Suffering from panic attacks can be frightening and sometimes debilitating. It is important to understand all of the information available about this condition and explore your treatment options, including panic attack medication. Some medications work more slowly than others, and many of them need to be taken for several weeks before any considerable benefits can be observed.

Some individuals will experience temporary side effects when they start a course of panic attack medication. The important thing to remember is that the side effects are temporary, and if the medication is working, it is very important to continue taking it as prescribed. People who cannot tolerate unwanted side effects should return to their health care provider and explore alternative options.

Depending on which medication you have been prescribed and how long you have been taking it, you may need to try several medications before you find that works for you and your particular symptoms. It is important to find the one that is best for you, so give them time to work, but if you find your prescription is ineffective, go back to your health care provider and request a different type of medication.

Unfortunately some medications are highly addictive even though they are very effective. For this reason, many are only meant for short term use to address immediate concerns. After a certain course of an addictive type of medication, you may be prescribed an alternative medication that is more suitable on a long-term basis. It is very important to remember that any prescribed medication should be taken as directed and that you should never suddenly stop taking a medication without speaking to your health care provider first.

There are many types of medications available to treat panic attack disorder. Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors include medications known as Paxil, Luvox, Zoloft, Prozac and Celexa. These medications were developed to treat depression, but are very effective in treating anxiety and panic disorders. The side effects may be constipation, upset stomach, drowsiness, headaches and sexual dysfunction. Benzodiazepines including Xanax, Ativan, Valium, and Rivotril, but these types of medications are of the highly addictive variety and are only recommended for short term use. They are also not recommended for elderly patients.

Beta blockers are the most common types of medications used to treat anxiety. These include Inderal, Corgard and Tenormin. These medications work by reducing blood pressure and slowing the heart rate, so they are very helpful in treating the physical symptoms of an attack. They do have some side effects such as drowsiness, short-term memory loss, insomnia, diarrhea, depression and nightmares. Monomine Oxidase Inhibitors include Nardil and Parnate. These drugs were also developed to treat depression, but have also been found effective to treat anxiety. The issue with these medications is that there are numerous dietary restrictions. Tricylclic Anti-depressants include Elavil, Tofranil and Anafranil. These medications were also developed for the treatment of depression but are effective to treat anxiety disorders. The common side effects are drowsiness, constipation, stomach upset, headaches, and sexual dysfunction.

Scientists are in constant search of a “better” panic attack medication, and new prescription products hit the market every couple of years. Many of these medications are still undergoing clinical trials, so it is important to keep checking with your health care provider for new options and treatments.