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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Have Panic Attacks And Chest Pain . Stopped Citrolopram. Alternate Medication?

I have severe panic disorder in which i feel like i am having a heart attack with feeling of doom. i have had this yeder for more than seven years. I was taking citrolopram for about five years and decided to stop in July. Since then, my panic attacks have increased immensely. I started taking webutrin but only lasted days on that due to the side effects. I am now taking citrolopram mg again for the past six weeks and have tremors and chest pain when i wake up every morning. It then turns into a major panic attack. Then i find that i have to take klonopin to take the edge away. I want to change to a different med than celexa and have heard that klonopin is the answer. What do you suggest?
Mon, 18 Feb 2013
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hi there, thanks for asking. You are right about clonopin. In the first few months of start or restart of the pharmacotherapy, clonopin or another medication from its class should be added to the treatment. Citalopram is a good medication for treating the panic attacks and you may use another medication from its class like escitalopram, paroxetine or even fluoxetine instead of citalopram. I understand that citalopram may have some side effects on you or even you may have become bored about using the medication. Wellbutrin is not an appropriate medication for panic disorder and can increase the attacks. I should say that management of panic disorder includes the combination of medication and talk sessions. When you talk in free association about the issues currently happening around you with a psychotherapist and get gradually some feedback, you will be able to discontinue gradually the medication without any problem. I wish you the best health.
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Have Panic Attacks And Chest Pain . Stopped Citrolopram. Alternate Medication?

Hi there, thanks for asking. You are right about clonopin. In the first few months of start or restart of the pharmacotherapy, clonopin or another medication from its class should be added to the treatment. Citalopram is a good medication for treating the panic attacks and you may use another medication from its class like escitalopram, paroxetine or even fluoxetine instead of citalopram. I understand that citalopram may have some side effects on you or even you may have become bored about using the medication. Wellbutrin is not an appropriate medication for panic disorder and can increase the attacks. I should say that management of panic disorder includes the combination of medication and talk sessions. When you talk in free association about the issues currently happening around you with a psychotherapist and get gradually some feedback, you will be able to discontinue gradually the medication without any problem. I wish you the best health.