The treatment of panic disorder is often done with medications. The most common types of medications that are used for the treatment of panic disorders are beta blockers, Tricyclic antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and mild tranquilizers. Each of these classes of medications have their own advantages and disadvantages. For the treatment of panic disorder, you doctor may prescribe one or more classes of drugs.

Tricyclic antidepressants are often prescribed by doctors when the patient has depression along with anxiety. Common Tricyclic antidepressants are as follows:

o    Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane)

o    Imipramine (Tofranil)

o    Amitriptyline (Elavil)

o    Nortriptyline (Aventyl or Pamelor)

o    Clomipramine (Anafranil)

o    Doxepin (Sinequan or Adapin)

o    Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Most of the above mentioned medications may be given to patients for a short term use. Most common side effects of Tricyclic antidepressants are constipation, weight gain, blurred vision, irritation, sensitivity to sunlight, and dry mouth. One of the most commonly prescribed Tricyclic antidepressants is Desipramine. This medication needs to be taken under medical supervision only and cause serious damage if you take an over dose. If you happen to take an over dose, call up your doctor immediately or you may also call the emergency services.

Desipramine has adverse effects on the fetus so if you are pregnant; you need to inform your doctor immediately. If you are pregnant, you doctor will not prescribe Desipramine. In addition, Desipramine is not recommended for nursing mothers. If you miss a dose of Desipramine, then don’t take a double dose to compensate for the dose that was missed by you earlier.

Special care needs to be taken for the storage of Desipramine. This medication is very sensitive to extreme temperatures hence it needs to be stored at room temperature. This medication must never be given to children and so you need to store it in a place that is out of the reach of children. Extreme care needs to be taken when you are under the influence of Desipramine. This medication can cause slight drowsiness or dizziness hence the consumption of alcohol along with this drug is not recommended at all.

After taking Desipramine if you feel drowsy or dizzy, then you need to sit or lie down on the bed or sofa immediately. Most patients experience drowsiness or dizziness in the mornings. Hence, the best way to prevent this from happening is to sit up and stand slowly and steadily. Because Desipramine can cause sensitivity to sun, you may have to avoid being in contact with strong sunlight, tanning booths, or sunlamps.

Though Tricyclic antidepressants are one of the best treatments of panic disorder, you need to weigh your benefits with the disadvantages and then make a choice. If you don’t want to go ahead with the medications for anxiety attacks, you can choose many other treatment options. If you want a completely safe treatment for panic disorder, then you can choose from a myriad of herbal products that are available in the market today. The only major disadvantage of herbal treatments for panic disorders is that it may take a long time to actually show its good effects on you.

Medications for anxiety attacks on the other hand are fast acting and some medications give you immediate relief from the symptoms of anxiety attacks. If medications and herbal treatments are not your preferred choice of treatment for panic disorder, they you may try psychotherapy. The most common form of psychotherapy that is used for the treatment of panic disorders is called cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT.

There are some doctors or physicians who may prescribe a combination of treatment for panic disorders. Most common combination for the treatment of panic disorder is medications and CBT. While you are on the medications for anxiety attacks, you may also switch to CBT, but you need to take the consent of your doctor first. One most important aspect of the medications for anxiety attacks is that it must not be stopped abruptly.

One of the major aspects of medications for anxiety attacks is that these medications do not cure the anxiety attacks or panic attacks. This is a universally accepted fact and you will have to live by it for a very long time.

Taking the best treatment for panic attacks does not mean that you can sit back and relax. The best treatments for panic or anxiety attacks also need monitoring and good care. If you don’t take good care of your mind and body during the best treatments, the positive effects of the treatment will not be visible. When you are getting the best treatment for panic attacks, you need to ask as many questions as possible. You can either direct the questions to the doctors or to other professionals who you feel can give you the answers.

When you are asking the questions pertaining to the treatment of panic attacks, make sure that you include questions related to the side effects of the treatment. The treatment of panic attacks depends on how the treatments respond to your mental condition. For some people, the panic attack treatments work very fast but for some others it may take few weeks to few months. Most doctors or therapists will tell you to be very patient during the treatment and give you the assurance that you will feel better in some time.

When you are getting treated for a panic or anxiety disorder, you will feel very lonely. To drive away the loneliness, you can join some support group such as a panic disorder support group. When you join a panic disorder support group, you will find many more people who have similar problems as yours. When birds of a feather flock together, ideas are shared and you become aware of many things which may be of good use to you.

Panic attacks appear at any time and any moment. They usually don’t give you a warning sign, so that you can prepare yourself. Explaining your condition to close and dear ones is very essential in the treatment of panic or anxiety attacks. You need to explain the first aid and all the other essential procedures that need to be done during a panic or anxiety attack. In times of distress, your near and dear ones will surely help you come out of the panic situation.

If you are taking any panic attacks medications and you have not told it to your family and friends, then you need to do it immediately. Sometimes, during the panic attacks, you may need some emergency treatment, which can be given by the family and friends who are close to you during the panic attack. In case of an emergency, you need to have all the emergency phone numbers at hand so that you don’t lose any time in searching for them.

Make a list of all the medications for anxiety attacks that you are currently taking. If you are on prescription medications, then you may even have to carry the prescriptions along with you if you are going to travel long distances. If you are traveling from one country to another country, then you may have to either take a good stock of the medications or get to know the generic names of the medications. Most doctors will give you the information regarding the anxiety attacks medications for your travel, but make sure to inform them in advance.

Avoiding the panic situations is the best way of dealing with panic situations.

Many would argue that panic attacks can be treated with self help and natural treatments. You may have to try most of the treatments and see which one is the best for you. Most people may first try out with the medications and then try out the natural treatments. Some people may even combine the medications with natural treatments such as

o    Meditation
o    Herbal remedies
o    Yoga
o    Hypnosis
o    Exercises

Most of the above mentioned natural treatments are very cheap and some few don’t even cost any money. For example, you don’t need any money for meditation sessions as you can do it yourself. You may need a little handholding during the initial phases of meditations, but once you get familiar with the procedures, you will do just fine. If you are struggling with the natural therapies, then you can join some classes to learn the techniques. After learning the natural techniques, you will have to practice them on a daily basis.

Treatment for panic attacks starts as soon as you realize that you have panic disorder and that you need help. Many people go about in their life without realizing this much. However, you really cannot blame them for it because the symptoms of panic attack are very similar to that of some physical ailments that the diagnosis becomes hard. A full-blown panic attack will show some of the following symptoms:

1.    shortness of breath

2.    sweating

3.    heart palpitations

4.    nausea or upset stomach

5.    chest pain or discomfort

6.    feeling dizzy, light hearted and faint

7.    trembling and shaking

8.    numbness or tingling sensations

9.    choking feeling

10.    hot or cold flashes

11.    feeling unreal or detached from the surrounding

12.    fear of dying, losing control and going crazy

Diagnosis of panic attack is possible after a person has at least two attacks and develops the fear of having the third. This fear in turn triggers another attack. The attacks come unexpectedly, reach the peak within ten minutes, and may last another twenty minutes or more. Sometimes these attacks come so close to each other that it may look like one prolonged attack.

Unless the treatment for panic attacks start early, the sufferer may develop agoraphobia.  A person having agoraphobia is in constant fear of being in places from where escape is difficult. They must be constantly in view of an escape route. Besides, the embarrassment of having a panic attack in public may lead to social phobia too. All these may lead to alcohol and drug abuse, which in turn may complicate the situation more.

The best treatment for panic attacks consists of medications along with cognitive behavioral therapy, life style changes, exercise and yoga. Among all these, the importance of the cognitive behavioral therapy cannot be overemphasized. It has been successfully used to treat not only panic attacks, but also other types of anxiety attacks and behavioral problems like ADHD.

CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy reflects the importance of both behavioral and thought process in understanding and controlling panic attacks.  Actually, the CBT is combination of cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. The term cognitive refers to our thought process and reflects what we think, believe and perceive. There is a correlation between your thought and your feeling. What you think is what you feel. If your thoughts revolve around an impending fear, real or imaginary, you are definitely going to panic in the end. Behavioral therapy focuses on how your behaviors are contributing to and maintaining your symptoms. Maladaptive behaviors are learned through conditioning process and can be unlearned too through proper guidance and CBT does just that.

Suppose, you have been to see a picture in some movie hall and experience your first panic attack. You do not understand anything. You quickly get out of the hall, feel better, and by the time you are home you are relaxed. If some days later, some friend invites you to a movie, you refuse graciously. Why? You refuse because you are reminded of that day, when you had your first attack. You have erroneously started believing that you had that attack because you were in that cinema hall and if you go there, you will not survive. Cognitive therapy deals with such thought process.

Behavioral therapy, on the other hand, will teach you to go inside the cinema hall in stages. First, it will teach you to approach the cinema hall. If you feel panicky, you are supposed to use some relaxation technique that you have been taught. You are going to fail for a number of times. However, you are going to win in the end. The behavioral theory will gradually motivate you to go inside the cinema hall by teaching techniques such as self-monitory skills, relaxation techniques, exposure techniques etc.

In the case of cognitive behavioral therapy, the focus is on inadequate, obstructing and damaging behavior and irrational thought process that contribute to the continuation of symptoms. CBT is a scientifically studied technique and research has shown that it is the best treatment for panic attack, although medications may also be necessary in acute cases.

Medications for anxiety attacks include:

1.    Antidepressants – These are good medicines for panic attacks. However, they take weeks before they start acting. Therefore, you will have to take them for weeks, not just during the panic attacks.

2.    Benzodiazepines – These are anti-anxiety attack drugs, which act very quickly. These can be taken at the on set of panic attacks only. They give immediate relief. However, they are habit forming and have serious withdrawal symptoms. Such drugs should therefore be taken with caution.

Anxiety and panic disorder is fast attaining the doubtful glory of holding the first position in the field of psychotic disorders. It has become extremely widespread in the last decade or so, claiming patients from all age brackets. Experts blame the hustle and bustle world of today – with deadlines to meet and agendas to arrange, total relaxation seems fabulous and strain has become synonymous with life.

Anxiety disorders are a generic name for a group of linked ailments. The generalized anxiety disorder is the commonest form of the disease, appearing to be chronic, with diffused and mild symptoms. Panic attacks form the other end of the spectrum, as they are sudden and severe. Other disorders generally clubbed under the heading are:

•    Social disorders like Agoraphobia
•    Obsessive and Compulsive disorder
•    Separation disorder
•    Post-traumatic Stress disorder
Treatment for panic attacks is a must – left to itself the ailments become a harassment for both the patient and for the people around him apart from increasing morbidity in the patient. The best source of this help would be the psychotherapist, a person referred to in an off-handed manner as the ‘shrink’.
A shrink comes across as a counsellor, a person who, first and foremost, lends a sympathetic ear to the patient’s outpourings of the heart. Very often a few sessions with the shrink lead to removal of minor snags and hitches in the patients that may have been behind the anxiety disorder manifestations. The shrink, therefore, performs the useful task of correctly diagnosing the genuine anxiety disorder patients. He has a set of American Psychiatric Association (APA) guidelines to help him through this job.

Once diagnosed, the psychotherapist is again the source of help. He sets into motion what is medically called as the Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The patient is motivated to think logically and positively and to strengthen his will power. He is taught to control his panicky thoughts and tries to replace them by calming ones. ‘I shall not panic’ or similar chants are used by him to nip the symptoms of panic in the bud. CBT is one of the best treatment for panic attacks, employ as it does the mind of the patient itself. It is something akin to strengthening the victim itself to fight the tormentor instead of providing external aid.
Biofeedback is another mechanism that has been used in association with CBT. It consists of attaching several small portable meters to a patient’s body – these machines measure variables like heartbeat, blood pressure, sweat gland activity, body temperature, et cetera in such a way that the patient himself can see the changes in the values. The visualization of the fluctuation in his physiological parameters helps the patient realize more strongly the effect of his panicky thoughts on his body. The desire to control his thoughts and his body variables begins to take root in his psychology. It has been observed that gradually, the patient’s will power strengthens to an extent that he can begin to control his body parameter changes, albeit only partially.

Another technique that the shrink utilizes as a treatment for panic attacks in specific cases is the Exposure Therapy. Patients of the post-traumatic stress disorder, as the name implies, have faced certain trying situations in life, rendering them incapable of facing those same situations again. For example, a subject who was nearly drowned shall exhibit fear of still waters. The exposure therapy tends to make the patient buck up and face his fear – although in controlled surroundings and in tiny measures. The absence of harm in the presence of the fear factor goes a long way towards ridding the patient’s mind of his phobia.

A therapy for the obsessive and compulsive disorder (OCD) that a shrink is likely to utilize is Exposure and Response prevention (ERP). The OCD is characterized by a certain action that the doer tries performing repeatedly because he associates it in his mind with some fear. For example, fear of dirt leading to constant washing of hands. The person is exposed to this fear, as in the exposure therapy

and his response is prevented by way of the treatment.

If all else fails, medications for anxiety attacks are also there. Mostly acting as tranquilizers, they fall into three categories – Benzodiazepines, Buspirones and Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These medicines must be consumed under strict medical supervision.

Some people are especially prone to panicky attacks. They jump at the mildest of alarming situations and tend to be over the top in their response to them, including that of letting loose the most colorful string of expletives to say the least. Most of the time however the effect would past as soon as the moment of panic passes, and things would be pretty much back to normal for these panicky people. There is however another group who suffers from a more manic form of panic attacks, those that do not at all depend on situations and circumstances and could strike at just about any time. These are those who are afflicted with what is termed panic disorders syndrome. For this group, treatment for panic attacks is much needed as these attacks do not go away like it does for even the most panicky amongst us no afflicted with the condition. As such, these patients find it most difficult to function in the way everyone does in the daily rigors of life.

Panic attacks here is part and parcel of a greater affliction; that of anxiety disorders. One leads to the other which then translates into more of the former and so on and so forth. The result can be quite debilitating for those suffering from panic and anxiety disorders. In the worst case scenario, one could even end up being depressed and having to be hospitalized for further treatment. In providing treatment for panic attacks, one needs to understand that for panic and anxiety disorder patients, the symptoms tell of a far greater problem probably to do with the patients’ inner self and confidence levels. In spotting these panic attacks, one should watch out for outwards biological manifestations of the two disorders and these includes irregular breathing patterns verging on the shortness of breath, profuse sweating, trembling and violent shaking, extreme fidgeting (which shows just how anxious the patient is) and others.

Those afflicted are prone to feel as though they are falling into a deep hole, without even knowing what it is that triggers such a feeling. No panic attacks in this group comes at the most opportune of time; the so-called situational scenes for the more panicky amongst us. No sudden swerving of traffic, huge dog eyeing you from afar, strange people walking toward you. For those afflicted with panic and anxiety disorder, it could be all three or none at all the cause for such panic attacks.  What they do need however is fast treatment of panic attacks to be administered. This is to prevent the said episode from being entrenched as yet another situational trigger in invoking yet another panic attack in the near future. It is bad enough that they do not know what it is that triggers these attack to have another already in mind which would just lead to further anxieties on their part.

For panic and anxiety disorder patients, the best treatment for panic attacks would be the many relaxant medications available on prescription basis including household drugs such as Xanax and Klanopin, to name but two. Having these relaxants at hand would allow those so afflicted with the two conditions to effect a do-it-yourself instant treatment. What the drugs would is to effect a relaxing impact on the body allowing it to stabilize, something which is easily the best treatment for panic attacks that could be administered immediately with little help. The availability of something so close at hand for the patients would also impart a certain comforting feeling that would help ease of any anxieties that could trigger another panic attack.

The same drugs are also some of the most effective medications for anxiety attacks as well. Their effect however is derive from the ultimate treatment for panic attacks and anxiety disorder condition which lay in the field of psychology. Getting to the root cause of how the anxieties come about is the only way to fully treat patients as the medications for anxiety attacks and panic attacks are at best a stop gap measure. Through sessions held with psychologists, patients would be able to build themselves up and strengthened the will into fighting the effect of both anxieties and panicky feeling when they rear their ugly head. These sessions would also allow the learning of techniques to fight and stabilize themselves including deep breathing and relaxation methods. Combining the two methods should allow panic and anxiety disorders patients to lead a normal life.

With the literal onslaught of technology in our lives today, most things that are usually taken at a normal pace two decades ago are now being confronted on a much faster pace.  Take communication for example.  It was not too long ago that we patiently wait for our correspondences to arrive using the post office services.  We wait for it to be delivered by our friendly neighborhood postman for several days or even weeks at times.
But nowadays, we get pretty much impatient when our e-mails were delayed for just a couple of minutes because of a clog in the servers or systems.  Again, this may cause great anxiety necessitating for us to find treatment for panic attacks.
Or how again, two decades ago we wait for somebody to call us thru the landline phone to confirm if they have received or understood our messages.  That confirmation may take several minutes or even hours to be completed because the person has to find the nearest telephone booth in the area.  But not now, with the advent of the cellular phones it is just a matter of seconds at most a matter of minutes to take confirmation because we can call him immediately or just text him thru SMS.
These forms of rapid information sharing coupled with the increase in the pace of our modern day lifestyles have made some people unable to cope with change.  Instead of helping them improve their lifestyles, technology on the other hand had made their lives worse.
The situation is worse, in a sense that people become easily irritable because of the rapid changes happening everywhere. It also causes them to have cold extremities, shortness of breath, palpitations, decreased focus leading to inefficiency at work, as well develop severe phobias of several kinds.  These are all symptoms of panic attacks.
The question now begs for the best treatment for panic attacks.  There are many solutions and medications available in the market today.  This article will briefly discuss some of those as well as some potential side effects of the medications.  This is just intended as a guide to make you better informed in choosing the right medications for you and for the sufferer.  It is always best to consult medical professionals or medical doctors for this matter.  Below are some examples.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are relatively new types of anti-depressant available today.  These were introduced mainly in the United States circa 1980’s thru the brand name Prozac.  These are meant to treat depression, social phobias as well as panic attack disorders.  These medications for anxiety attacks help the brain in managing the appropriate levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.  People suffering from anxiety and panic disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders or those with general or severe depressions are said to have low levels of neurotransmitter serotonin.
The potential side effects of these forms of medication can include headaches, irritability, nausea, abnormal sleep behaviors, inability to do sexual activities and occasional mood swings.
SSRI’s may include any of the following:
Generic Name                Equivalent Brand Names
•    Fluoxetine                 Prozac
•    Fluvoxamine                 Luvox
•    Sertraline                 Zoloft
•    Paroxetine                 Paxil
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s)
MAOIs are often used to treat panic attacks.  These medications fall under the anti-depressant group which is used to generally relieve and treat general and severe depressions as well as a treatment for panic attacks and social phobias.
However, possible side effects may include unusual sleep behavior, increased food intake thus the potential for gaining weight.  The person may also experience dry mouth and may also experience low blood pressure just to name a few.
The medical literature list the following as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI)
Generic Name                Equivalent Brand Names
•    Phenelzine                 Nardil
•    Tranylcypromine             Parnate
Mild Tranquilizer
The most common medically approved medication for anxiety and for mild depression is the tranquilizer Buspirone with a popular brand name of Buspar.  The drug is also effective in the treatment of social phobias and obsessive compulsive disorders which must be taken in combination with the other prescribed medicines.
The potential side effects of Buspirone may include headache and dizziness. But for some people they may experience mild drowsiness.
Generic Name                Equivalent Brand Names
•    Buspirone                 Buspar
But again, these information are just for general knowledge.  It is always best to consult with medical professionals and doctors to attain the best treatment for panic attacks.

Dr. Granet speaks with leading expert, Dr. Murray Stein on Social Anxiety Disorder

Click for more information on dealing with anxiety or for medications for anxiety attacks.