Panic attack remedy

Initial treatment for panic attack includes:

1. Counseling:

- Behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing patterns of thought and behavior (the most effective therapy for panic disorder)

- Exposure therapy, a type of therapy , based on confrontation with the object or situation that causes fear. It is effective in treating agoraphobia or anxiety related to a particular place or situation.

2. Medications

The most common drugs used to treat panic disorders are:

- Selective serotonin inhibitors: fluoxetine (Prozac), Sestralin, paroxetine. If these drugs are ineffective or cannot be administered because of side effects the patient can try other antidepressants.

- Antidepresive mixed neurotransmitters, such as Venlafaxine

- Benzodiazepines: Alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam, clonazepam are prescribed alone or in combination with an antidepressant.

Benzodiazepines are used for rapid and short-term control of symptoms and may be part of maintenance treatment with antidepressants alone or combined.

After starting medication, symptoms begin to improve after a few weeks.

Ongoing treatment

During initial treatment, medication and short-term benzodiazepines can be prescribed to address immediate symptoms.

The doctor will continue to monitor the patient to discover whether there are other problems associated with panic disorder (depression, drug or alcohol problems). These situations will require treatment. Often people feel better after a while and quit the treatment. After stopping medication, symptoms return, so it is important to continue treatment plan. Recurrent panic attacks can range from mild to severe and may continue for years. There may be long periods without panic attacks or times when they are common. Even after treatment when the panic attacks seemed to be under control, they can return. It is important for a person to identify warning signs and factors that trigger panic attacks and seek treatment sooner.

Treatment if the condition gets worse

If panic attacks are severe and continue to occur, hospitalization is required. Also, patient may need a short hospital stay if a panic attack overlaps another medical problem such as agoraphobia and depression, because this combination is difficult to treat.

If medication does not help, your doctor may prescribe other drugs or a combination of several drugs. Counseling can be added to treatment. This includes behavioral therapy that focuses on changing patterns of thought and behavior or exposure therapy. If counseling does not work, you need one more intense, more frequent or other advice.

Medications used to treat panic attack can prevent them, but does not remove the fear of a possible attack.

It takes several weeks or even longer for the medication to become fully effective.

Those who suffer from panic disorders are at risk of suicide if you suffer from depression or other mood or personality disorder. They have a significant impact on social relationships and quality of life. Diagnosis and treatment of these conditions that occur with panic disorder are essential.

The patient can reduce the number of panic attacks in panic disorder case and can even reduce the severity of symptoms when an attack occurs through:

- Reducing anxiety by lowering blood nerve activity and by lowering the level of stress in daily life

- Performing relaxation exercises that involve deep breathing and 10-20 minutes of muscle relaxation exercises performed every day

- Exercise to improve breathing and heart rate several times a week

- Restrictions on alcohol and caffeine (or eliminating them)

- Enrolling in group therapy, such as those organized by professional associations

- A balanced diet that includes fresh, nutritious aliments and avoid those high in sugar and fat.

When a person has a panic attack, the whole family suffers. Other members feel frustrated, tired (because they take some responsibility) or socially isolated because the sick person restricts family activities. Family therapy, a type of counseling that involves the whole family can help all family members.

Medications

Medication for panic disorder is used to control the symptoms of panic attacks, reducing their number and severity, anxiety and fear associated with the emergence of a new attack.

Drugs used:

- Selective serotonin inhibitors

- Benzodiazepines

- Antidrepresive

- Tricyclic antidepressants

Professionals recommend that patients be observed if there are cases of increased anxiety, panic attacks, agitation, irritability, insomnia, impulsivity, hostility and anger. Antidepressants are recommended, but under medical supervision.

Panic attacks are treated by both medication and counseling such as behavioral therapy. When these two therapies are combined, panic attacks happen rarer than if only one therapy is used. After starting treatment, symptoms should be reduced within a few weeks.