Is Xanax Safe To Take For Panic Attacks?

Posted on Sun, 5 Jun 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 5 Jun 2016 Answered on

Mon, 4 Jul 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am experiencing panic attacks which make me feel like I going to smother...I've dealt with these for years but it's been about a year or longer side I've had one....I have taken Effexor 225 mg for about 17 years and have Xanax as needed ( very careful with that although it helps) I have had trouble excepting that I need the medication...it's like I have to get approval from someone before I can take a Xanax... Just need your open ion...

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
yes you can take xanax, klonopin is an alternative

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us. I can understand your concern.

Many persons like you suffer from anxiety disorder lifelong. Like patients have to take medicines for lifelong in Diabetes or Blood pressure, sometime it happens with anxiety disorders also. You can simply accept the fact that you are one of them and there is no harm when with medicines you are living better life. I really appreciate your attitude toward xanax (you are very careful). As such I prefer mouth dissolving klonopin (clonazepam) instead of xanax in such conditions as it has lower dependence and tolerance potential than xanax. But you are comfortable with xanax and can control use of it as per doctor's prescription; you can use on required basis but nod daily.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (27 minutes later)

What are some things I could do to help with this, I tend to want to not do anything but sit down and give into it.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
you can do deep breathing exercise

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for follow up.

Other solution for anxiety disorder is psychotherapy.

In psychotherapy I recommend cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). In mild cases only CBT is sufficient. In moderate to severe cases initially medicines and then CBT is added. And later on medicines stopped gradually.

For a while do deep breathing exercise. Take deep slow breathing. Inhale for 3 seconds, keep breath in for 3 seconds and exhale for 3 seconds. Do it for 10 minutes. You will feel relax.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar