Medications for Panic Attacks
There is no shortage of medications for panic attacks. The medications that treat the disorder zero in on the two prime stages of the panic attack. First is the anxiety, and second is the attack.
The first stage–the anxiety, or the anticipation that you might have an attack. This is referred to as “anticipatory anxiety” and this is a significant element in the buildup to a full-blown attack. The medications for the first stage take care of the physical symptoms and the negative thoughts that often trigger an attack.
The second stage–the attack and the symptoms associated with the panic attack. Some medications for this handle each of the two stages individually and others will effect both at the same time.
Relieve Panic Attacks Fast without Medication
The following types of drugs are common medications for panic attacks.
- Beta Blockers — These include Propranolol and Atenolol. Beta blockers are useful for treating the physical symptoms you may feel in your body such as an escalating heart beat, and trembling in your arms, legs, or other areas of your body.
- Tricyclic Antidepressants – These include Desipramine, Doxepin, and Clomipramine. These are commonly used as antidepressants for anxiety used to treat the anxiety that sometimes comes with depression. They can however, be used as medications for panic attacks.
- Benzodiazepines — These include Lorazepam, Diazepam, and Oxazepam. Benxodiazepines are used as long-term medicine for extreme cases and can be taken for several years. They have been known to be extremely effective in over 70% of patients with panic attacks. they don’t have as many side effects as other medications for panic attacks, but they seem to cause anxiety in a small portion of people that take them, so you should take them with close supervision.
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) — These include Phenelzine and Tranylcypromine. This family of anti-depressants can be used to help people that suffer from panic attacks. You might be prescribed MAOI’s instead of other medications for panic attacks if you have other psychological or medical issues that might interfere. MAOI’s can also treat depression and panic attacks together in one single medication.
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) — These include Fluoxetine and Paroxetine. SSRI’s were initially used for depression. You may know them by the name Prozac. SSRI’s can help the body maintain a proper level of seratonin in the brain, which means that SSRI’s can also help people manage panic and anxiety attacks.
It is very common to panic attacks to be treated with benzodiazepines in combination with SSRI’s in order to take care of multiple symptoms of anxiety and depression that are associated with panic attacks.
What you should recognize is that medications for panic attacks are not a solution to the problem. Medications only lessen the problems of panic and anxiety disorders so that you can begin to develop more positive thought patterns and cultivate a better mental state. You will not cure the problem with medications, you will only be turning down the volume, so to speak. The way to beat panic attacks is to use medications in combination with an effective therapy plan.
Relieve Panic Attacks Fast without Medication