Medication for Panic Attacks
Panic attacks can be a debilitating affliction that causes the individual that is suffering from it great stress and discomfort. They are seen in someone with a panic disorder but luckily can be treated through the use of therapy and medication. Therapy focuses on changing certain thinking and behavior patterns. Typically when these two therapies are combined, relapses of panic attacks occur far less frequently than when only one treatment is used. Panic attack medication for can aid the rehabilitation efforts.
Several different types of medications can be used to treat panic attacks or to control the symptoms of panic attacks. Medications can also reduce the number and severity of panic attacks plus, reduce the anxiety of having another attack.
There are several effective medications that will treat panic attacks like Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). SSRI are antidepressants and commonly prescribed drugs to treat depression.
These types of medications affect chemicals known as neurotransmitters that nerves in the brain use to send messages to one another. Neurotransmitters, are released by one nerve and taken up by other nerves.
The same nerves that released them will “reuptake” the neurotransmitters that are not taken up by other nerves. SSRI’s inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, an action which allows more serotonin to be available to be taken up by other nerves.
Before SSRIs were available, medications from the group known as the tricyclic anti-depressants (TCAs) such as Tofranil, Norpramin, or Anafranil were often used to treat panic disorder. Although TCAs can equally as effective in treating panic attacks as SSRIs, SSRI’s have been proven to be safer and better tolerated in individuals. TCAs have been used less often as a result.
Although, when used in the right individual with close monitoring, these medications can be an effective treatment for panic disorders. But like most medications, there is the risk of side effects which can vary from minor to life-threatening in some cases. So, it is important to work closely with the prescribing doctor to decide whether treatment with medications is an appropriate intervention and if so, which medication should be administered.
Pregnant women should not be treated with these kinds of medications due to the possible risks to the fetus.
Several medications from the benzodiazepine families are also approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat panic attacks or panic disorders. These medications include Xanax, Valium, Ativan, or Klonopin. These medications are effective in reducing anxiety and nervous tension. They are sometimes prescribed to be taken as needed for immediate relief to symptoms unlike SSRI’s which have to be taken every day.
Panic disorder symptoms should start to improve within a few weeks after beginning medications. If there is not improvement within 6 to 8 weeks, a higher dose or another medicine may be prescribed by the doctor. Most medications that are used to treat panic attacks need to be continued for a year or longer. After this time period they might be decreased gradually over a period of several weeks.
Sometimes after the medications have been decreased, the individual might experience panic attacks again. In that case the medication might have to be continued for at least a few more months. Some individuals might need to stay on medications for a long time to keep symptoms under control.
People subject to panic attacks can have problems keeping their jobs or otherwise living in a self-supporting, normal way. To help bring someone’s life back into control, a doctor may prescribe medication among other possible methods (like behavior therapies and exercise).
Tranquilizers, or medications used for panic attacks and anxiety disorders, typically calm the central nervous system. But they can also cause patients to become drowsy, uncoordinated, or otherwise impair thinking ability. Dosage is important. So is watching for cumulative effects on the body over time. Limiting use to several months is preferable.
One class of tranquilizing drugs is benzodiazepines. Examples include Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan. These are relatively fast acting (a plus for panic attack victims), but tend to have a number of side effects, such as drug dependence.
Antidepressant drugs are also used for anxiety disorders. These include certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), tricyclic antidepressants (TCA’s), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s). These carry somewhat less risk of addiction than benzodiazepines, but may take weeks when taken daily to feel the full effects.
MAOI’s are potentially highly dangerous, and would normally be prescribed only as a last effort after other drugs have failed.
As to SSRI’s, proper serotonin levels in the brain help moderate mood. People with depressive mood tendencies typically have below normal levels. SSRI’s appear to elevate or maintain serotonin levels in the brain. Side effects can include drowsiness, weight gain, headaches, nausea, and sexual dysfunction.
TCA’s are an older “breed” of drugs, and tend to have more side effects than the more chemically targeted SSRI’s.
Beta blockers are another type of drug used against anxiety despite the fact that their primary use lies elsewhere, such as for certain heart conditions or glaucoma. Beta blockers block the effects of epinephrine (adrenalin), which is a hormone involved in “fight-or-flight” response.
If one anticipates being in a particular anxiety-producing setting (such as giving a speech), taking a beta blocker beforehand can help reduce feeling nervous.
To keep panic attacks under control, medication may need to be taken long term. Reduction in dosage or cessation of use may be accompanied by withdrawal symptoms and the return of panic attacks. Patients may need to consult a supervising doctor or psychiatrist often when altering dosage or switching medications or even when symptoms change on the same dosage.
And before beginning a medication regimen for panic attacks, patients would be advised to ask how long treatment is likely to last, what the side effects of a prescribed medication are likely to be, whether there are any foods or other drugs to avoid while on the medication, and whether non-drug treatments are preferable as an alternate or (possibly natural) supplement to medication.
A pregnant woman needs to consider carefully any possible side effects of medication for her baby. People in poor health over the age of sixty-five may have heightened side effects to smaller dosages.
P.S. There are warnings that anti-anxiety drugs may be addictive and antidepressants may be no better than a placebo.
And be sure to sign up for your FREE REPORT and
mini-course on how to recognize, get a grip on, 
and gain victory over your anxiety and panic attacks.
Just enter your first name and e-mail address in the form below, and we’ll email you your report right now.
