Anxiolytic
<p>An <b>anxiolytic</b> (also <b>antipanic</b> or <b>antianxiety agent</b>)<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiolytic#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup> is a drug that inhibits <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety" title="Anxiety">anxiety</a>. </p>
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This effect is in contrast to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiogenic" title="Anxiogenic">anxiogenic</a> agents, which increase anxiety.</p>
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Together these categories of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_drug" title="Psychoactive drug">psychoactive</a> compounds may be referred to as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiotropic" title="Anxiotropic">anxiotropic</a> compounds. Some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_drug_use" title="Recreational drug use">recreational drugs</a> like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage" title="Alcoholic beverage">alcoholic beverages</a> (which contain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol" title="Ethanol">ethanol</a>) induce anxiolysis. Anxiolytic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medication" title="Medication" class="mw-redirect">medications</a> have been used for the treatment of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety" title="Anxiety">anxiety</a> and its related psychological and physical symptoms. Anxiolytics have been shown to be useful in the treatment of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety_disorder" title="Anxiety disorder">anxiety disorders</a>.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-receptor_blocker" title="Beta-receptor blocker" class="mw-redirect">Beta-receptor blockers</a> such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propranolol" title="Propranolol">propranolol</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxprenolol" title="Oxprenolol">oxprenolol</a>, although not anxiolytics, can be used to combat the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic" title="Somatic">somatic</a> symptoms of anxiety.
Anxiolytics are also known as <b>minor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tranquilizer" title="Tranquilizer">tranquilizers</a></b>.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiolytic#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> The term is less common in modern texts, and was originally derived from a dichotomy with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_tranquilizer" title="Major tranquilizer" class="mw-redirect">major tranquilizers</a>, also known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroleptics" title="Neuroleptics" class="mw-redirect">neuroleptics</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipsychotics" title="Antipsychotics" class="mw-redirect">antipsychotics</a>.<sup class="Template-Fact" >[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup></p>