Table of contents:
- Latest antidepressants
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Anxiolytics for panic attacks
- Benzodiazepines
- High potency benzodiazepines
- Psychological treatment for panic attacks
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Panic attacks are part of the so-called anxiety disorders, which present symptoms that include fear, anxiety, a feeling of losing control and catastrophic thoughts about death. The objective of pharmacological treatment in panic disorders is based on alleviating the set of symptoms that occur, preventing relapses and avoiding the sequelae from the drug. However, it is recommended that pharmacological treatment be combined with psychological treatment. In this Psychology-Online article, we will explain panic attacks: pharmacological treatment.
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Original text
- Paroxetine
- Sertraline
- Fluvoxamine
- Citalopram
- Fazodone
- Venlafaxine XR
- Mirtazapine
- Reboxetine
- Imipramine
- Clomipramine
- Desipramine
- Doxepin
- Amitriptyline
- Nortriptyline
- Alprazolam: it has proven to be the most effective benzodiazepine in treatment, due to its short-lived effects, administered three to five times per day.
- Cano, A., et al. (2011). Panic disorder in primary care. Papers of the Psychologist, 32, 265-273.
- Fe Bravo, M. (2002). Psychopharmacology for psychologists. Madrid: Synthesis.
- Fernández, M., Rubén, S. (2006). Background and critical review of the so-called "Panic attack ." Perspectives in Psychology, 13, 57-66.
Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages for each individual patient, but they have proven to be almost as effective. The duration of treatment is approximately three to eight weeks and the dose administered is lower than in the treatment of depression and with time they are increased the same or higher doses than in depressive disorders.
Latest antidepressants
When SSRI drugs have not achieved patient improvement or have not been tolerated by the patient, the use of these drugs is used as the second line of treatment choice. Thus, although SSRI drugs are the only drugs officially approved for the treatment of panic attacks, several pieces of evidence indicate the efficacy of this group of antidepressants for treatment. This group of drugs includes:
Tricyclic antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants are considered second or third line drugs due to the numerous side effects they produce and the difficulty in adjusting their dose. Also, very occasionally a patient will respond to a tricyclic antidepressant, and not an SSRI. The tricyclic antidepressants that have been used the most and have shown their effectiveness are the following:
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Irreversible MAOIs have also been shown to be effective in the pharmacological treatment of panic attack. However, they have become second or third line drugs due to side effects, diet restriction (low tyramine diet) and other medications during treatment. As well as the need for a washout period of two weeks in case of drug treatment changes.
Anxiolytics for panic attacks
Benzodiazepines
The benzodiazepines, along with taking antidepressants, particularly the SSRIs, have become the most common treatment for panic attackespecially if long-term treatment is expected. The advantage of its use is the rapid effect in reducing anxiety and attacks, since antidepressants have a delayed action as a disadvantage. However, it produces side effects and creates dependency, implying the possibility of a withdrawal syndrome. Therefore, they tend to be used in the event that it is necessary in specific cases. that is, in case of sudden and unexpected decompensation or stressors and in moderation. Generally, they are useful at the beginning of treatment or when looking for a quick effect. Occasionally, after symptoms have been reduced for several months and a year, the anxiolytic tends to be withdrawn and the antidepressant alone administered. Finally,It should be noted that high-potency benzodiazepines have been found to be more effective in panic attacks than low-potency ones.
High potency benzodiazepines
Psychological treatment for panic attacks
It has been empirically proven that the most effective psychological therapy for the treatment of panic attacks is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), with a combination of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is made up of the cognitive and behavioral aspects.
Cognitive orientation seeks to identify cognitive distortions, irrational thoughts and modify them, while behavioral orientation aims to modify the person's responses, generally exposing the patient to those objects or situations that have been related to the attack of panic in a gradual way.
It has been shown that in many cases, patients who undergo psychological treatment for long enough present an improvement that contemplates more possibilities of being maintained after the end of the treatment than the improvement that occurs with the drug after the withdrawal of its administration. Therefore, CBT has no side effects and also ensures less likelihood of relapse.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Panic attacks: drug treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Psychopharmaceuticals.
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