A Natural Cure For Panic Attacks?
When a panic attack sufferer goes to a doctor, typically they are prescribed powerful mind-altering drugs or they are referred to psychiatric therapy. For many, these types of treatments are too expensive, have too many unwanted side effects or they just don’t work.
The Reality of Using Drugs to Treat Panic Attacks
Benzodiazepines and SSRIs (antidepressants) are typically prescribed for panic attacks.
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), including popular drugs such as Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa and others are antidepressants, typically prescribed to people with depression and personality disorders. These work by suppressing the use or “reuptake” of serotonin by the brain after it has been released. Suppressing serotonin reuptake has many effects; for some this can reduce anxiety and thus panic attacks.
SSRIs have a number negative side effects including increased anxiety in some cases. Other side effects include sexual dysfunction (loss of sexual desired, inability to have an orgasm, erectile dysfunction), tremors, live and renal impairment and more.
Use of SSRIs has been linked to suicide by some studies. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration has issued a caution regarding the prescription of SSRIs to children. Currently, several lawsuits are pending against makers of SSRIs related to side effects.
Another type of drug commonly prescribed for panic attacks are benzodiazepines or “benzos”. These are a class of powerful psychoactive drugs used to suppress anxiety. Xanax, Halcion, Librium, Valium and others are popular examples of benzodiazepines. These drugs work by interacting with natural chemistry of the brain to depress or stimulate the nervous system in certain ways.
Benzodiazepines can be physically addictive and care must be taken that users do not become dependent. Other side effects include confusion, depression, physical weakness, chest pain and amnesia. In some cases, extreme “paradoxical reactions” such as mania, extreme anger, impulsiveness or schizophrenia have been reported.
A Better Way
Drugs are clearly not the ideal way to treat everyone for panic attacks. The side effects alone prove to be intolerable for many. Not to mention the cost and risk of physical dependence. Also, the drugs are typically only a temporary fix – users often resume having panic attacks when they stop taking the drugs.
In recent years, several techniques have been developed to help panic and anxiety attack sufferers. These techniques aren’t merely coping mechanisms; they go to the root causes of panic attacks and help sufferers eliminate them for good.
Visit our website to learn more about safe, natural ways to stop panic attacks and general anxiety.
Steven K. Goodwin is a health and fitness writer for Health-Summit – an online magazine for physical health and mental well-being.
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