Panic Attacks: About Medications
If you suffer from panic and anxiety, there are several approaches that you can use to bring your symptoms of panic attacks under control. Medication is readily available that will go to work on the chemical causes of symptoms of panic attacks.
To free oneself from anxiety and stress related to panic attacks there are several kinds of panic attack medication that can effectively be used. Make sure to discuss what is going on with your doctor so that it can be determined what type of medication will be best for you.
Click here to read more about panic attack medications
As far as medication for panic attacks is concerned, the beta blocker is in category one. This type of medication used primarily to work on the physical symptoms associated with anxiety; this will include shaking,
blushing, trembling, and heart palpitations. Physical symptoms of social anxiety are kept under control by the use of the beta blockers. Propranolol (Inderal) and Atenolol (Tenormin) are the most widely used medications called beta blockers. Although fewer side effects are usually caused by taking beta blockers than with other types of medicine, you should watch out for several potential side effects – included are drowsiness, nightmares, light-headiness, and short term memory difficulties. Beta blockers only provide a temporary solution for panic attacks. The underlying issues that cause the outbreaks must be addressed as well.
The tricyclic antidepressant is the second category of panic attack medication. If you are dealing with both anxiety and depression, this type of medication works best. This category of medication is also good for treating obsessive-compulsive disorders. Imipramine (Tofranil), Desipramine (Norpramin), and Nortriptyline (Aventyl) fall under the tricyclic antidepressant category. There are side effects that can result from using these antidepressants including weight gain, erectile dysfunction, loss of sex drive, and irritability. Therefore they should not be taken for long term treatment of panic attacks, nor should beta blockers.
Click here to read a review of a technique to address panic attacks without the use of medication
The third type of panic attack medications are the Benzodiazepine family. Seventy to eighty percent of people who have panic attacks have achieved relief in reducing panic attacks. In some situations, however, this category of drugs can worsen anxiety. Irritability, drowsiness, slurred speech, and clumsiness can be the after effects of using Benzodiazepines. Medications in this category include Alprazolam (Xanax), Diazepam (Valium), Clonazepam (Klonopin), and Lorazepam (Ativan). Because of the potential for severe side effects, it is generally recommended to try other kinds of panic attack medication before going to the Benzodiazepines.
The Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) is the fourth type of medication for treating anxiety. These medications have been found to be effective in treating panic attacks and have historically been used to treat severe depression. Phenelzine (Nardil) and Tranylcypromine (Parnate) are the most commonly prescribed medications that fall into this category. If you are taking an MAOI as a panic attack medication, you should be on guard for side effects such as increased appetite, sexual dysfunction, low blood pressure, weight gain, and insomnia.
The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) is the last type of medication mentioned in this report. Like MAOIs, SSRIs have for the most part been used to treat depression, but have also proven effective for anxiety as well. Regulating the levels of serotonin in the brain what occurs from using these drugs. This is due to the fact that serotonin levels are strongly linked to both depression and anxiety. SSRIs can treat the symptoms of anxiety ,but they are not meant to provide a cure, and are are not intended to be used over the long term. Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), and Fluvoxamine (Luvox) are well known in this category of medications. There are side effects from using SSRIs which can include nausea, irritability, headaches, and insomnia.
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Tagged with: anxiety medication • panic attack medication • panic attack relief • panic attacks
Filed under: Panic attacks and anxiety general
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