Anti-Anxiety Medications Are Legal and Available by Prescription Throughout Europe
Anti-anxiety medications, including both benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam/Xanax) and non-benzodiazepines (such as buspirone/Buspar), are legal and available by prescription in all European countries for the treatment of anxiety disorders. 1
Evidence from European Medical Practice
The availability of these medications across Europe is clearly documented in current medical guidelines:
Hydroxyzine is explicitly approved for anxiolytic use in Europe (as well as the United States), available in both tablet and syrup formulations with few contraindications. 1
Benzodiazepines such as midazolam are widely used in some European countries for medical procedures, including pediatric imaging, demonstrating their legal status and clinical availability. 1
European medical facilities routinely use benzodiazepines for anxiolysis, sedation, and pain management according to hospital and national regulations, with administration performed by authorized, qualified personnel. 1
Classes of Anti-Anxiety Medications Available
Benzodiazepines
Alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam, diazepam, and other benzodiazepines are legal prescription medications used for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder. 1, 2
These medications work rapidly, with alprazolam producing improvement within the first week of treatment in clinical trials. 2
Non-Benzodiazepine Anxiolytics
Buspirone (Buspar) is an FDA-approved anxiolytic that is chemically and pharmacologically unrelated to benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or other sedative/anxiolytic drugs. 3
Buspirone has demonstrated efficacy comparable to benzodiazepines for treating generalized anxiety disorder, though it produces more gradual improvement over 2-4 weeks rather than immediate effects. 4, 2
SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors)
Venlafaxine and duloxetine are available for anxiety disorders, with duloxetine having FDA indication specifically for generalized anxiety disorder in children and adolescents aged 7 years and older. 1
These medications are as efficacious as SSRIs in treating anxiety with comparable tolerability. 5
Important Prescribing Considerations
Duration of Use
Benzodiazepines should be prescribed for the shortest duration possible, ideally 2-4 weeks maximum, as approximately 50% of patients prescribed benzodiazepines continuously for 12 months develop dependence. 6, 7
Continuing prescriptions beyond 4 weeks without re-evaluation dramatically increases dependence risk. 6
Safety Profile Differences
Buspirone lacks the sedation, anticonvulsant, and muscle-relaxant properties of benzodiazepines, and does not cause psychomotor impairment when combined with alcohol or given alone. 4
Buspirone has shown no abuse, dependence, or withdrawal symptoms in clinical studies, making it a safer long-term option. 4
Benzodiazepines carry risks of dependence, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms (including seizures), cognitive impairment, and falls, particularly in elderly patients. 6, 7
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not assume that anti-anxiety medications are restricted or illegal in Europe. The evidence clearly demonstrates these medications are part of standard medical practice across European healthcare systems, prescribed according to established clinical guidelines and national regulations. The key distinction is not legality, but rather appropriate prescribing practices that emphasize short-term benzodiazepine use and consideration of non-benzodiazepine alternatives like buspirone or SNRIs for longer-term anxiety management. 1, 6