Healthcare Insights
Most common anti-anxiety medications
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health diagnoses in the U.S., impacting nearly 20% of the adult population. Worldwide, more than 300 million people are affected by anxiety.
Biopharma and medtech developers play a role in treating anxiety alongside providers. Treatments for anxiety disorders can include therapy, medication, complementary and alternative treatment, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Using data from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas Prescription Claims product, we created this list of the top 20 most prescribed anti-anxiety medications dispensed to U.S. patients in 2024 (January through October). Information on anti-anxiety prescription patterns helps biopharmaceutical companies understand the competitive landscape and target the right providers.
| Rank | Drug name | % share of anti-anxiety drugs dispensed in U.S. | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabapentin | 21.96% | Explore |
| 2 | Bupropion Hydrochloride | 13.61% | Explore |
| 3 | Trazodone Hydrochloride | 12.35% | Explore |
| 4 | Alprazolam | 8.99% | Explore |
| 5 | Clonazepam | 6.49% | Explore |
| 6 | Venlafaxine Hydrochloride | 5.85% | Explore |
| 7 | Lamotrigine | 5.59% | Explore |
| 8 | Lorazepam | 4.94% | Explore |
| 9 | Topiramate | 3.98% | Explore |
| 10 | Levetiracetam | 2.99% | Explore |
| 11 | Diazepam | 2.38% | Explore |
| 12 | Hydroxyzine Pamoate | 2.30% | Explore |
| 13 | Divalproex Sodium | 2.30% | Explore |
| 14 | Oxcarbazepine | 1.35% | Explore |
| 15 | Carbamazepine | 0.69% | Explore |
| 16 | Lacosamide | 0.58% | Explore |
| 17 | Primidone | 0.53% | Explore |
| 18 | Zonisamide | 0.38% | Explore |
| 19 | Buspirone Hydrochloride | 0.28% | Explore |
| 20 | Clobazam | 0.22% | Explore |
Fig. 1 Data from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas Prescription Claims product for calendar year 2024 through October. Claims data is sourced from multiple medical claims clearinghouses in the United States and updated monthly. Accessed November 2024.
What are the most common anti-anxiety medications?
Gabapentin is the most common drug used to treat anxiety, accounting for nearly 22% of prescriptions dispensed in 2024 through October. While typically used to treat seizure disorders, the medication is also used to manage symptoms for patients with anxiety and other mental health disorders.
Bupropion hydrochloride, also a common antidepressant, is second on the list with 13.61% of anti-anxiety medication prescriptions dispensed.
The next three drugs, trazadone hydrochloride, alprazolam, and clonazepam, each represent 6-12% of anti-anxiety prescriptions dispensed in 2024 so far.
What are the types of drugs used to treat anxiety?
Drugs approved for treating anxiety include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). However, medications not approved for anxiety are commonly used “off-label” in clinical practice.
The different types of drug types used to treat anxiety include:
- Serotonergic/norepinephrinergic antidepressants
- Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)
- Antihistamines
- Antipsychotics
- Novel treatments for anxiety disorders
- Serotonergic agents
- Glutamate modulators
- GABAergic medications
- Neuropeptides
- Neurosteroids
- Alpha- and beta-adrenergic agents
Anxiety medication trends
Pharmaceutical and clinical research and development (R&D) for mental health condition treatments is helping more people manage their mental health. For life science developers, these emerging treatment options could present new business opportunities:
- Cannabinoids
- Ketamine
- Psychedelics
Learn more
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