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Suggest Alternative Medication For Anxiety And Panic Attacks

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Posted on Tue, 8 Sep 2015
Question: I have found myself in a bit of a jam in regards to my medical & psychiartric care. I am out of Xanax, my GP says I need to go see a psychiatrist, which is fine, except there is a major shortage of psychiatric services and I am unable to get an appointment until December. I don't know what to do. I went to the ER, they told me to contact my primary care physician. Called my primary care physician and was told he was out of the office all week and I should go to the ER. I'm stuck. I don't know what to do. I have been using all of the other tools I know to calm my anxiety to no avail.
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Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (53 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
For prescription visit ER but other medicines can also be utilised

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern. You have been taking Zoloft (Sertraline), Xanax (Alprazolam) and Ativan (Lorazepam) since years and now out of Xanax. Both Xanax and Ativan are benzodiazepines and sometimes it becomes difficult to get prescription of these drugs because of risk of dependence. Due to this a lot of PCPs or general doctors show reluctance to prescribe these. You have tried relaxation exercises, breathing exercises but still panic symptoms are persisting.

To calm the anxiety and panic if you have some prescription of even any other benzodiazepine left then you can take it. This will help you to relax a bit. Other medicines that have actions almost similar to benzodiazepines like Pregabalin or Gabapentin can be used. These medicines help to reduce the severity of attacks and help in good sleep. For severe panic medicines like Propranolol can be used. The drug helps to reduce the symptoms and thus cause relaxation. You can talk to your GP for prescription of either of these drugs.

Other option is to visit an ER. For severe panic injectables benzodiazepines especially like Lorazepam or Ativan can be used. This will reduce the panic and you might get some days prescription and this would help you to pass the time till you see a psychiatrist.

Home based treatments like Green tea can be used. This will help to relax you to some extent. Herbal medicines like Ashwagandha can be utilised for quick relief. The medicine can be found in a number of online sites and this also helps a lot in reducing anxiety and the medicine also cause good sleep.

Thanks, Don't remain stressed, the anxiety and panic symptoms are not permanent. With proper medicines the symptoms would reduce.

If you have more doubts please ask again. Take care
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5193 Questions

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Suggest Alternative Medication For Anxiety And Panic Attacks

Brief Answer: For prescription visit ER but other medicines can also be utilised Detailed Answer: Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries I can understand your concern. You have been taking Zoloft (Sertraline), Xanax (Alprazolam) and Ativan (Lorazepam) since years and now out of Xanax. Both Xanax and Ativan are benzodiazepines and sometimes it becomes difficult to get prescription of these drugs because of risk of dependence. Due to this a lot of PCPs or general doctors show reluctance to prescribe these. You have tried relaxation exercises, breathing exercises but still panic symptoms are persisting. To calm the anxiety and panic if you have some prescription of even any other benzodiazepine left then you can take it. This will help you to relax a bit. Other medicines that have actions almost similar to benzodiazepines like Pregabalin or Gabapentin can be used. These medicines help to reduce the severity of attacks and help in good sleep. For severe panic medicines like Propranolol can be used. The drug helps to reduce the symptoms and thus cause relaxation. You can talk to your GP for prescription of either of these drugs. Other option is to visit an ER. For severe panic injectables benzodiazepines especially like Lorazepam or Ativan can be used. This will reduce the panic and you might get some days prescription and this would help you to pass the time till you see a psychiatrist. Home based treatments like Green tea can be used. This will help to relax you to some extent. Herbal medicines like Ashwagandha can be utilised for quick relief. The medicine can be found in a number of online sites and this also helps a lot in reducing anxiety and the medicine also cause good sleep. Thanks, Don't remain stressed, the anxiety and panic symptoms are not permanent. With proper medicines the symptoms would reduce. If you have more doubts please ask again. Take care