Anxiety Attack Medications-What's Available To Sufferers?

Anxiety attack medications can help treat six main problems associated with this condition. General anxiety, panic attacks, simple phobias, obsessions, social anxieties and depression asscociated with anxiety or panic.

As with the treatment of any condition, anxiety attack medications should not be taken unless you have consulted with your doctor.New medications are constantly being tested for anxiety related problems. Anxiety attack medications should only be prescribed by your physician or psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of these disorders.

This article will mainly discuss the latter form of anxiety attack medication.

What Are The Drug Classes To Treat Anxiety Attacks?

Traditionally there are a few drug classes that are used to treat anxiety attacks. These are “Azapirones”, “Benzodiazepines”, “Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors”, “Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors”, “Tricyclic Antidepressants”, and a selection of other antidepressants. The most effect of these medication types that are most often prescribed to anxiety attack suffers is the benzodiazepine. “Alprazolam” is the most commonly prescribed of that particular drug type. There is also a type of anxiety attack medication called “beta blockers”.

Beta blockers are especially helpful in controlling the physical symptoms of panic and anxiety attacks. They are traditionally prescribed to aide in the prevention of rapid heartbeat, shaking and trembling related symptoms. Beta blockers also tent to have fewer side effects than any other forms of medication, but they can cause insomnia and other sleep-related issues like nightmares. Most health care professionals suggest against beta blockers, however, because it does not actually cure the anxiety attack.

The Tricyclic Antidepressants are another popular class of drugs used to treat panic attack symptoms. “Tofranil”, “Nortriptyline”, and “Venlafaxine” are all types of Tricyclic Antidepressants. These medications are also used to fight severe depression and obsession disorders like obsessive compulsive disorder. As with most medications of this type, there are side effects including loss of sex drive, trouble urinating, erectile dysfunction, and disturbed sleeping patterns. Some patients discover that the side effects of some anxiety attack medication can be worse than the actual problem.

Also worth discussing briefly are the benzodiazepines. Some people take these drugs as a single dose while others can end up on them for several years; each case is different. The benzodiazepine is, however, medication that claims it solves anxiety symptoms in 70-80% of the users. The only issue with this is that the pamphlet that is included with the drug states that benzodiazepine can actually CAUSE anxiety! Xanax is a popular benzodiazepine, for example.

Without medications, sufferers of anxiety attack can lapse back into their troubling symptoms. Some medicines can be beneficial in the short term while a patient is undergoing the process of healing. The body is a great natural healer but for some, the knowledge of being able to turn to medication when needed acts as somewhat of a support base. The last thing you want to do if you suffer from anxiety attacks is look for a quick fix or quick solution.