Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a long-term condition, but a number of different treatments can help. If you have other problems alongside GAD, such as depression or alcohol misuse, these may need to be treated before you have treatment specifically for GAD.

Psychological therapies for GAD If you have been diagnosed with GAD, you'll usually be advised to try psychological treatment before you're prescribed medication. You can get psychological therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and applied relaxation on the NHS. You can refer yourself directly to an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT) without a referral from a GP. Find an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT) Or your GP can refer you if you prefer. Guided self-help Your GP or psychological therapies service may suggest trying a guided self-help course to see if it can help you learn to cope with your anxiety. This involves working through a CBT-based workbook or computer course in your own time with the support of a therapist. Or you may be offered a group course where you and other people with similar problems meet with a therapist every week to learn ways to tackle your anxiety. If these initial treatments don't help, you'll usually be offered either a more intensive psychological therapy or medication. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective treatments for GAD. Studies of different treatments for GAD have found the benefits of CBT may last longer than those of medication, but no single treatment works for everyone. CBT helps you to question your negative or anxious thoughts and do things you'd usually avoid because they make you anxious. It usually involves meeting with a specially trained and accredited therapist for a 1-hour session every week for 3 to 4 months. Applied relaxation Applied relaxation focuses on relaxing your muscles in a particular way during situations that usually cause anxiety. The technique needs to be taught by a trained therapist, but generally involves: learning how to relax your muscles

learning how to relax your muscles quickly and in response to a trigger, such as the word "relax"

practising relaxing your muscles in situations that make you anxious As with CBT, applied relaxation therapy will usually mean meeting with a therapist for a 1-hour session every week for 3 to 4 months.

Medication If the psychological treatments above haven't helped or you'd prefer not to try them, you'll usually be offered medication. Your GP can prescribe a variety of different types of medication to treat GAD. Some medication is designed to be taken on a short-term basis, while other medicines are prescribed for longer periods. Depending on your symptoms, you may need medicine to treat your physical symptoms, as well as your psychological ones. If you're considering taking medication for GAD, your GP should discuss the different options with you in detail before you start a course of treatment, including: the different types of medication

length of treatment

side effects and possible interactions with other medicines You should also have regular appointments with your doctor to assess your progress when you're taking medication for GAD. These will usually take place every 2 to 4 weeks for the first 3 months, then every 3 months after that. Tell your GP if you think you may be experiencing side effects from your medication. They may be able to adjust your dose or prescribe an alternative medication. The main medications you may be offered to treat GAD are described below. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) In most cases, the first medication you'll be offered will be a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This type of medication works by increasing the level of a chemical called serotonin in your brain. Examples of SSRIs you may be prescribed include: sertraline

escitalopram

paroxetine SSRIs can be taken on a long-term basis but, as with all antidepressants, they can take several weeks to start working. You'll usually be started on a low dose, which is gradually increased as your body adjusts to the medicine. Common side effects of SSRIs include: feeling agitated

feeling or being sick

indigestion

diarrhoea or constipation

loss of appetite and weight loss

dizziness

blurred vision

dry mouth

excessive sweating

headaches

problems sleeping (insomnia) or drowsiness

low sex drive

difficulty achieving orgasm during sex or masturbation

in men, difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction) These side effects should improve over time, although some – such as sexual problems – can persist. If your medication isn't helping after about 2 months of treatment or it's causing unpleasant side effects, your GP may prescribe an alternative SSRI. When you and your GP decide it's appropriate for you to stop taking your medication, you'll normally have your dose slowly reduced over the course of a few weeks to reduce the risk of withdrawal effects. Never stop taking your medication unless your GP specifically advises you to. Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) If SSRIs don't help ease your anxiety, you may be prescribed a different type of antidepressant known as a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). This type of medicine increases the amount of serotonin and noradrenaline in your brain. Examples of SNRIs you may be prescribed include: venlafaxine

duloxetine Common side effects of SNRIs include: feeling sick

headaches

drowsiness

dizziness

dry mouth

constipation

insomnia

sweating SNRIs can also increase your blood pressure, so your blood pressure will be monitored regularly during treatment. As with SSRIs, some of the side effects (such as feeling sick, an upset stomach, problems sleeping and feeling agitated or more anxious) are more common in the first 1 or 2 weeks of treatment, but these usually settle as your body adjusts to the medication. Pregabalin If SSRIs and SNRIs aren't suitable for you, you may be offered pregabalin. This is a medication known as an anticonvulsant, which is used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, but it's also been found to be beneficial in treating anxiety. Side effects of pregabalin can include: drowsiness

dizziness

increased appetite and weight gain

blurred vision

headaches

dry mouth

vertigo Pregabalin is less likely to cause nausea or a low sex drive than SSRIs or SNRIs. Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative that may sometimes be used as a short-term treatment during a particularly severe period of anxiety. This is because they help ease the symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes of taking the medication. If you're prescribed a benzodiazepine, it'll usually be diazepam. Although benzodiazepines are very effective in treating the symptoms of anxiety, they can't be used for long periods. This is because they can become addictive if used for longer than 4 weeks. Benzodiazepines also start to lose their effectiveness after this time. For these reasons, you won't usually be prescribed benzodiazepines for any longer than 2 to 4 weeks at a time. Side effects of benzodiazepines can include: drowsiness

difficulty concentrating

headaches

vertigo

an uncontrollable shake or tremble in part of the body (tremor)

low sex drive As drowsiness is a particularly common side effect of benzodiazepines, your ability to drive or operate machinery may be affected by taking this medication. You should avoid these activities during treatment. You should also never drink alcohol or use opiate drugs when taking benzodiazepine as doing so can be dangerous.