Anxiety/Panic Attacks and the Hidden Power of Medication
Anxiety Attacks are extreme periods of Anxiety that occur suddenly and sometimes for no particular reason. You may be sitting on the train on your way home from work when you are suddenly hit by a wave of unexplained anxiety. Then again, anxiety and panic attacks may be triggered by specific causes. You may be exposed to something stressful enough to induce symptoms of an anxiety attack.
There is no known cause of anxiety attacks, but severe cases are referred to as Panic or Anxiety Disorders.
How Are Anxiety Attacks Treated?
There are generally two ways to treat Anxiety or Panic Attacks. Some people advocate relaxation and stress avoidance. With this approach, you will be required to perform relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation. You may also have to avoid situations, places or people that can trigger a panic attack. Taking Medications is another way to treat anxiety attacks. There are many medicines out there available for people suffering from panic and anxiety attacks. These meds are effective in minimizing the symptoms of the condition.
Treating Anxiety Attacks with Medication
You may find that that suggested relaxation methods do not help in relieving your symptoms. If so, then it is best that you consider taking medication to help you. There are many different types of medicines for anxiety and panic attacks. These include:
SSRIs – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) are usually the first choice in treating anxiety attacks. These are highly effective drugs and have a little or no negative side effects. Some SSRI drugs include Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Sertraline (Zoloft).
Benzodiazepines – This medication type includes drugs such as Alprazolam (Xanax), Clonazepam (Klonopin) and Diazepam (Valium). All these drugs help in the treatment of anxiety and panic attacks. Benzodiazipnes are mild sedatives that help calm you down. The problem with these drugs is that they can get addictive. In order to avoid that, you should check with your doctor before taking any or before stopping treatment.
BETA Blockers – Beta Blockers are also another type of medication for anxiety and panic attacks. BETA Blockers include Propanolol (Inderal) and Atenolol (Tenormin). Beta Blocker helps in relieving the symptoms of Anxiety attacks. Beta Blockers are also given as treatment for Social Phobias.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) – Medications under this category include Imipramine (Tofranil), Notriptyline (Pamelor) and Veneflaxin (Effexor). These drugs are very effective in treating anxiety attacks.
If one type of drug does not work for you, you and your physician can move on to other medication types until you find the right fit. Keep in mind that you should never stop your medication without your doctor’s order or knowledge.
D. More
Anxiety Panic Free Zone