Short-term pharmacotherapy for generalised anxiety disorder in adults and young people
Follow the approach to managing generalised anxiety disorder in adults and young people.
A short-term benzodiazepine may be needed adjunctively with an antidepressant for maintenance therapy because it can take several weeks before an effect is seen with an antidepressant. Short-term adjunctive benzodiazepine use can be considered for anxiety that is severe and disabling, or causing the patient unacceptable distress. However, benzodiazepine use is associated with increased risk of falls, memory problems, motor vehicle accidents, daytime sedation and dependence. These risks are of particular concern in older people, in whom harms of benzodiazepine use may outweigh benefits (see Principles of benzodiazepine use in anxiety disorders).
If a short-term benzodiazepine is considered appropriate to treat generalised anxiety disorder in an adult or young person, use:
1 diazepam 2 to 5 mg orally, twice daily, as required, for up to 2 weeks. Reduce the dose and stop over 4 weeks (or reduce more quickly if tolerated) generalised anxiety disorder, short-term use diazepam diazepam diazepam
OR
1 lorazepam 0.5 to 1 mg orally, twice daily, as required, for up to 2 weeks. Reduce the dose and stop over 4 weeks (or reduce more quickly if tolerated)1. generalised anxiety disorder, short-term use lorazepam lorazepam lorazepam