Panic Disorder Medication – 4 Great Ways To Tackle Panic Disorder
1. ANTI-DEPRESSANTS:
Antidepressants may be prescribed because there is coexisting depression, but that’s not always the case. Although these medications were developed initially for depression, further research has shown that many help with anxiety disorders as well because of the roles the neurotransmitters play in anxiety disorders.
Usually, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other newer antidepressants are tried first, but older antidepressants — tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) — also may be used with success.
ANTIANXIETY MEDICATIONS: Antianxiety medications include the benzodiazepines and Buspar (buspirone). Antianxiety medications may be prescribed on their own or along with other medications, such as antidepressants.
Some doctors will prescribe a benzodiazepine temporarily with an antidepressant because the benzodiazepine will decrease the anxiety and panic symptoms rapidly while the antidepressant may take several weeks to take effect. Additionally, the benzodiazepine may help with any increased anxiety that may be a side effect of the antidepressant. Other doctors will prescribe these medications for longer periods.
2. OTHER MEDICATIONS:
Researchers and doctors have found a few other categories to help in the treatment of panic disorder. These medications may not have been specifically approved by the (FDA) for the treatment of panic disorder, but doctors may prescribe them “off label.” Other medications prescribed to treat panic disorder include beta blockers, anticonvulsants, atypical antipsychotic, and antihistamines.
3. THERAPY:
The therapy most recommended in the treatment of panic disorder is cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT, a form of psychotherapy. A couple of recent studies have shown CBT alone to be as effective in treating panic disorder as a combination of CBT and medication.
Other therapies or a combination of therapies also may be tried. These include: psychotherapy; exposure therapy (a form of behavior therapy); virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET); eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR); rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT); and psychoanalytic therapy.
4. SELF HELP METHODS.
For various reasons, many people choose to use self-help methods when overcoming panic disorder. Panic disorder should be diagnosed by a health or mental health professional initially to rule out possible physical causes as well as other possible psychiatric conditions, such as depression.
Many self-help methods are similar to those that would be learned in a CBT setting, and it may be more effective to learn these methods with a trained CBT therapist who will make sure the methods are practiced properly and may also provide much-needed motivation. A good self-help books also provide effective and thorough instructions for self-help methods, but, again, motivation often is an issue if practicing these exercises on one’s own.
Self-help methods include relaxation and breathing exercises; cognitive exercises (such as anger management, assertiveness, positive thinking, and more); and lifestyle changes (exercise and nutrition changes).
Unconventional Medicine & Holistic Healing
Some people choose to use alternative medicine and/or holistic healing when overcoming panic disorder. Again, there should be professional diagnosis of panic disorder before using any methods.
Additionally, your doctor and/or therapist should be aware of any methods you are trying on your own, particularly if these methods include herbs, vitamins, and supplements. Ideally, alternative medicine should be practiced with the help of a practitioner trained in these methods.
Alternative medicine and holistic healing practices that may help with panic disorder include: acupuncture; aromatherapy; flower essence therapy; hypnosis and hypnotherapy; and herbs, vitamins, and supplements. These methods are not FDA-approved and are not well-validated treatments for panic disorder.
By: Abhishek Agarwal (Anxiety Treatment eBook – FREE)
About the Author:
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The Use Of Anti Anxiety Medication
In our busy lives it’s very easy to ignore any situation that’s unpleasant or even uncomfortable. However what should you do if suddenly you become anxious without any known cause? There are people who become housebound due to their fear of being in crowded places or even open places where they might become vulnerable to the terror of panic attacks. It’s for situations like these, that anti anxiety medication is prescribed by doctors.
As there’s a large amount of anti anxiety meds available you might think that any one of these will be suitable to reduce your feelings of anxiety. However, even though many of these anti anxiety medications will work to a degree, certain types of medications will work best with the particular mental disorder that closely matches their chemical criteria.
For instance Benzodiazepine is an anti anxiety medication that has an almost instant reaction in the body. You can take this medication 30 to 60 minutes before going into a stressful situation. For people who have acute but infrequent anxiety attacks Benzodiazepine is the best anti anxiety medicine to take. However due to it’s addictive nature it’s best not to use Benzodiazepines for long term usage. The major side effect of prolonged use is that of seizures should you stop taking the medication abruptly.
Another type of anti anxiety medication used is that of SSRIs or serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors. These belong in the class of antidepressant drugs. These SSRIs are very popular due to their low addiction levels, their mild side effects and the fact that they can bring down the feelings of acute anxiety. SSRIs work by maximizing the natural levels of serotonin in the brain.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that can affect your moods. By taking an anti anxiety medication like Paxil, serotonin is inhibited from being reabsorbed by the body. Therefore more serotonin is produced to be used when it is necessary. The side effects are mild ranging from a dry mouth to sleepiness. If you desire quick results you shouldn’t take any SSRIs as they need 2 to 6 weeks to infiltrate your system before you would notice any significant improvement.
There’s also the anti anxiety medication dopamine agonists, which increases the levels of dopamine in the brain. Like SSRIs dopamine agonists take a few weeks to show relief from anxiety. The side effects of this class of drugs, includes insomnia and extreme excitedness amongst others. The last type of anti anxiety medication that is currently being used is that of Buspar. This drug is a mild anti anxiety medication that has little to no reporting of addiction usage. Like SSRIs and dopamine agonists discussed earlier, Buspar takes a while for its medical properties to take effect.
As with anything else these medications can help you to restore some semblance of normality to your life, but as with all drugs and treatments you should first talk with a trained medical practitioner who can help you in choosing the best anti anxiety medication for you.
By: Peter Nagy (Free Treatment for Anxiety eBook)
About the Author:
To learn more about anti anxiety medicines and anxiety disorders visit: Anti Anxiety Medication
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