Suggest Treatment For Severe Panic Attacks

Posted on Fri, 24 Oct 2014

Question: Yes, I'm having a severe panic attack, what should I do?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do as mentioned below, provide more detail

Detailed Answer:
Hello Dear,

Thanks for writing to us.

I can understand your situation having panic attack.

It can be due to either physical or psychological factors.

Physical factors includes fever, hyperthyroid, blood pressure,heart pain, lung problems, substance use etc.

Psychological factors include any current or past history of stress which can be either social,personal,economical or occupational.

In both cases sympathetic nervous system activated and causes panic symptoms.

To get rid of panic attack following are the options.

One is mouth dissolving (if not available oral tablet also work) clonazepam 0.5 mg will make you calm. If not relived, you can take another.

Second is deep and slow breathing for 10-15 minutes i.e. inhale for 3 seconds,keep breath in the lung for 3 seconds and exhale for 3 seconds.This procedure will also relieve your panic symptoms.

Third option, do nothing. Just seat aside.Most of the panic attacks relieves in 15-30 minutes on its own.

If it is your first attack ever, you must have EKG(electrocardiogram) to rule out any heart problem.

If you can provide more detail about your panic attack as well as about physiological and psychological factors I mentioned above if any, I can guide you more specifically for investigation and treatment.

Hope I have answered your query,
regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (31 minutes later)

I've tried most of that but what is clonazepam?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is anti anxiety medicine

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow up query.
Clonazepam(klonopin) is anti anxiety medicine from benzodiazepines group. It is the most widely used drug to treat panic symptoms. If used in 1 mg or more dose, useful for sleep under your doctors guidance.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (12 minutes later)

Can you prescribe it cause I can't see my doctor till Thursday?
He put me on Effexor, but it doesn't help much, and today my heart is just racing.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Sorry I can't prescribe on this forum

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I can understand your situation.

At present to prescribe medicines on online forum is not permitted according to law.You can go to our GP and show our discussion and he/she can write prescription then.

Paroxetine(paxil) CR 12.5 mg to start with better option then effexor according to my opinion.

regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj