Panic Attack Medications

Last year, there were some 40 million Americans treated for anxiety and panic disorders. If you are one of the many who are experiencing sever panic attacks on a regular basis, there are treatment options available that can reduce or eliminate the panic attacks. Don't let panic attacks rule your life any longer. Read on to learn about some of the panic attack medications available.The most commonly prescribed panic attack medication is one of the various forms of antidepressants. These medications help to keep your anxiety and stress levels down to a manageable level. They also help with any depression conditions you may have, which is not uncommon in anxiety disorder patients. There is a chemical imbalance in your brain that is responsible for the magnified effects of everyday stresses. Two main neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine) are related to your mood, and these are the chemicals targeted by antidepressants.While most antidepressants work by correcting the levels of these neurotransmitters in your brain, how they go about it can be completely different from product to product. The panic attack medications Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac are all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, and Ativan are all a class of antidepressant called benzodiazapines. Norpramin, Anafranil, and Tofranil are tricyclic antidepressants. Parnate and Nardil are both monomine oxidase inhibitors. These last two types are prescribed much more rarely nowadays than the first two classifications of antidepressant. Knowing what type of antidepressant you are currently taking is very important, as some other medications, even over-the-counter ones, can react badly with certain classes of antidepressant. Always ask your doctor about any possible drug interactions.All of these panic attack medications, while usually quite effective, can have some unpleasant side effects. Usually these side effects are most pronounced if your dosage is too high, they can occur at any dosage. The more common side effects of antidepressants include: dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, blurred vision, sexual problems, nausea, heart palpitations, racing heart, weight gain, nightmares, insomnia, and nervousness. While some of these side effects may be better than having panic attacks, if they are too much they can cause more stress than the medications relieve. If at any time you feel that the side effects are just too much, you should discuss changing your medication with your doctor.Remember, everyone is different. All medication do not effect everybody the same way. What works for one person may not work for you, and it can take time and effort to find the panic attack medications that work best for you. Your doctor may have to change your panic attack medication several times, but with so many different antidepressant and dosages available to try odds are good that you will find the medications that work for you. And once you have found the panic attack medications that best control your symptoms, don't stop taking them just because you are feeling better. The medicines just deal with the symptoms, they are not a final cure for your panic disorder.