| While occasional and mild panic attacks can often be | | | | disorder: |
| self treated with relaxation techniques and other | | | | SSRI Antidepressants. SSRIs, or Selective |
| alternative therapies, severe attacks, which may be a | | | | Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, are by far the most |
| sign of a larger anxiety disorder, often require medical | | | | commonly prescribed medication. Many doctors |
| attention. In these cases, conventional treatments, | | | | believe that panic and anxiety may be caused by a |
| including both prescribed medication and | | | | chemical imbalance in the brain, specifically involving the |
| psychotherapy, may be warranted. | | | | neurotransmitter serotonin. The medicines used to |
| Occasional panic attacks can be very unnerving and | | | | counteract this - including amongst others, Prozac, |
| bothersome, but when the symptoms of these | | | | Paxil, Zoloft and Effexor - can help restore that |
| episodes are so severe that they begin to interfere | | | | balance and bring long-term relief from panic and |
| with a person's ability to function and meet everyday | | | | anxiety related symptoms. |
| responsibilities, it may be time to consider medical | | | | Benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are fast-acting |
| attention. Conventional treatment for panic attacks | | | | medicines used primarily for the treatment of anxiety |
| usually involves a two-pronged approach: medication | | | | and panic disorder. The medication in this class of |
| to help ease and reduce the severity of the | | | | drugs - including such names as Valium, Xanax, Ativan |
| symptoms, and therapy to try and address the | | | | and Klonopin - can be especially helpful in reducing |
| underlying cause of the anxiety. | | | | panic attack symptoms as they are occurring. These |
| Prescription Drugs | | | | medicines should be used with extreme caution, |
| After a person experiences an initial attack, the fear of | | | | however, as they can be extremely addictive. |
| having another episode can become so profound that | | | | Psychotherapy |
| it interferes with his or her ability to function normally | | | | Usually, medication is not wholly sufficient to keep |
| and to meet everyday responsibilities. In this state of | | | | panic attacks from recurring, which is why it is often |
| constant anxiety, it becomes almost inevitable that a | | | | combined with therapy. Psychotherapy, often called |
| subsequent attack will occur. Medication can help to | | | | talk therapy, is a process in which the sufferer sits |
| lessen the effects of this anxiety and bring relief to the | | | | down with a licensed professional to help work through |
| panic attack sufferer. | | | | the underlying factors which may be causing the |
| The medication available for panic attacks has come a | | | | anxiety. Once a possible cause is identified, this |
| long way in recent years and when combined with | | | | therapy can help provide healthier solutions for dealing |
| behavioral therapy or psychotherapy, these drugs can | | | | with the stressor(s). |
| be a very effective component in an overall treatment | | | | When attacks are severe enough that they limit a |
| strategy. While this medication is not a cure, it can | | | | person's ability to function normally, it may be time to |
| significantly reduce the severity and frequency of the | | | | seek medical attention. Conventional treatment for |
| symptoms. | | | | panic attacks, including medication and psychotherapy, |
| The following is a brief description of the two most | | | | is the preferred treatment method of most doctors |
| commonly prescribed medicines for panic and anxiety | | | | and mental health professionals. |