Can anyone help?, i suffer from panick attacks badly, what do other people do and what medications work?

At their worst i drove myself to hospital because i just couldnt calm down and was freezing cold, i would never drive again having one, i thought i wasn't going to make it there i felt that bad, it was really scary. The doctor prescribed me propranolol 40mg which don't have much effect, the more i think about when it's going to happen again, the worse it gets, they say it's anxeity, but i dont feel stressed so i can't understand it, i have heard some people take anti depressants and wondered if i should maybe ask the doctor to change to that?
Answer:
First of all I am sorry to hear about your problem, you need to do two things.

The first is the most important is to try and find the trigger to your attack, although this may be hard keep a record of all events leading up to your attack and try and find the trigger. Once you know you can work out when an attack is about to happen and then you can take the second step.

Learn to breathe properly from the diaphragm this can be taught by a physilogist and with practice will help. This is an alternative to drugs. Ask your GP.

It is important NOT to stop any medication without discussing this with your GP, however a non drug package can be worked out with your doctor.

Good luck!

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You need to ask for something JUST for panic attacks. Something like ativan, or valium. I get panic attacks myself and know how scary they can be! sometimes it feels like your going to die! just know that your not alone in this. hope this helped somewhat!

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I have the same problem. They have me on 10mg Lexapro and 1mg of Clonazepam up to four x-daily. It's helped significantly with my panic attacks. I was having them every day some fairly severe to where I felt paralyzed, couldnt make decisions etc, its an awful feeling. Since they put me on these I havent had a panic attack in about a month now, so I would go see your regular doctor and tell them ALL your symptoms, they need to know everything to properly prescribe for you.

Good luck and contact me if you ever need someone to chat with!

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You are describing anxiety and most everyone will experience this some time in their lives. Although you may not feel stressed there is stress. You would not be human without it. It simply catches up with you. Anti-depressant are commonly used. Such as Paxil, Zoloft, Buspar, Effexor etc. Some doctor suggest you see a therapist as well.
The medication you were given in the ER was a beta blocker. It was given in an effort to slow your heart beat down. This is why you did not really feel "better." Make an appointment to discuss it further with your doctor. And, you are right, do not drive when this occurs. Your judgment is all off when this occurs.

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Go back to the doc %26 tell him it isn't helping. There are other beta blockers which may suit you better - they have to start with something - it doesn't mean it will be the right one for you.

Good luck with this - believe me it gets better and worrying about it DOES make it worse!

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i suffer from panic attacks when im under alot of stress i have found green tea is good for stress and there is lots of herbal remadys too i dont recon anti depressants thay are very addictive and messed my head up(A GOOD BROWN PAPPER BAG DOES THE TRICK TOO)

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I definately know what you're going through, I've been having panic attacks since I was around 12 or 13. The best advice I can give you is to do a LOT of research. The internet is an excellent resource. Also, don't go to your doctor and just accept whatever prescription he gives you, trusting it'll work-- sit down with him/her and discuss your options together.

Panic attacks are tricky to deal with because not everyone experiences the same sensations and not everyone has the same triggers (a lot of people don't even *have* triggers), so doing some research could really help you and your doctor to better understand what's happening and what your options are. I've read some studies that say anti-depressants might actually make panic attacks worse, not to mention they can also cause a lot of other problems.

I really hope I've been able to help you somehow. I truly know how scary it is. If you have any more questions or just need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to send me an e-mail!

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