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Suggest Treatment For Panic Attacks And Depression
Question: My doctor just passed away. I picked up my records from his office this morning. I have anxiety so badly that I have twice ended up in the ER for panic attacks that I thought were heart attacks. My doctor gave me 1mg twice a day of xannax and my life has been fine without the anxiety. What can I now do since he passed away and the panic is coming back?
Brief Answer:
I would have given antidepressant
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.
The treatment of the panic attack is to take antidepressant medication which has similar efficacy in relieving anxiety symptoms. Most commonly used is paroxetine [paxil]. Others are lexapro, zoloft, prozac etc.
In my patients with panic attacks and anxiety, I would have given paxil 12.5 mg starting dose at night along with anxiolytic medications like klonopin 0.25 in the morning and 0.5 at night. As you are approaching towards older age, I would not give you paroxetine but a safer antidepressant like lexapro or zoloft which has less side effects.
As you doctor is passed away, you can consult another one but I would prefer you to consult a psychiatrist because physician will just give you anxiolytics like xanax. Benzodiazepins are not the treatment of panic attack. They can relieve symptoms temporarily but only antidepressant can give you complete relief.
So, an antidepressant and low dose anxiolytics would be the treatment of choice.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have further query then I shall be happy to help. Wish you good health.
I would have given antidepressant
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.
The treatment of the panic attack is to take antidepressant medication which has similar efficacy in relieving anxiety symptoms. Most commonly used is paroxetine [paxil]. Others are lexapro, zoloft, prozac etc.
In my patients with panic attacks and anxiety, I would have given paxil 12.5 mg starting dose at night along with anxiolytic medications like klonopin 0.25 in the morning and 0.5 at night. As you are approaching towards older age, I would not give you paroxetine but a safer antidepressant like lexapro or zoloft which has less side effects.
As you doctor is passed away, you can consult another one but I would prefer you to consult a psychiatrist because physician will just give you anxiolytics like xanax. Benzodiazepins are not the treatment of panic attack. They can relieve symptoms temporarily but only antidepressant can give you complete relief.
So, an antidepressant and low dose anxiolytics would be the treatment of choice.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have further query then I shall be happy to help. Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
all the anti depressants were tried before the xannax was tried. sorry, i should have mentioned that when i wrote. i took klonipin for YEARS before I finally got relief. I ended up in the ER...going through a battery of heart tests, being kept over night, all because of panic. nothing worked until this last med. sorry, I guess you don't have an answer either.
Brief Answer:
Name the antidepressants tried
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
I can understand the feeling you have, because of uncontrolled symptoms. I can give an opinion only after I have enough details. There are so many drugs that can help in treatment of panic attacks. Combination of antidepressants can be used. Since I do not have list of drugs tried for you, I can not suggest you any drug. If it is possible, give me the list of drugs you had in past.
I shall give a comment over the drugs. Long term use of the benzodiazepins is not recommended, it will make you dependent on it and you shall have withdrawal symptoms on discontinuing it.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not want to ask further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Name the antidepressants tried
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
I can understand the feeling you have, because of uncontrolled symptoms. I can give an opinion only after I have enough details. There are so many drugs that can help in treatment of panic attacks. Combination of antidepressants can be used. Since I do not have list of drugs tried for you, I can not suggest you any drug. If it is possible, give me the list of drugs you had in past.
I shall give a comment over the drugs. Long term use of the benzodiazepins is not recommended, it will make you dependent on it and you shall have withdrawal symptoms on discontinuing it.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not want to ask further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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