“Can I ask my doctor for anxiety medication?”

Absolutely! Most importantly, it would be good to get a very thorough evaluation to examine all the feelings you are experiencing, and the many many approaches to anxiety that can be very helpful to you, including the multitude of medications that are currently available today. Also, even non-medication approaches! Best wishes always!

Yes

There can be many things at the root of your anxiety. Medical conditions such as COPD, thyroid and others can cause anxiety. Psychiatric or emotional issues can cause anxiety. It’s good to talk to your doctor to determine the underlying issue of your anxiety and then determine the course of treatment.

Of course. It may make sense to see a therapist as well. There are many strategies for managing anxiety. Medication is just one piece to it.

I would suggest that you don't ask your doctor for anxiety medication but rather that you explain to your doctor that you are suffering with anxiety. This will lead to your doctor asking critical questions about your signs and symptoms. For example, there are other conditions that masquerade as anxiety...hyperthyroidism can be experienced in part as anxiety, side effects of other medications can be experienced as anxiety. Enough said, the signs and symptoms you are experiencing are important to bring to the attention of your doctor but don't make the mistake of diagnosing yourself via internet. After your doctor fully explores your concerns he may or may not diagnose anxiety and may or may not prescribe medication. There are other treatments for anxiety which would include counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback and others.
Good luck...you should seek help, but let your learned doctor make the diagnosis and decide which treatment is appropriate.

Gary M. Glass, M.D.

Yes you can but expect the Doctor to take a thorough history first so you do not get just a “ bandaid “ on the problem and miss the real cause. An experienced and educated Doctor ( which you want ) will take a thorough history of your anxiety ( many types of anxiety exist and some can exist with other medical or psychiatric conditions that need treated). The Doctor will ask about other areas of your life and take a thorough medical history then depending on his findings may offer different treatment options. These may include therapy for anxiety, cutting back caffeine or other factors causing anxiety, making sure you don’t have one of many potential medical issues or prescription or non prescription substances causing anxiety. There are different medications for anxiety. One often used is called an SSRI which helps both anxiety and depression. Some of the sedatives for anxiety are used short term while the SSRI kicks in although not often used at first. It is important to tell your Doctor how the anxiety interferes with your functioning. When is it worse and better. What makes it worse and better. Be prepared with the answers. Why ( if you know) and when did it start? This will give both of you a goal to know when you are getting better and when you are back at your best before anxiety became an issue. This is key- you must have a way to monitor improvement usually by the functioning and happiness in your daily life that I assume decreased when the anxiety became problematic.
If your Doctor simply says yes here is a prescription then you can see all the areas of good medical diagnosis and practice above that was missed. In addition the sedative medications like Xanax, Valium , clonazepam often don’t work as well over continued time periods by themself, result in increased anxiety between doses over time, and can cause memory problems, apathy etcetera if not used as part of a full treatment plan for the anxiety condition. I hope this helps!

You can ask your doctor about anti-anxiety medications if your anxiety is interfering with your life. It is important that the anxiety be evaluated to make sure it is not the result of any other medical problems or side effects from medications.

There are many ways to treat anxiety. While medication is sometimes an appropriate option there are no medications that are without risk. I would encourage you to discuss your anxiety with your doctor. I am a Christian and find relief through scripture. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.
I believe in prayer and seeking to find the root cause of what is making a person anxious. Most of our fears and anxieties are unfounded and stem from the amazing gift of imagination that God has given us, however that imagination is pointed or pushed in the wrong direction. Sometimes direct confrontation can work, other times it can make things worse. I believe Prayer is an active process of identifying our anxieties and dealing with them constructively with God's help.
As far as medications go usually SSRI's and buspirone are the more favored treatments for anxiety disorders. Benzodiazepines such as Lorazepam, Oxazepam, or Temazepam may play a role for those with severe anxiety, but carry risks of potential overdose or addiction.