Final answer:
Drugs used for treating anxiety, agitation, and sedation include depressants, benzodiazepines, and anxiolytics, which work by calming the brain via the GABA system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anxiety and agitation can be treated with several types of medications that have different mechanisms of action. These drugs include tranquilizers, including benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium), which are known for their sedative and hypnotic properties, calming effect, and drowsiness induction. Depressants, a type of psychoactive drug, reduce anxiety and help induce sleep by calming the brain. Anti-anxiety agents like benzodiazepines are often prescribed for panic attacks and may be used in combination with antidepressants during their latent period of efficacy for anxiety disorders. Beta-blockers such as propranolol are another class of drugs used to manage the physical symptoms of anxiety. Stimulants, in contrast, stimulate the brain; however, for the treatment of anxiety and related conditions, depressants and anxiolytics are primarily used.
Some common benzodiazepines used for anxiety include alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam, among others, which may be short-acting and suitable for treating acute symptoms of anxiety. Antidepressants, such as sertraline, can also be utilized for treating anxiety as well as depression and other psychiatric disorders. Additionally, these drugs serve as agonists of the gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter system, which has a quieting effect on the brain, thereby helping with anxiety and insomnia.