

An anti-anxiety medication called buspirone may be used on an ongoing basis. Your doctor also may recommend other antidepressants.

Examples of antidepressants used to treat generalized anxiety disorder include escitalopram (Lexapro), duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva).

Antidepressants, including medications in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) classes, are the first line medication treatments. Talk with your doctor about benefits, risks and possible side effects. Several types of medications are used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, including those below. Through this process, your symptoms improve as you build on your initial success. Generally a short-term treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on teaching you specific skills to directly manage your worries and help you gradually return to the activities you've avoided because of anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective form of psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder. PsychotherapyĪlso known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, psychotherapy involves working with a therapist to reduce your anxiety symptoms.
TAKE AS NEEDED ANXIETY MEDICATIONS TRIAL
It may take some trial and error to discover which treatments work best for you. You may benefit most from a combination of the two. The two main treatments for generalized anxiety disorder are psychotherapy and medications. Treatment decisions are based on how significantly generalized anxiety disorder is affecting your ability to function in your daily life.
