Gabapentin does help with anxiety and does have a calming effect within a couple of hours or less although it can take a few weeks to see sustained improvement in anxiety when taking gabapentin.
Gabapentin is mainly approved for treating nerve pain and seizures but it's also often used as an off label treatment for anxiety in some people and most particularly in people that have not responded well to other first line anxiety treatment medications.
The drug that is number 1 for anxiety is Gabapentin which is the most frequently prescribed anxiety medication in the United States.
Although SSRIs and SNRIs are also often prescribed and used for anxiety as first line treatments for some people.
A persons individual responses and specific types of anxiety will factor into the type of anxiety medication prescribed and taken.
Other commonly prescribed medications for anxiety include Benzodiazepines such as Alprazolam, Klonazepam, Valium and Ativan.
These are effective anxiety medications for short term anxiety relief but they are also addictive.
Buspirone is a non benzodiazepine anxiety medication that is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder.
And Beta blockers such as Propranolol are used to manage physical symptoms of anxiety such as rapid heartbeat.
SSRIs and SNRIs for anxiety are often used as the first line treatment for anxiety and they can take several weeks to begin working, so it's important that you be patient and follow the doctors instructions when taking these anxiety medications.
Benzodiazepines for anxiety are often used for short term anxiety relief and not long term anxiety management due to the risk of addiction.
You should also always consult with your doctor to determine the best treatment plan and medication for you specific needs for anxiety medication.