Can Urgent Care Prescribe Anxiety Medication?

Yes, urgent care centers can prescribe anxiety medication, but their approach is typically limited to short-term solutions. Most urgent care providers will prescribe fast-acting medications like benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan) for acute anxiety episodes, usually providing 3-7 days worth of medication. However, they rarely initiate long-term treatments like SSRIs or SNRIs, which require ongoing monitoring and follow-up care. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, about 60% of urgent care visits for anxiety result in some form of prescription. For comprehensive anxiety treatment, urgent care providers will typically refer you to your primary care physician or a mental health specialist who can develop a sustainable treatment plan.