Panic attack medication has developed and come a long way in helping people who suffer from panic attacks manage their symptoms and their underlying root causesThe stress and anxiety of these panic attacks is quite severe and one of the prime causes of their recurrences is the fear itself of another possible attack.Medication alone can be a palliative and offer some temporary relief, but when used in conjunction with good therapy can provide benefits of a long lasting and more significant order.
Therapy approaches the behavioral aspects of panic attacks, such as reacting to different stimuli or situations, whereas panic attack medication focuses on the biological, or more specifically, the chemical behavior of the brain.
There are several different types of panic attack medication available and many of them are quite recognizable including Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. These medications can help ease the symptoms of panic attacks and reduce the fear that sufferers often have about enduring another one in the future. To be effective, these anti-depressant medications, called SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, must attain a certain level within the body and taken for several weeks before any results can be determined.
These drugs function by acting upon the brain’s neurotransmittersand aid in blocking particular events which are precursors of depression, or when treating panic attacks, those receptors which can cause the heart rate to increase and/or one’s breathing ton increase, frequently observed symptoms (or conditions) which occur just before a panic attack is experienced.
These SSRIs are actually not the initial prescriptions recommended and used for the treatment of panic attacks. Tricyclic anatidepressants (TCAs) were forerunners in the treatment of panic attacks, however SSRIs, it turns out, have shown themselves to be a better route to follow in the treatment and control of the longer term symptoms.
Tofranil, Anafranil, and Norpramin are three of the most common TCA medications.Sometimes, however, a TCA panic attack medication will be more effective than its SSRI counterpart, as long as it is taken under the close supervision of a qualified and licensed medical professional. TCA side effects cover a wide range from minor (insignificant) to life-threatening (dangerous). Under no circumstances is it generally recommended for a pregnant woman to use any of these medications as all will pose a potential threat to the unborn child.
Also, medications that help reduce or alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and stress, such as Xanax, Valium, or Klonopin, are useful in treating panic attacks or panic disorders. These are recommended to be used more to deal with an immediate set of symptomswhereas SSRIs should be taken regularly for a period of time. As noted, the SSRI will be required to build to a certain level in the system to be effective. The TCA, on the other hand, will act right away and then dissipate over time.
When taking an SSRI panic attack medication, symptoms should begin to improve within six to eight weeks. If this does not happen, a stronger dose or different medication may be required. In most patients, these drugs are used for a year or more before being removed or reduced. These decisions concerning prescription medicine for panic attacks should only be made by a licensed and qualified practitioner. In any case, it should be understood that medication alone may ameliorate certain symptoms, but only when combined with effective therapy will the true value of treatment be found to be most effective, combating the ailment itself and not just the symptoms.