What Medications can Relieve Panic Attacks?A person who endures any type of panic attack may find them to be excruciating and can cause them extreme stress and distress. These problems are associated with those who have a panic disorder; however these can be treated if you seek a doctor's help and are put on the proper panic attack medication and undergo treatment. Medications may help a sufferer but you want to also add therapy to the mix for added support. If you can change the way a person thinks and behaves, then you will have an easier time and less reccurrences. Combined therapy is the best way to ensure that you won't have relapses; if you do they would be less frequent. There are many different ways that you can begin treatment for your panic attacks. First, you will want to go through all of your options with your doctor and be put on proper panic attack medication for your symptoms. Drugs such asProzac, ZoloftorPaxilthat are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) can reduce the amount of panic attacks that you have. These types of medications adjust the chemicals in the brain that allow the nerves to communicate with each other. Medications such as these need to be supervised since they are known to cause anywhere from a minor problems to possibly life threatening ones. These are not always 100% effective on their own; it may take other forms of therapy combined with the medication in order to see results. Women who become pregnant should seek out other treatments; these medications can have dire consequences for the unborn fetus. There is also a benzodiazepine family of drugs, approved by the health and drug administration that have been used to treat panic attacks and disorders. Some of the drugs areXanax, Valium, Ativan or Klonopin. Medications such as these are wonderful for the reduction of anxiety or nervous tension. These are usually used for immediate release. Sometimes panic attacks can come on suddenly even if you are on some sort of maintenance medication. The doctor may prescribe one of these to use only in an emergency situation. Getting somewhat in control over your panic attacks can be challenging. Once you begin a medication for your panic attacks it usually will take 6 to 8 weeks to feel its full affect. If you are still having problems, your doctor can make some adjustments in your dosage or meds to make them more appropriate for you. After you are on panic attack medication for a period of time, usually about a year, the doctor may want to start weaning you off it. If there are any signs that your panic attacks are still there, he may decide to keep you on them for a few more months before trying again to wean you. If that is still not possible you may fall into the few that need to always be on them to keep your symptoms at bay. |