Yes, anxiety medications can be prescribed in urgent care, but this is limited to those who can keep you going until you can see a psychiatrist. While emergency rooms are equipped to handle serious or life-threatening crises, urgent care clinics also address non-emergency conditions that require immediate attention. For people whose anxiety suddenly increases or is excessive and difficult to control, urgent care may be the place to go for quick help.
Doctors who provide emergency care can offer short-term treatment for certain conditions, including anxiety. Instead of saying “urgent care doctors,” it’s better to describe them as providers who give immediate but temporary help. They may prescribe short-term anxiety medication to stabilize someone, but not for long-term use. These medicines are meant to help a patient get through the acute phase only. After that, standard medical guidance is for patients to follow up with their primary care doctor or a mental health professional for a full evaluation and long-term treatment plan.
This phased approach provides immediate relief as needed, while also treating the underlying causes of anxiety through appropriate ongoing care.
What mental health services do urgent care centers provide?
Urgent care centers are not full-service mental health clinics, but they can provide meaningful support when you or a loved one is struggling. Their role is to evaluate patients, provide short-term support, and direct them to the right long-term resources. Here’s what you’ll typically see:
Initial Assessment
Healthcare providers may begin with a brief mental health assessment, checking symptoms and triggers, medical history, and the severity of the anxiety or distress. This is how they decide whether urgent care is the appropriate level of care or whether a higher level is needed.
Short-Term Medication Support
If your symptoms are severe, such as extreme anxiety or sudden panic attacks, an emergency care provider may prescribe medications on a short-term basis to help stabilize you. These prescriptions are for temporary symptom relief, not long-term treatment.
Referrals to Specialists
Once they address your immediate problem, an emergency care provider can also connect you with necessary mental health services, whether it’s a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist, or one of our focused treatment programs. Therefore, these referrals ensure you receive ongoing support after that initial meeting.
Crisis Guidance and Stabilization
Emergency rooms (staff) can provide some crisis intervention to people in acute crises. However, if the situation is serious or safety may be an issue, they will direct you to the emergency room or another level of emergency management, as appropriate.
Which anti-anxiety medications does emergency care offer?
Urgent care centers typically focus on short-term care and are ultimately unresponsive to long-term mental health care. Therefore, the medications they provide are designed to suppress acute, immediate symptoms. Common options include:
Benzodiazepines
According to CDC guidelines, if a person is in severe distress or experiencing an anxiety attack, sedative medications may be necessary, and doctors may prescribe medications such as lorazepam (Ativan) or alprazolam (Xanax). These medications are fast-acting, but they are used cautiously due to the risk of addiction and sedation.
Options Other Than Benzodiazepines
Some physicians prefer alternatives like hydroxyzine, an antihistamine with anti-anxiety effects. It reduces symptoms without the potential for addiction like benzodiazepines, so that it may be a safer option for some patients in the short term.
Beta-Blockers
For individuals whose anxiety triggers physical symptoms (such as tremors, rapid heartbeat, or sweating), doctors may prescribe propranolol—or a similar medication—for example, under brand names like Inderal. These medications do not address the emotional aspect of anxiety, but can help control the body’s response.
In any case, these medications are only for temporary symptom relief. They are not a substitute for long-term care, treatment, or regular visits with a mental health professional.
At what point will emergency care prescribe anti-anxiety medications?
Emergency care providers only prescribe medications for anxiety in limited cases, focusing on short-term safety. They usually consider medication when:
Immediate relief of symptoms is necessary.
If your anxiety is causing you intense distress—such as chest tightness, tremors, or intense panic attacks—urgent care can prescribe a fast-acting medication to help you feel balanced.
Your regular doctor is not available.
When you cannot contact your primary care doctor or mental health professional, emergency care can help provide access and temporary relief until more appropriate follow-up is available.
You are experiencing a short-term crisis.
“There may be a situational crisis in which prescribing a certain number of pills may be appropriate,” until they have considered other forms of support for the source of that stress, such as therapy for grief, trauma, or other acute sources of stress.
Follow-up care confirmed
Urgent care providers will usually prescribe medication for anxiety if they know you can seek follow-up care elsewhere. They may inquire about future appointments or even help you schedule one before writing the prescription.
This ensures that acute symptoms are addressed, while long-term treatment is referred to relevant psychological treatment providers.
Advice for patients looking for anxiety medications
If you are considering going to urgent care for anxiety relief, a little preparation can make your experience better and more effective. Consider the following:
Be honest about your symptoms.
Tell me as accurately as possible about your stress experience—how often it occurs, its intensity, and what interventions have or have not helped you in the past. This way, the provider can make the safest and most appropriate decisions for each patient.
Understand what emergency care can and cannot do.
Emergency care can help temporarily stabilize, but it is not a cure for chronic anxiety. Think of it as a temporary option for support until you find proper, permanent care.
Schedule a follow-up with a specialist.
Whether you see a psychiatrist, therapist, or primary care physician, be sure to arrange for follow-up care after your appointment. Don’t forget that you will need long-term support to reduce triggers, adjust medication if needed, and improve healthy coping strategies.
Consider Therapy for Lasting Relief
Medications can help reduce symptoms, but therapy often provides intensive measures for long-term management. Options like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused response therapy, or mindfulness-based approaches can be life-changing.
Strengthen Your Support Network
The support of friends, family, or self-help groups can provide some comfort and stability during times of heightened anxiety. Having people you can trust can make the journey easier and less frightening.
Get Anxiety Relief Today
If you feel that anxiety is interfering with your life and you need immediate help, going to an urgent care center can stabilize your symptoms. They can provide a temporary solution while you arrange for continued care with your usual provider.
If you or your loved one needs long-term relief and additional care, Peachtree Wellness Solutions offers several anxiety recovery programs in Georgia. Call 770-202-1274, book an appointment, or verify your insurance to start feeling better today.
