What medication is commonly used to treat anxiety and agitation?

The medication commonly used to treat anxiety and agitation is alprazolam. Alprazolam belongs to a class of medications known as benzodiazepines, which are effective in providing rapid relief of acute anxiety symptoms. It works by enhancing the effect of a neurotransmitter in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), leading to a calming effect.

Other medications listed serve different purposes. Clonidine is primarily used to treat high blood pressure and certain behavioral disorders, not first-line anxiety. Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) typically used for depression and some anxiety disorders, but it does not provide immediate relief for acute anxiety. Propranolol is a beta-blocker that may help with physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat, but is not directly used to treat anxiety or agitation in the same way that alprazolam is. Therefore, alprazolam is recognized as the standard treatment for rapid relief of anxiety and agitation symptoms.