Panic Attack Treatment Options – How Medications And Psychotherapy Help You
It helps to know that for a condition like panic attack, there are very effective panic attack treatment methods that have been shown to effectively relieve many sufferers from its symptoms. Some are mainstream medicine while others are alternative options. No matter the type, the aim for each treatment is remains the same – to prevent, control, and to some extent, totally stop the symptoms from occurring again.
{Medications}
Medications are widely considered effective for symptom management during an actual attack. Usually, these are most effective during short-term treatment, as with during an actual attack. Although these are known to effectively reduce the severity of the symptoms as well as in preventing them from occurring. Some of FDA-approved panic attack medications are:
{Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)}
Low risk and generally safe, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first choice drugs for people suffering from panic attack. These are originally antidepressant medications, but due to their effectiveness against the symptoms of panic attacks, these have become the favorite of therapists and doctors. Under this class, medications that have been approved by FDA for treatment of panic attack are paroxetine (brand names: Rexeva, Paxil and Paxil CR), sertraline (brand name: Zoloft), and flouxetine (brand name: Prozac).
{Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)}
Another class of antidepressants, SNRIs are originally intended for treatment of chronic sadness and anxiety. Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) help with symptoms of panic attack by preventing their reabrosption or reuptake into the brain cells. Although the exact mechanism still leaves researchers baffled, these medications cause improvement in mood. Effexor XR venlafaxine is the only FDA-approved drug under this category.
{Benzodiazpines}
A mild sedative and an antidepressant, Benzodiazpine is a drug that basically targets the central nervous system. Benzodiazpines that have been approved by FDA for treatment of panic attack include Xanax or alprazolam and Klonopin or clonazepam. These are typically given to patients when they seek medical care in an emergency situation to aid in stopping the attack.
Medications for panic, although generally effective, can often cause serious side effects, some of which are life-threatening. Some of the most common side effects of panic medications are vomiting, nausea, insomnia, dizziness, trouble sleeping, sleepiness, constipation or upset stomach, migraine, sweating, dry mouth, tremor, tension, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, abnormal vision, seizures, and coma, among others.
{Psychotherapy}
Also commonly referred to as talk therapy or counseling, psychotherapy is a group of techniques that are known to produce better results for panic attack than medications. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, exposure therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy are three of the most notable techniques used in panic attack treatment.
{Cognitive behavioral therapy}
Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT is a therapy that aims to alter the cognition or thinking pattern of someone who is suffering with panic disorder. This essentially tries to correct an inappropriate behavior by correcting the thinking pattern.
{Exposure Therapy}
Exposure therapy makes use of simulation methods that recreate actual conditions that trigger panic attacks. Then patients are taught how to eliminate the anxiety caused through such simulation by forming new and more appropriate responses.
{Psychodynamic Psychotherapy}
Psychodynamic psychotherapy focuses more on investigating the internal emotional conflicts that play significant roles in the triggering of panic attacks and avoidance behaviors that most patients use to get away from possible future attacks.
With careful choice of panic attack treatment, most patients are eventually able to resume living normal lives. Talk to your doctor to find out which treatment would work for you.
