How to Treat General Anxiety Disorder With SSRIs
The primary form of medication used to treat general anxiety disorder, especially in cases where the disorder has persisted for an extended period, is antidepressants. Although tricyclic antidepressants are sometimes used, it is far more common for psychiatrists to prescribe a medication such as ****, Prozac or Zoloft from the other major class of antidepressants, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.
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Things You'll Need
- Diagnosis of general anxiety disorder
- Prescription for an SSRI from a psychiatrist or physician
Instructions
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Prepare to Treat General Anxiety Disorder With SSRIs
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Review your treatment options with your psychiatrist or physician after you are diagnosed with general anxiety disorder.
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Discuss the possibility of combining medication with psychotherapy, lifestyle changes or other therapeutic activities such as participation in a self-help group or, if applicable to your situation, a 12-step program.
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Ask your psychiatrist or doctor for an opinion regarding the length of time you are likely to require medication and any benchmarks that might help both you and your doctor determine if the medication is working, if it is creating other problems or if it is no longer needed.
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Listen carefully to your doctor's discussion of possible side effects from SSRIs to ensure that the medication will not lead to other debilitating problems in your life.
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Check to see if there are any activities or other substances that you should avoid while taking SSRIs.
Treat General Anxiety Disorder With SSRIs
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Pay close attention to the details of your prescription for SSRIs and follow instructions regarding the time of day to take the medication, the exact dosage, whether to take the medication on a full or empty stomach and counter-indications such as alcohol use, etc.
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Keep a daily record of your symptoms, mood and any effects beginning about 2 weeks after you begin the medication. Changes that you notice sooner than this, while the medication is still building its level in your bloodstream, may be similar to a placebo effect.
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Discuss with your doctor whether one of the other SSRIs might be better suited to you, if you are experiencing any unpleasant side effects after a few months of usage. There are differences in side effects between the three most commonly prescribed SSRIs: ****, Zoloft and Prozac.
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Report any problems with your medication immediately to your prescribing physician and do not unilaterally alter your dosage or otherwise self-medicate.
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Tips & Warnings
The effectiveness of SSRIs depends on the medication attaining a certain level in the patient's bloodstream. Since this usually takes several weeks to occur, a short-term prescription for a benzodiazepine is often used to alleviate symptoms more quickly.
If you are prescribed a benzodiazepine to help with your symptoms while waiting for an SSRI to begin having an effect, you should expect to discontinue the benzodiazepine medication shortly, usually within a few weeks. Benzodiazepines can be addictive and can require greater and greater dosages if used over an extended period, which is why SSRIs are prescribed for long-term treatment.
