Panic Attack Drugs

Basic Information About Panic Attack Drugs

Panic attacks can occur anytime, anywhere. They can happen without reason or provocation, descending on their victims with intensity that can last anywhere from approximately two to ten minutes. There are many theories as to why certain individuals suffer from panic attacks. After all, everyone is susceptible to anxiety at some point or another. But not everyone experiences the distressing episodes known as panic attacks.

It's thought that genetics plays a part in whether or not people experience panic attacks. Other factors include traumatic life events, toxic thought patterns, drugs, alcohol and certain prescription medications. Regardless of what causes panic attacks, people who suffer from them need relief, and they need it quickly. Panic attacks can cause debilitating effects in one's home life, career, relationships and self esteem. While panic attacks are often treated with therapy, sometimes prescription drugs are necessary to alleviate the problem. There are several different kinds of panic attack drugs that are used to treat this condition, as described below:

Selective Serotonin Reputake Inhibitors: This class of antidepressant, also called SSRIs, represents a category that includes drugs like Paxil and Prozac. SSRIs are the most widely prescribed class of antidepressant for a wide variety of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and panic disorder.

Tricyclics: This type of antidepressant can also be prescribed to treat panic attacks. While tricyclics aren't as widely prescribed as SSRIs, they are a valid option for people suffering from severe panic disorder. This category includes drugs like Amitryptiline, Amoxapine and Doxepin, to name a few.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: Phenelzine and Tranylcypromine are just a few drugs that fall into this category, also called MAOIs. MAOIs are certainly not as popular as they used to be, and come with a range of side effects and interactions. While this class of antidepressant is used to treat anxiety and panic, it's certainly nowhere near as popular as the widely prescribed SSRIs.

Benzodiazepines: These drugs include such names as Ativan, Valium and Xanax. While these types of medicines can be highly effective in treating the symptoms of panic attacks, they're not recommended for heavy or long term use. This is usually because this class of drugs can become habit-forming, which leads to a whole new set of problems.

Panic attack drugs are often seen as a last resort after therapy, behavioral modification, and lifestyle changes. If you've tried everything to deal with your panic attacks and nothing has worked, talk to your doctor about medication and what he or she recommends for you.