The content in this resource is provided for general information only. It should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. You must therefore obtain the relevant professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action based on the information in this resource.
The NICE guidelines recommend CBT as the first line treatment. They suggest you should only choose to proceed with medication following discussion with your healthcare provider. If you do receive medication you should be offered a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (‘SSRI’ for short): either escitalopram or sertraline. SSRIs are antidepressants, but they can also be helpful for anxiety – being offered an antidepressant does not necessarily mean that you have depression.
Please read the full medication section within NICE guidance of NICE-Social-Anxiety-Guidelines-for-the-General-Public