Anxiogenic substances typically work through affecting levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, epinephrine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin in the central nervous system (CNS).
Some substances may alter functioning in the HPA axis, the neuroendocrine system that mediates responses to stress, where dysfunction has been linked to anxiety and panic disorders.
[2] Some substances, such as caffeine[3] and sodium lactate,[4] are largely reported to have anxiogenic effects only if they are consumed or taken by people with pre-existing anxiety or panic disorders.
Research suggests that it can lead to a mildly anxious state or worsen panic, anxiety, and related symptoms in PTSD patients.
Fluroquinolones (FQs), such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin, are a type of antibiotic that have been linked to increased levels of anxiety and panic attacks,[10] psychotic symptoms,[11] and depression [10][11] in both mice and humans, with adverse neuropsychiatric reactions estimated to occur in 1–4.4% of patients, across a range of mild to more severe cases.
[11] The mechanism behind this action is unclear however,[11] with some researchers suggesting that FQs may act as low-affinity GABA-A antagonists,[12] and others positing that its interactions with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which have been associated with fear, anxiety, and depression, may be responsible for the anxiogenic effects.
Typical antidepressants prescribed in psychiatry today include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines.