Treatments and Drugs for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Today let us look at the treatments and drugs used for this disorder.

The two main treatments for generalized anxiety disorder are medications and psychotherapy, either alone or in combination. It may take some trial and error to discover which treatment works best for you and which you are most comfortable with. Your health insurance coverage also may be a factor.

Medications
Several different types of medications are used to relieve generalized anxiety disorder symptoms:

Anti-anxiety medications. Benzodiazepines are sedatives that have the advantage of easing anxiety within 30 to 90 minutes. On the downside, they can be habit-forming if you take them for more than a few weeks. For this reason, your doctor may prescribe them for only a short time to help you get through a particularly rough period. The most commonly prescribed sedatives include alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). These medications may cause unsteadiness, drowsiness, reduced muscle coordination and problems with balance. Higher doses and long-term use can cause memory problems. Don't drive or use heavy machinery while taking these drugs.

A different type of anti-anxiety medication often prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder is buspirone (BuSpar). While this medication typically takes several weeks to improve symptoms, it doesn't pose a risk of dependence. A common side effect of buspirone is a brief feeling of lightheadedness shortly after taking it. Less common side effects include headaches, nausea, nervousness and insomnia.

Antidepressants. These medications influence the activity of certain neurotransmitters that are thought to play a role in anxiety disorders. Examples of antidepressants used to treat generalized anxiety disorder include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), imipramine (Tofranil), venlafaxine (Effexor), escitalopram (Lexapro) and duloxetine (Cymbalta).

Whether you try anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants or both, you may need to try several to find which works best for you with the fewest side effects. Also keep in mind that some medications don't work immediately, particularly antidepressants. It may take several weeks before you notice the full effects of anxiety relief. Psychotherapy or healthy coping skills can help you weather this challenging waiting period.

Psychotherapy
Also known as talk therapy or counseling, psychotherapy involves receiving help from a mental health provider through a combination of talking and listening.

Evidence shows that cognitive behavior therapy in particular can help improve symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. Cognitive behavior therapy helps you identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones. It's based on the idea that your own thoughts — not other people or situations — determine how you behave. Even if an unwanted situation doesn't change, you can change the way you think and behave in a positive way. Generally a short-term treatment, cognitive behavior therapy emphasizes learning to develop a sense of mastery and control over your thoughts and feelings.

Treatment for generalized anxiety disorder or any mental illness is tailored to each person. No single treatment regimen works for everyone. Most treatment occurs on an outpatient basis, but some people may need care in a hospital setting. Reference Mayo Staff.

I wish you peace.

Kitt