March 9, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Medication For Panic Attacks-What Are They
Panic attack is described as an intense fear, producing a rash of frightening symptoms such as a pounding heart and shortness of breath. Some even describe a sensation of losing control or feeling as if they are going to die. So who is affected by panic attack? Well, the numbers may surprise you in fact, about one in three people are likely to have an attack.
The Benefits Of Panic Attack Medication
While there is a leaning towards getting to the root cause of a person’s constant fear of panic attacks medications have proven to be an effective relief mechanism for chronic sufferers.
Are medications the answer? Not long term but as a safety net, they often become relied upon by sufferers. This then leads to the question of…"do panic disorder sufferers become dependent or addicted to medications? In the case of Benzodiazepines, there is a risk of dependency and they are not really recommended for long term use. But there effectiveness for immediate relief is strong.
For long term relief, Tricyclic antidepressants are normally used but if their effectiveness is retarded in any way, then Benzodiazepines may be the next alternative or used in conjunction with antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants are effective in reducing the incidence of re occurring attacks.As with any drugs of the nature of antidepressants, when weaning off them it should be done in a gradual manner.
Are there side effects associated with panic attack medication? This is something you will need to discuss with your doctor. In the case of Benzodiazepines, side effects such as fatigue, drowsiness, slurred speech and memory loss are possible.
So are there alternatives to medications.
Did You Know?
Having an isolated panic attack doesn’t mean a person will develop a panic attack disorder. However, the latter is a factor when a person suffers constant attacks and the best course of action is to seek professional help.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Medications are considered a fix for the symptoms of panic disorder however, getting to the cause of the underlying problem is best achieved through counselling. A popular form of counselling is Cognitive-behavioural therapy and it’s aim is to modify certain thoughts and behaviour patterns to control the symptoms.
An example of this type of treatment involves working with a therapist and basically predicting when a panic attack is going to occur. How does this help you? The idea is you will learn of ways to deal or respond to a panic attack which will help eliminate the fear of having another attack. Your therapist will introduce you to effective exercises designed to identify your destructive or fearful thought patterns and alter them.
The process can usually be a long and involved one and eventually, when a patient is confident of controlling their attacks, they are introduced to controlled situations or areas where they have experienced or had cause to experience panic attacks in the past.
What Will You Do Next?
The debate rages on about the effectiveness of medications, not as a fix for symptoms but as a long tern solution. The idea that panic attack may be better tackled by looking for the root cause makes a lot of sense with on going research in this area. The fact is, if you currently suffer from chronic panic disorder then doing nothing is not your best option.
Author: Dean Caporella
Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. Just how effective are panic attack medication treatments and are they just a quick fix solution. Plus, read the latest panic/anxiety attack news and reviews at:http://www.panicattacksite.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Caporella
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