Panic Attack Medication - The Best Possible Choices

Panic Attack Medication - The Best Possible Choices

The success rate of treating panic attacks can be very high with the proper treatment. Generally, the combination of psychotherapy and medications remains the most successful way of treating the condition. In most of the milder cases, psychotherapy, without the aid of medications, can suffice as treatment for these attacks.

Before a panic attack medication is prescribed, a patient must be thoroughly evaluated by a psychiatrist to check for the presence of other mental problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, or panic disorder (the chronic and repetitive occurrence of anxiety attacks).

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, otherwise known as SSRIs, are among the family of drugs commonly prescribed to treat anxiety attacks. This group is the first to be discovered using the rational drug design. SSRIs consist of fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), Escitalopram (Lexapro) and citalopram (Celexa). These are very effective panic attack medications,reducing the frequency of attacks by up to 75%-85%, as shown in clinical trials. However, before SSRIs start to take effect, a period of three to six weeks after the start of therapy must be completed.

Another group is the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) which include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor). These medications are another class of antidepressant drugs that act to increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine which are neurotransmitters in the brain that play important roles in regulating the mood of a person.

To provide short-term relief from the symptoms of anxiety disorders, most doctors prescribe benzodiazepines to their patients. Examples of drugs that belong to this family include lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), and clonazepam (Klonopin). Generally, these drugs require several doses to maintain their effect. Some patients take them up to four times a day. Aside from this, side-effects like sedation and memory loss may occur. Also, tolerance to the drugs may be experienced. However, this family keeps a good record of about 70%-75% of efficacy in treating anxiety related disorders.

Some of the less used drugs are tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. These classes produce side-effects that are sometimes intolerable. On the other hand, beta-blockers are sometimes used to treat the physical symptoms that accompany anxiety disorders.

Each panic attack medication can work differently in every person. That is why it is important that you undergo regular testing and evaluation while under therapy with these drugs because some may produce serious toxic effects when present in the body in very high amounts.

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