Which medication does the nurse expect the primary health care provider to prescribe for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder?

How is GAD diagnosed?

Generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosed by a mental health clinician who can help determine whether the symptoms your child is experiencing is related to an anxiety disorder or another medical condition. The mental health clinician [such as a child and adolescent psychiatrist, child psychologist, psychiatric social worker, or psychiatric nurse practitioner] will make the diagnosis following a comprehensive assessment, which includes a diagnostic with you and your child. During the assessment, parents are asked to talk about their child’s anxiety symptoms and related behavior. You will also be asked to give an overview of your child’s family history, medical history, social history, and social interactions. Sometimes parent or child questionnaires are used to help clarify the diagnosis.

If my child is diagnosed with GAD, what happens next?

After the comprehensive assessment, a mental health clinician will help explain your child’s condition and answer any questions you or your child may have. The next step is developing a mutually agreed-upon treatment plan that works for you, your child, and your family.

How we treat generalized anxiety disorder

If you suspect your child may have GAD, it is essential to speak with a qualified mental health professional as soon as possible. Children with GAD respond well to treatment that is administered by trained mental health clinicians. By closely working with the treatment team, you can help your child go on to enjoy an active and fulfilling life.

Evidence-based treatments for GAD in children and adolescents includes cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, or a combination of medication and therapy. Here at Boston Children’s Hospital, medication is used in conjunction with therapy for treatment of GAD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI] antidepressants are currently first-line medications in the pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders in children. These antidepressants are powerful anxiolytics with a broader spectrum that may improve comorbid affective disorders and symptoms of anxiety.

What is the long-term outlook for a child with GAD?

If left untreated, studies show that GAD is often a chronic illness with symptoms that tend to wax and wane across the lifespan. Earlier age of onset is also associated with greater risk for development of other anxiety and depressive disorders later in life.

Whether it shows in consistent panic attacks or the occasional flare-up, anxiety can be a beast for anyone it afflicts. Fortunately there are lots of ways to treat anxiety, including talk therapy. It’s also helpful to know who can prescribe anxiety medication.

Read on to find out — and learn more about what type of treatment for anxiety might be right for you.

Getting an Anxiety Medication Prescription

It’s never easy to open yourself up to getting the mental health help you need and deserve.

Unfortunately, there exists a bonafide stigma, especially toward men, when it comes to seeking out mental healthcare.

Making matters more challenging, anxiety — or simply anxiety symptoms — can come in many forms, including generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social phobia and bipolar disorder.

Once you decide to start the process of acquiring prescription care for these mental health conditions, it’s important to know what resources are available to you.

Here’s a rundown of healthcare professionals who can prescribe you anxiety medication.

Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is someone with a medical degree who practices the treatment of all types of mental health illnesses, challenges and disorders.

The overarching difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist is a psychiatrist can prescribe medication.

Psychiatrists don’t necessarily see their job as a means by which they can completely cure their patients’ mental health challenges. Instead, psychiatrists look at their work through a palliative lens.

They have a medical school degree and are able to prescribe well-researched medications to help patients manage anxiety and depression.

A psychiatrist can also help you determine which medication might be right not just for your anxiety disorder but for you. And if you experience a problem or any side effects, they’ll be able to adjust your dose or change your anxiety medication.

General Practitioner

There’s good news: Your everyday family doctor, otherwise known as a general practitioner [GP] has the authority to prescribe anxiety medication.

While both men and women consult psychiatrists instead of physicians for mental health challenges, physicians are still an excellent, acceptable resource to begin tackling anxiety.

So, if need be, you can always call up your doctor to discuss your mental health concerns.

In fact, millions of Americans choose to visit their general practitioner instead of a psychiatrist when it comes to finding a prescription medication for their mental health challenges.

After a thorough conversation, your healthcare provider can then offer a prescription remedy to the anxiety you’ve been experiencing.

Nurse Practitioner

A nurse practitioner [NP] is someone with a graduate degree in the advanced practice of nursing. There are two common acronyms associated with a nurse practitioner: ARNP [Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner] and APRN [Advanced Practice Registered Nurse].

The ability of a nurse practitioner to prescribe medications depends on the state in which you are receiving care.

Some states offer nurse practitioners ‘full practice authority,’ which gives them the ability to prescribe medication — in this case, anxiety medication.

In other cases, however, states only allow a ‘reduced’ or ‘restricted’ practice, which regulates the scope of a nurse practitioner’s tools with which to assist a patient.

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What Type of Medication Is Prescribed for Anxiety?

Let’s say you’re comfortable with the idea of taking medication for your anxiety. You’ve consulted with mental health professionals, and a prescription for anti-anxiety medication seems right.

Here are some of the medications you can expect your therapist, doctor or nurse practitioner to recommend:

Buspirone: Buspirone may be used to treat generalized anxiety disorder. After staring this medication, it usually takes a few weeks to start feeling better. It can be a better option for individuals with chronic anxiety, as it is less addicting than benzodiazepines.
Beta Blockers: Beta Blockers can help control some of the physical symptoms of anxiety, including trembling, sweaty hands, rapid heart rate and dizziness.

Those with social anxiety disorders may take beta blockers to help control the anxiety stemming from being in a crowd.

Benzodiazepines: Benzodiazepines are used for short-term treatment of anxiety disorders. They typically take effect within 30 to 60 minutes of administration, and have been a reliable source of anxiety medication for quite some time.

Common benzodiazepines include alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam and lorazepam.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor [SSRIs]: Commonly used anti-anxiety medication, SSRIs increase the amount of serotonin in your brain. SSRIs have been thoroughly studied and researched, and they’ve been proven to deliver improvements for those who take them.
Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor [SNRIs]: SNRIs have been known to treat generalized anxiety disorder [GAD] as well as depression. Their effectiveness parallels that of SSRIs. SNRIs work by affecting the brain’s neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers.

What Are Some Symptoms of Anxiety?

Racing thoughts, sweaty palms and an elevated heartbeat. These symptoms might be normal before a first date or giant presentation, but if you regularly feel these symptoms, you may be experiencing anxiety.

The following are common anxiety symptoms:

Sweating
Restlessness
Racing thoughts
Irritability
Physical tension, specifically in your muscles
Difficulty sleeping, whether it’s staying asleep or falling asleep
Fatigue

The above mentioned symptoms all fall under the umbrella of generalized anxiety disorder.

These symptoms are the most common manifestations of anxiety, and if they show up in your life, their acuity and frequency should be carefully monitored.

What Kinds of Anxiety Are There?

Anxiety is a broad term, and understanding what types exist might dictate the type of medication you might be prescribed.

Here are some types of anxiety you could experience:

Separation Anxiety Disorder: Typically afflicting someone older than would be considered normal to fear separation from another, separation anxiety disorder manifests in one’s fear of bodily harm, death or generalized panic when separated from another.
Social Anxiety Disorder: This type of anxiety manifests in one’s fear of judgment, embarrassment or scrutiny in social situations.
Panic Disorder: This type of anxiety typically shows up as panic attacks. These can come on without notice or provocation, and the experience of these panic attacks can be both crippling and befuddling. The feelings associated with a panic disorder can be an overwhelming sense of doom, and there can be physical anxiety symptoms of sweating, racing heart and dizziness, too.
Selective Mutism: Often associated with kids under the age of five, selective mutism often manifests in one’s inability to talk in social scenarios. It can be associated with fear of embarrassment, extreme shyness and temper tantrums.
Assorted Phobias: Assorted phobias are other fears, like that of flying, emotional humiliation, bodily harm, creatures [bugs or dogs, for example] can trigger anxiety.

Can Therapy Work with Anxiety Prescriptions?

There is an unlimited array of tools to assist you in combating anxiety. In fact, if you forgo prescription medication, there are still plenty of resources available to combat your anxiety.

You can try online therapy with licensed psychologists who can assist you in helping you help yourself.

Group therapy has also been shown to help manage anxiety. Hims offers online support group therapy you can try.

Support groups give communal acknowledgment to help you begin your journey in healing from your anxiety challenges.

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talk to a psychiatry provider. it’s never been easier

Anxiety Prescriptions and You

Regardless of the severity or kind of anxiety you experience, there’s always a way to take care of the anxiety itself.

It’s importantto understand that if you have anxiety, there’s nothing wrong with you.

The best thing to do is to seek out the advice, care and counsel you deserve.

With all the research and tools available to you today it’s possible to treat anxiety with prescription anxiety medications and/or therapy, and heal for good.

11 Sources

Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references.

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MedLine Plus. [2021, November 23]. Nurse Practitioner [NP]. MedLine Plus.gov. //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001934.htm. Available from: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001934.htm.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.

Which medication would the nurse identify as used to treat generalized anxiety disorder?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI] and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor [SNRI] classes are the first-line agents with a response rate of 30% to 50%. This class of drugs includes escitalopram [Lexapro], duloxetine [Cymbalta], venlafaxine [Effexor XR] and paroxetine [Paxil, Pexeva].

Which action would the nurse take first for a client with a generalized anxiety disorder?

The nurse must first assess the person's anxiety level because this determines what interventions are likely to be effective. Treatment of anxiety disorders usually involves medication and therapy. A combination of both produces better results than either one alone.

Are there any new medications for anxiety?

MM-120. The FDA has approved a phase 2b study of an optimized form of LSD for the treatment of anxiety. The drug, called MM-120, is being developed by MindMed and is intended to treat generalized anxiety disorders and other mental conditions. MindMed is expected to begin clinical trials in 2022.

How is generalized anxiety disorder diagnosed?

Healthcare providers diagnose GAD when your worrying happens on most days and for at least 6 months. Worrying may be something you are so used to, you may think it's just "how you are." Common worries include your health, money, family, or work.