Panic or anxiety attacks are periods of intense physical symptoms of fear brought on by no specific cause. Symptoms include rapid heart rate, heavy breathing, shaking, sweating, chills, chest pain and hot flashes. When anxiety attacks occur often enough to interfere with your daily life, there is medication available to help relieve the symptoms.
Features
Medication for all function by helping you relax or changing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain, such as serotonin. Doctors do not fully understand why, but an increase in serotonin and other brain chemicals often decreases the frequency of panic attacks.
Types of Medications
Medications for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, antidepressants, benzodiazpines and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
Time Frame
Some of the drugs used for anxiety attacks, such as benzodiazepines, are only safe for short-term use because they have the potential to cause physical dependence, cautions the Mayo Clinic.
Risks
Side effects of the medications used to treat anxiety attacks include nausea, loss of libido, dry mouth, headaches, diarrhea, weight gain, drowsiness, blurred vision and dizziness. There are also a risk of serious side effects posed by some of these medications as well, including heart problems, high blood sugar, suicidal thoughts, hypertension and intercranial bleeding.
Considerations
It is not uncommon for patients to need to try several medications before finding the one that alleviates symptoms of anxiety attacks. As you and your doctor work to find the best drug for you, psychotherapy can help you understand and learn to control your responses to stress and help in the treatment process, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
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