PsychMD.info - Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder

What is Panic Disorder?

Panic Disorder is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.

Signs and Symptoms:

feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning
heart palpitations, chest pain or smothering sensations
sweating, shortness of breath
feeling weak, faint, or dizzy
numbness or tingling of hands
feeling flushed or chilled
sense of unreality
fear of impending doom or loss of control

How common is Panic Disorder?

About 1.2% of U.S. adults ages 18 to 54 ( 2.4 million people) have Panic Disorder during the course of a given year.

Treatment (combination of psychotherapy and medication(s) may be helpful):

cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): learning how to identify, evaluate and modify distorted cognition by changing thoughts and behaviors can help the patient manage anxiety more effectively
medications: some of the medications that have been used to treat Panic Disorder include:
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
- sertraline (Zoloft)
- fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- paroxetine (Paxil)
- citalopram (Celexa)
- escitalopram (Lexapro)
- venlafaxine (Effexor)
- imipramine (Tofranil)
- phenelzine (Nardil)
- lorazepam (Ativan)
- diazepam (Valium)
- alprazolam (Xanax)
- clonazepam (Klonopin)

Before taking medication for Panic Disorder:

Ask your doctor to tell you about the effects and side effects of the medication he or she is prescribing.
Tell your doctor about any alternative therapies or over-the-counter medications you are using.
Ask your doctor when and how the medication will be stopped. Some medications cannot safely be discontinued abruptly; they have to be tapered slowly under a physician's supervision.
Be aware that some medications are effective only as long as they are taken regularly, and symptoms may occur again when the medications are discontinued.
Work together with your doctor to determine the right dosage of the right medication to treat Panic Disorder.

Reference: National Institute of Mental Health