Questions about meds

Hello
I've been trying to deal with my anxiety with CBT and will be working with a therapist soon.  I'm reluctant to go on meds but I'm curious to find out what happens once people take them.  Does the anxiety go away--like in the thoughts that trigger the anxiety--or does it just calm the body's reaction to them.  Also, what are the side effects of some of these meds and are they serious?
Thank you,
A

[JSGeare]

Anxiety meds, like most any medications, take care of immediate symptoms as opposed to underlying conditions. So, you may still "think" about stuff that gives you the willies, but you won't get the willies -not as much, anyway. Typically, the anxiety meds do something to "break the circuit" in your nervous system, so your own thinking and experience has more time and psychological room to do the mental healing and adjustment. Based on what you present, your doctor will recommend a drug that seems most likely to be effective in your case. To check on any med specifically, enter its name in the search box, or click the "Health Topics" link above and look it up alphabetically.

Med PLUS therapy are the best.