Panic disorder

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Panic attacks

The goal of treatment is to help you function well during everyday life. A combination of medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works best.

Antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are most commonly prescribed for panic disorder. These include:

• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Paroxetine (Paxil)
• Other SSRIs

Other medications that may be used include:

• Other types of antidepressants, such as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Antiseizure drugs in severe cases
• Benzodiazepines, including diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), and lorazepam (Ativan) may be used for a short time.
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are only used when the other drugs do not work, however they can have serious side effects.

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Your symptoms should slowly get better over a few weeks. Talk to your doctor if they do not. Do not stop taking your medications without talking with your health care provider.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you understand your behaviors and how to change them. You should have 10 to 20 visits over a number of weeks. During therapy you will learn how to:

• Understand and control distorted views of life stressors, such as other people's behavior or life events.
• Recognize and replace panic-causing thoughts, and decrease the sense of helplessness.
• Manage stress and relax when symptoms occur.
• Imagine the things that cause the anxiety, starting with the least fearful. Slowly become involved in the real-life situation may help you overcome the fears.

The following may also help reduce the number or severity of panic attacks:

• Regular exercise
• Getting enough sleep
• Regularly scheduled meals
• Reduce or avoid caffeine, certain cold medicines, and stimulants

Panic disorders may be long-lasting and difficult to treat. Some people with this disorder may not be cured with treatment. However, most people get better with a combination of medicine and behavioral therapy.