When somebody uses the term "having a panic attack" in jest, the reaction is usually one of amusement from those in receipt of the comment. The reality is though, over 30 per cent of people will have an attack at some stage of their lives but it's those who suffer from it on a daily basis, the chronic sufferers, who would find such a comment less than amusing.
You see, for a chronic sufferer, living in fear of an attack has repercussions such as social withdrawal and loss of control and for these people, it's a daily grind living from one episode to another.
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.
Panic Attack Vs. Anxiety Attack?
There is some confusion surrounding the difference between a panic and anxiety attack. The former is will happen without too much warning and has severe symptoms associated with it while anxiety tends to build up and last longer.
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 counseling. A popular form of counseling is Cognitive-behavioral therapy and it's aim is to modify certain thoughts and behavior 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.
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
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