Anti-anxiety medications are drugs used to reduce symptoms of anxiety, fear, and tension by acting on the central nervous system to produce a calming effect. They are commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and sometimes insomnia. The most widely used group includes benzodiazepines, which enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA, leading to sedation and muscle relaxation. Other classes, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are also used for long-term management of anxiety by regulating serotonin levels in the brain.