Panic Attack Medicine

Severe episodes of anxiety that manifest themselves in a variety of ways is the definition of panic attacks. Symptoms include racing or irregular heartbeat, shaking, sweating, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, chills, and dire feeling of extreme upset, fear or dread. Some people mistake the symptoms of a panic attack for something more serious like a heart attack.

Panic attacks, though not life threatening, are quite unpleasant and can be frightening. That's not to say that panic attacks do not adversely affect one's life though. Those who suffer from panic attacks quite often have trouble at home and work.

There are a variety of treatments for panic attacks. Your doctor or therapist may try cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational therapy, relaxation techniques, or dietary changes to try and rectify the problem. More severe cases may require medicine. The variety of panic attack medicines that can be prescribed are outlined below:

Benzodiazepines are medicines that are prescribed to relieve severe panic and anxiety and often have sedative or muscle relaxing qualities. Benzodiazepines include Xanax, Librium, Valium, Klonopin and Ativan.

Selective serotonin reputake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are a class of anti-depressants that are often used to alleviate depression and anxiety. They include well known names like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed type of anti-depressants on the market today and are used to treat a variety of disorders and conditions, including panic attacks.

TCAs, or tricyclic antidepressants, represent some of the oldest anti-depressants on the market. This category includes Elavil, Tryptanol, and Anafranil.

The class of anti-depressant known as MAOIs comes with its own set of risks and is normally only prescribed when SSRI therapy has failed. Some MAOIs include Nardil, Parnate and Marplan.

All medicines of course come with potential risks and side effects, and while medicine can be effective in relieving panic attacks there is no such thing as a magic pill. If you are considering panic attack medicines, consult your doctor as soon as you can for more information and treatment suggestions. Take your medicine exactly as directed and never stop taking it without your doctor's approval. Usually these types of medicines must be tapered down over an extended period of time to avoid severe side effects. Coming off them cold turkey can even cause death.