Anxiety disorders. Can you give me something for my nerves, doctor?

The antianxiety drugs available today are highly effective. Before prescribing anxiolytics, the physician needs to carefully evaluate the patient to determine if true symptoms of anxiety are present and are interfering with the patient's functioning. Patient education about the cause of the disorder and the purpose of anxiolytic therapy is essential for successful management. Selection of the proper drug dose must be individualized, and regular patient monitoring is necessary to detect side effects or possible drug abuse. Careful record keeping is the best defense against legal problems arising from a patient's abusing or diverting of prescribed drugs.