The present invention is focused primarily toward pro re nata (“as needed”) treatments for a psychiatric condition or disorder or the symptoms thereof, including the symptoms of acute anxiety and panic in living animals, including humans. The present invention encompasses pharmaceutical compositions as combination therapies containing at least one beta adrenergic receptor antagonist and at least one muscarinic receptor antagonist. The invention provides methods for treating psychiatric condition or disorder or the symptoms thereof, including acute anxiety and panic comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition consisting essentially of a beta adrenergic receptor antagonist drug and an antiemetic muscarinic receptor antagonist drug in a therapeutically effective amount to stop or reduce the symptoms of anxiety and/or panic. The pharmaceutical compositions are administered as treatments immediately in advance of, at the onset of, or during an acute anxiety and/or panic episode.