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The dosages of many anti-anxiety medications may have to be adjusted for patients with kidney or liver conditions because these conditions can impair the body’s ability to process (metabolize) and excrete the drug. This raises the risk of a toxic overdose of the medication.

Patients with some forms of glaucoma (disease that damages the optic nerve) should not use benzodiazepines and should use antihistamines with caution because they may increase pressure in the eye. Beta blockers may be affected by many conditions, including emphysema (abnormal increase in the size of the air spaces of the lungs) and diabetes (disorder in the body’s ability to break down blood sugar). Patients should discuss all their medical conditions with their physician before receiving prescribed medications.