Although a certain amount of anxiety is normal at times, for some people it can be debilitating and constant. Generalized anxiety disorder is a psychiatric condition in which patients have constant worry or anxiety over a variety of different activities and events. In these cases, patients can be treated using certain medications. You may recognize many of these generic drugs by their brand names, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), escitalopram (Lexapro), citalopram (Celexa) and sertraline (Zoloft).
Antidepressants
The chemistry behind depression and anxiety is thought to be similar. As a result, many antidepressants can also be used for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, the first-line choices are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and include paroxetine, fluoxetine, imipramine, escitalopram, citalopram, venlafaxine, duloxetine and sertaline. This medications work by increasing the brain levels of a chemical called serotonin, which is thought to be important for regulating mood. These medications may need to be taken for several weeks before they take effect and can cause nausea, diarrhea, increased sweating and a loss of sex drive as side effects.
Buspirone
According to Drugs.com, another medication that is commonly used to control anxiety is buspirone. This medication also works to change the brain's chemistry and can be used for long-term anxiety prevention and amelioration. Buspirone also may need to be taken for many weeks in order to be effective, and can cause lightheadedness, nausea, dizziness and nervousness for some patients. It can also affect patients balance and coordination, as well as speed up their heart-rate and make it irregular.
Short-Term Treatments
In some cases, long-term therapy (antidepressants or buspirone) is not sufficient to effectively treat anxiety, particularly if the anxiety is episodic (sudden but temporary anxiety attacks). In these cases other medications, such as benzodiazepines (which include the medications lorazepam, diazepam and clonazepam), chlordiazepoxide and alprazola can be used to treat acute anxiety, but they should be used with care as they can be habit-forming. They can also cause drowsiness and impair balance, muscle coordination and memory.
