hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially when treatment for anxiety runs over weeks.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, consult a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Frequent panic attacks
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Extreme avoidance of social/professional situations
  • Severe physical symptoms (chest pain - rule out MI)
  • Using alcohol/drugs to cope

Frequently asked

Common questions

What can I take OTC for mild anxiety?
Magnesium, ashwagandha, valerian, passionflower. Modest effect. For severe anxiety, consult a doctor.
Does ashwagandha have side effects?
Rarely - digestive discomfort, drowsiness. Contraindicated in hyperthyroidism, pregnancy, autoimmune disease.
When is prescription medication needed?
Anxiety that significantly interferes with life, frequent panic attacks, associated depression.
How do I stop a panic attack?
4-7-8 breathing, count objects around you, accept it will pass in 10-20 min, cold water on the face.

See also

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