Anxiety often gets blamed on stress, work pressure or personal worries. But for a fair number of people, the real trigger is sitting in their medicine cabinet. Certain prescription and over the counter drugs can bring on restlessness, a racing heart or a sense of panic, even in people who have never struggled with anxiety before.

Knowing which medications that cause anxiety are common can help you make sense of symptoms that otherwise seem to come from nowhere. It is not about avoiding treatment altogether. It is about understanding the connection so you can talk to a doctor before assuming the worst.

Painkillers With Caffeine Hiding Inside

Some headache and migraine treatments contain caffeine, a stimulant that speeds up the nervous system. It can push up your heart rate and blood pressure, leaving you jittery and on edge. If you already lean towards anxious feelings, caffeine can make things noticeably worse.

Medicines to watch include:

Aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine combinations such as Excedrin Migraine Aspirin and caffeine mixes like Anacin Ergotamine and caffeine combinations, sometimes called ergots, used for migraines

Corticosteroids and Mood Changes

Corticosteroids mimic hormones your body produces naturally, and doctors prescribe them for asthma, allergies, arthritis and bronchitis. Nobody is entirely sure why, but these drugs can leave some patients feeling irritable and anxious.

The ones linked to this side effect include cortisone, dexamethasone and prednisone.

Stimulant Based ADHD Medication

Many ADHD treatments work by revving up brain activity and altering how nerve cells communicate. That combination can leave people feeling restless or anxious, particularly at higher doses. This is one of the clearer examples of drugs that trigger anxiety as a documented side effect rather than a rare reaction.

Medications associated with mood changes include amphetamine and dextroamphetamine combinations such as Adderall, dexmethylphenidate (Focalin), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), and methylphenidate (sold as Concerta or Ritalin).

Asthma Treatments That Affect Mood

Some asthma medicines can worsen existing mood conditions such as depression and anxiety. Certain bronchodilators, which open up the airways, may bring on anxiety even in people who never had it before.

Albuterol commonly causes trembling or shakiness and, less often, a racing heartbeat, symptoms that can feel a lot like a panic attack. Salmeterol can bring on nervousness, sweating, a fast heartbeat and anxiety. Theophylline is an older medication that fewer doctors prescribe today, but it carries similar risks.

Thyroid Medication

Underactive thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, often causes fatigue, weight gain and trouble concentrating. Thyroid pills used to treat it, including Armour Thyroid, Nature Throid and NP Thyroid, can sometimes trigger anxiety, shakiness and hyperactivity as the body adjusts.

Seizure Medication

Phenytoin, sold as Dilantin or Phenytek, calms abnormal electrical activity in the brain during a seizure and is also used for irregular heartbeats. Despite its calming purpose, it can cause panic attacks, agitation and anxiety in some people.

Parkinson’s Disease Treatment

Levodopa and carbidopa, often prescribed together as Sinemet, treat Parkinson’s disease. The extended release capsule version, Rytary, has been linked to anxiety as a side effect.

What To Do If Your Medication Is Affecting Your Mood

If you suspect one of your medications is behind new or worsening anxiety, do not stop taking it on your own. Speak with your doctor about adjusting the dose or switching to an alternative. Anxiety triggered by medication is a recognised and manageable issue, and there are usually other options available.

Understanding how medications that cause anxiety work in the body is a useful first step, whether the goal is managing an existing prescription or simply recognising symptoms early enough to raise them with a healthcare provider.

Source: webmd