Do you know that 3% of the population in the United States is diagnosed with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)? It is a type of anxiety disorder, which commonly affects both men and women and interfere with their everyday lives. It is caused by persistent and excessive worry about everyday life situations or activities. Living with anxiety is not only difficult but also increases your chances of developing other related mental health conditions. However, the good news is that, like other anxiety disorders, GAD is highly treatable. Learn about the available medication options for anxiety in this article. Visit the best Mental Health Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.
Treatment
Usually, to treat GAD, doctors use medications, and/or psychotherapy, or a combination of both. Besides that, lifestyle changes also help to improve your physical and mental health which help with your other treatment.
Medication
Different medications are used to treat GAD which include:
- Antidepressants: Usually, these are first-line medications that are used to treat GAD. It includes – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) and Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) classes. These classes of medication are given to a person according to his/her symptoms. Here are a few examples of antidepressant medications – escitalopram, duloxetine, venlafaxine, paroxetine, etc.
- Buspirone: This is an anti-anxiety medication that you should take on an ongoing basis to reduce physical symptoms of anxiety. Similar to other antidepressants, it takes some weeks to show their full effectiveness.
- Benzodiazepines: In rare cases, your doctor may prescribe this medication to reduce your anxiety symptoms. These sedatives are only used on a short-term basis; due to their fast-acting time, people can develop an addiction to them. These medications are never a good choice if you have problems with alcohol or drug abuse.
- Atypical antipsychotic medications: These medicines are usually prescribed alone or in combination with another medication to boost their effects. The most common atypical antipsychotic medicine is pregabalin.
- Other medications: Medications like antihistamines hydroxyzine are used rarely because it has more sedating effects than benzodiazepines and buspirone. However, this may be a good option for people with GAD-related insomnia. Additionally, beta-blockers such as propranolol are mostly prescribed to treat anxiety disorders. However, both beta-blockers and antihistamines are only taken for anxiety if you need them before and after an essential event that may cause anxiety, like before giving a speech.
All these medications also cause certain side effects. That’s why you should discuss with a doctor about medications’ benefits and side effects before taking them.
Do you need help with taking care of a loved one’s mental health problems? Call us on +1-347-384-5690 to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors and psychiatrists to learn those methods, log on to www.doralhw.org. Doral Health and Wellness has the best Doctors and Psychiatrists who specialize in Behavioral Health, make accurate diagnoses, and craft tailored treatment programs. Visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.