subject: Panic Disorder Treatment [print this page] One panic disorder treatment most commonly used if the patient wants medical options is antidepressants. Although this treatment is usually related to depression, its scope of treatment includes a number of other psychological conditions, including panic disorder. For a patient to see results of the drugs taking effect, he or she should be committed to taking them for at least two to four weeks. A resolve by the patient to continually use antidepressants for a whole month, even if he or she feels that they are not working, is important. A patient can only start and stop taking antidepressants upon advice of his or her physician.
For treatment of panic disorder, there are two types of antidepressants recommended: the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI and the tricyclic antidepressants. While under this type of medication, it is important for the patient to consult with his or her physician for assessment in intervals of four, six and twelve weeks. Through these consultations, the physician may assess which treatment is proving to be the most effective for the patient while the patient can discuss with the doctor any concerns he or she has with the medication. From the consultations, the physician may also assess if the patient is in need of a different medication type.
The type of antidepressants usually prescribed by a physician first is the SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This form of antidepressants works by increasing the level of a chemical called serotonin in the brain of the patient. This form of treatment is also the most common doctors prescribe for patients of panic disorder. SSRI treatment usually begins with low doses and is gradually increased by the doctor as the patient's body adjusts accordingly to the medicine. Patients who take the SSRI treatment may usually experience these side effects:
abdominal pain
blurred vision
bowel movement associated issues like diarrhea or constipation
dizziness
dry mouth
feelings of agitation
headaches
insomnia
loss of appetite
low sex drive
nausea
sweating
Patients undergoing SSRI for panic disorder treatment may actually be further disconcerted during the initial stages of treatment as feelings of panic and anxiety that the patient is trying to get cured of may seem to get worse. In most cases, this is a temporary phase and the patient will find out that his or her symptoms will start to normalize after a few days of taking this type of medication. However, if the patient starts to feel that the symptoms are getting worse or not returning to normal even after a week or more of taking the SSRI medication, then a consultation with his or her physician is required.
The physician may require the patient to undergo regular blood pressure checks or blood tests when the patient is undergoing this type of panic disorder treatment. If by the 12th week symptoms of the patient have not improved, then an alternative SSRI may be prescribed to see if the latter would have better effects on the patient.
Panic Disorder Treatment
By: Jared D. Ingram
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