Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

There are various methods and techniques that are used in the medical profession when treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder that work just as well as each other. Usually effective treatments will be reached by combining psychopharmacologic treatments with psychological treatments to get the best results. The prescription medicines used by doctors can be a great short-term remedy for bodily reactions to anxiety, such as calming panic attacks and helping with sleeping, but these should only be used for up to 4 months, doctors and clinicians must keep an eye out for signs of the patient becoming addicted to the prescription drugs.

If a doctor believes that the anxiety is interfering with the patient's daily life they may prescribe medicines. More often than not the choice of prescribed drug from the doctors will be Benzodiazepines, more specifically Lorazepam and Diazepam. They can also be labelled as tranquillisers as they are designed to calm and relax you. Always be aware of the side effects of these medicines and ask your doctor for a rundown of those most commonly occurring among their patients who are taking the same drugs, it is important to know the sedative properties and whether they could impair your judgement and performance in any way. It is known for Lorazepam to bring into being fairly long sedating effects in comparison to Diazepam.

If you are instructed to take a long course of Benzodiazepines by your doctor you should inquire about Tricyclic anti-depressants as they are also reported be very effective for the medical treatment for anxiety. Note that you should only take a course of medicine to treat a specific symptom of your anxiety, if you notice you no longer have these symptoms you must tell your doctor so they can alter or remove the course of drugs you have been taking.

A doctor may also prescribe a course of anti-depressants for the treatment of GAD. Commonly used are Prozac, Lexapro, Tofranil and Paxil. Using these drugs the relief may not be noticed for up to six weeks from the start of the course.

Mainly known as Buspar, the anti-anxiety drug Buspirone is considered as one of the safest drugs to use for treating anxiety. Dissimilar to Benzodiazepines the effects of Buspirone are not addictive or sedative. It can take two weeks before the changes can be noticed and the anxiety may not be completely eliminated although taking the drugs will take the edge off the anxiety.