Panic Attack Medications – Proceed With Caution
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. Medication 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.
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