Treating generalized anxiety disorder with second generation antipsychotics: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Summary: For people suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), finding relief can be frustratingly difficult. When standard treatments don't work, doctors sometimes turn to Second-Generation Antipsychotics (SGAs), either by adding them to existing medication or using them alone. A comprehensive review of studies involving over 2,000 patients reveals a mixed bag. Adding these drugs to a current treatment plan generally didn't help patients feel better and often led to them quitting the treatment. However, using the drug Quetiapine on its own did improve anxiety symptoms and help patients reach remission, though it came with the cost of weight gain and other side effects. In short: adding these drugs rarely helps, but switching to Quetiapine might work if you can tolerate the side effects.