subject: Best Treatment Options If you Are Suffering From A Panic Attack [print this page] Best Treatment Options If you Are Suffering From A Panic Attack
Most people who suffer from a panic attack will know how dreadful they feel during the panic attack. During a panic attack, the human body automatically triggers the fight-or-flight response, when there is no danger at all. A mild panic attack may be controlled easily, but when a panic attack is recurring frequently, then it can be an indication of panic disorder. Panic disorder is one level higher than a panic attack. According to experts, if a panic attack is not treated in time, they may lead to panic disorders.
Most of the patients who are suffering from a panic attack find it very difficult to carry out any adventurous activities as they have fear that they may get a panic attack. Identifying the symptoms of a panic attack is very important and when you find the first signs of panic attack symptoms, you need to seek medical advice immediately. Common panic attack symptoms are:
Shaking
Dizziness
Heart pounding
Sweating
Chocking
Chest pain
Chills and hot flashes
A feeling of unreality or going crazy
In addition to the above mentioned symptoms, the patient may also feel as if he or she is going to die. The terms panic attack and anxiety attack are often used interchangeably. Some experts believe that anxiety attack is the milder version of a panic attack. The three most common treatment options for a panic attack are anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, and therapy. SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are common antidepressants that are taken for the treatment of a panic attack. Paxil and Zoloft are the most common SSRI antidepressants that are prescribe by the doctors.
SSRI antidepressants increase the amount of serotonin in the patient's brain and often give total relief to the patients. It usually takes approximately two to four weeks for this medication to show its effects on the human body, so if you are taking SSRI antidepressants then you need to be very patient with the doctor. In addition to the SSRI antidepressants, the doctors may also prescribe Tricyclic antidepressants. The Tricyclic antidepressants are very similar in action as the SSRI antidepressants.
The Tricyclic antidepressants increase the amount of norepinephrine in the human brain, thereby giving relief to the patient. On the side effects front, one thing that you need to keep in mind is that both the above mentioned antidepressants have side effects. Given a choice, most patients would prefer the SSRI antidepressants over the Tricyclic antidepressants because latter has more side effects than the former. However, in the long run, both SSRI antidepressants and Tricyclic depressants are safe to the human body.
Medications are the most popularly advised and recommended anxiety treatments. With the help of such anxiety treatments, most patients have got a lot of relief from the vicious symptoms of anxiety attacks. If you are not getting the desired medications that are prescribed by the medical professionals, then you may want to get the medications changed immediately.
If the antidepressants don't work, then the doctors may prescribe another group of medications known as anti-anxiety drugs. The anti-anxiety drugs often work as tranquilizers to the body and mainly increase the activity of GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid. GABA is a neurotransmitter and is present in the brain of human beings.
If you find that antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are not giving you the desired results, then you may want to try out alternative anxiety treatments such as therapy. Most of the doctors will ask you to try out therapy in conjunction with antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs or other panic medications. Always do as the doctor tell you and you will surely find relief with the various anxiety treatments that are available.
One of the most commonly accepted therapies for the treatment of a panic attack is the cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy is often used in conjunction with the panic medications and is totally safe for the human body. Many believe that the cognitive behavioral therapy has many side effects in the mind and behavior of the patients. Yes, the cognitive behavioral therapy has a profound impact on the mind of the patient, but it is on the positive side. Cognitive behavioral therapy makes the patient believe in themselves that they can fight the mental condition.
