Medication For a Panic Attack

The overwhelming feelings associated with panic attacks for many individuals can cause them devastating problems and embarrassment as well as severe distress and feeling of discomfort.
There are multitudes of individuals who suffer from these disorders and no telling how many individuals may suffer in silence without ever searching for assistance.
However, the good news is that there are various types of treatments and therapies that are helpful for overcoming such overwhelming and debilitating feeling and occurrences.
Various types of therapy procedures will focus on bringing a change to the particular thinking and behavioral patterns as a means of bringing relief of such symptoms.
The combination of therapy and medication are very helpful and work to reduce a relapse in the attacks.
It can also aid in relieving the frequency of attacks.
Many individuals work towards positive rehabilitation while using these medication.
Various types of medications can aid in the treatment of panic disorders.
Some can help control the various symptoms associated with the attacks.
Some aid by reducing the fear of a reoccurring attacks as well as reducing the number of attacks that occur along with the overwhelming feelings of a panic attack.
Some medications that are effective for treatment include those in the nature of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI.
These are antidepressants that are prescribed for the treatment of depression and they include Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil.
Brain chemicals called neurotransmitters send messages back and forth between the nerves of the brain, these medications influence them by providing more serotonin to the nerves.
Before the use of SSRI's there were other medications which include Tofranil, Norpramin, or Anafranil.
These medications are from the TCAs or tricyclic anti-depressants group of medications.
They are useful for treatment of panic disorders.
However, SSRI's are better tolerated by many sufferers.
They are effective and much safer for use in the daily treatment of these disorders.
Although TCAs are useful for the treatment of some individuals, they are used less often than the SSRI's, however the individual should always be closely monitored while taking any type of medication.
Keep in mind that all medications come with their own set of health risks or side effects.
Some are minor while others can pose life threatening problems.
It is essential to consult with your personal physician.
Also, it is not recommendable for pregnant women to use these types of medications since they can pose possible heath risks to an unborn child.
Xanax, Valium, Ativan, or Klonopin are benzodiazepine medications that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in treating panic disorders.
These particular prescription medications are only prescribed as required to aid in the immediate reduction of the overwhelming anxiety and nervous tension that may accompany the symptoms of an attack.
There are noticeable improvements within a few weeks of starting this medication.
If there is no signs of improvement by the sixth to eighth week, the dosage may be increased by the physician.
Panic attack medication may be required for a year or more to aid in decreasing the symptoms gradually, although, each case is distinctly different according to the situation.