Panic Attack Medication, Do I Really Need it?

Learning What You Need To Know About Panic Attack Medication
Panic Attack Medication: Taking Them Isn’t a Lifelong Sentence

“Do I really need panic attack medication?” This is a question that many people who have panic attacks ask themselves – both people who are already taking it, and people who are thinking about taking it. The answer to that question depends on you. It depends on how bad your panic attacks are, how often they happen, and how much they affect your everyday life. These issues can be talked about with your doctor, who should be a big part of any treatment you decide to use. But before you talk with your doctor, let’s talk about medication.

Anti-anxiety medication is commonly used to help people handle their panic attacks. But they are not used by themselves! Panic attack medication should always be part of the big picture of treating panic attacks. For example, treating panic attacks often includes lots of different things, including therapy, relaxation methods, hypnosis and natural treatments. Everyone’s treatment is different, because everyone’s panic attacks are different – and because everyone has different ideas about what type of medical treatments are best for them.

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If panic attack medication ends up being part of your treatment, then you’ll probably take one of these types of medication:

  • Beta Blockers
  • Tricyclic Antidepressants
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
  • Mild Tranquilizers
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

You can find more information about these types of medications from your doctor, or from medical websites. For now, you probably want to know how long you will have to take a medication – if you decide with your doctor that panic attack medication is right for you. The good news is that most doctors suggest using medications for a little while, and then slowly going off them as you gain new skills for controlling your panic attacks.

For example, one thing many doctors and psychologists (therapists) ask their patient’s to try when they are learning how to control their panic attacks is The Linden Method. This is a program of recovery that helps people learn how to control their panic attacks, without using medication. It also helps people learn how to come off their medication safely, which is why many doctors recommend The Linden Method.

Going back to the original question, “Do I really need panic attack medication?” The answer is that yes, you might really need panic attack medication. But if you do, you won’t have to take it forever. You’ll take panic attack medication for a while, and then you’ll be able to stop taking it once you learn how to control your panic attacks.

Related Article: Should I use XANAX for panic attacks and general anxiety?