Suggest Treatment For Anxiety

Posted on Mon, 25 Aug 2014

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

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 Answered on

Thu, 11 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been diagnosed with Anxiety and suffer from panic attacks. I've been prescribed Xanex for emergencies but lately I've noticed that if I am excited for something or am really into a conversation I become shaky, my breathing gets shallow, and I feel hot even if it's cold, sometimes I feel like I'll pass out. Is there anything I can take to prevent this so I can be excited for thing again?

Answered by Dr. Sunil Gupta (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Medications like paroxetine will help.

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX

I went through your query and can understand your concern regarding your symptoms. Your symptoms are explainable by the fact that you have anxiety as such.

Xanax is alprazolam which is used to relax oneself while having anxiety. However, it only reduces the symptoms at that point and does not prevent further attacks as such. More so, taking xanax only for long periods for anxiety can run the risk of becoming dependent on it.

I would suggest that you consult a psychiatrist for initiating treatment for your condition. Had I been your psychiatrist, I would have started you on one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline or paroxetine. These medications will help control your anxiety, and prevent your panic attacks as well the 'excitement' from occurring.

I hope that answers your query. Please let me know if you have any further queries.

Best wishes,

Dr. Sunil Gupta

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