Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary When you have panic disorder, you have repeated, unexpected panic attacks. And you worry all the time about having another attack. A panic attack is a sudden feeling of very bad anxiety. It may make you feel short of breath or dizzy or make your heart pound. An attack may last from 5 to 20 minutes or up to a few hours. You feel most anxious about 10 minutes into the attack. Panic disorder can lower your quality of life. It can get in the way of your daily life and work. If you have panic disorder, you are more likely to have other problems, including: The two types of medicines used most often are antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Some people use both. Antidepressants should help you start to feel better within 1 to 3 weeks. But it can take as many as 6 to 8 weeks to see more improvement. Talk with your doctor if: The medicines may cause side effects, but these are usually mild. They may get better after a few weeks. Benzodiazepines help relieve symptoms right away. You may have to try more than one medicine to find one that works. Your doctor may have you switch to another medicine if the first one doesn't help. Some people use counseling, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to treat panic disorder. It can help you to: Other treatments include support groups and exercises that help you relax, such as progressive muscle relaxation or meditation. Your doctor might advise you to take medicines if: Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I was having lunch with some friends and suddenly began to feel strange—like I couldn't breathe and my heart was pounding. I didn't know what was happening; I thought I was having a heart attack. Although the symptoms began to go away after about 10 minutes, I went to the emergency room, where they did some tests and didn't find anything wrong. A week later, the same thing happened in the middle of the night. I went to see my doctor, and she suggested I may have had a panic attack. Since then, the attacks have been occurring at least once a week, and I have been diagnosed with panic disorder. Although each attack is still a horrible experience, I now know what is happening and that I will get through it. I have been going to therapy for several weeks and am learning how to deal with the symptoms of panic attacks. They are less frequent now and less intense. I think I can get through this without taking any medicine. Annie, age 32 As an executive, I have to travel a lot for my job. A few months ago, I was boarding a plane for a business trip, and I began to feel very apprehensive. I felt trapped and got off the plane because I was shaking and sweating and my heart was pounding. I wasn't sure exactly what was wrong, but I felt like I was dying. I had a drink at the bar and was still shaky but took a later flight. After that I began to feel nervous if I even thought about flying, and I had several more similar attacks. Then I had an attack on the subway. I felt like everyone was watching me and there was no escape. I didn't even want to go to the office after that because I was afraid I could have an attack at any moment. My doctor says I have panic disorder and agoraphobia. I can hardly function, so I am going to take antidepressants and try exposure therapy. My doctor says a benzodiazepine would make the symptoms go away sooner. But I am worried they will make me too drowsy and they may be too hard for me to quit. Manuel, age 43 When I divorced my wife, Celia, I began to feel down and very anxious. As a contractor, I have to deal with people every day, and it seemed very hard to do my job when I felt so stressed out and depressed. I had my first panic attack when my dog got lost at a job. I knew he was probably fine and would soon come back, but with the stress of everything else it just seemed like more than I could handle. I felt awful; I was choking and had bad stomach cramps. Since then, I have had attacks like this nearly every day and a lot of the time I feel down in the dumps. I have been diagnosed with panic disorder and depression. I am going to therapy, and it seems to help a little, but I still have panic attacks and often feel like life is not worth living, and I feel anxious about interacting with people at all. At first I didn't want to take any medicine. But after reading about it and talking it over with my doctor, I decided to start taking an antidepressant. Louis, age 28 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to take medicines for panic disorder Reasons not to take medicines for panic disorder I am willing to take medicine for at least several months, or longer if I need to. I don't want to take medicines if at all possible. My panic disorder is not improving enough with counseling alone. I want to continue counseling, without medicine, at least for a while. I think my symptoms may be worse than the possible side effects of the medicine. I think the side effects of the medicine would be worse than my symptoms. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Taking medicines NOT taking medicines Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. When you have panic disorder, you have repeated, unexpected panic attacks. And you worry all the time about having another attack. A panic attack is a sudden feeling of very bad anxiety. It may make you feel short of breath or dizzy or make your heart pound. An attack may last from 5 to 20 minutes or up to a few hours. You feel most anxious about 10 minutes into the attack. Panic disorder can lower your quality of life. It can get in the way of your daily life and work. If you have panic disorder, you are more likely to have other problems, including: The two types of medicines used most often are antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Some people use both. Antidepressants should help you start to feel better within 1 to 3 weeks. But it can take as many as 6 to 8 weeks to see more improvement. Talk with your doctor if: The medicines may cause side effects, but these are usually mild. They may get better after a few weeks. Benzodiazepines help relieve symptoms right away. You may have to try more than one medicine to find one that works. Your doctor may have you switch to another medicine if the first one doesn't help. Some people use counseling, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to treat panic disorder. It can help you to: Other treatments include support groups and exercises that help you relax, such as progressive muscle relaxation or meditation. Your doctor might advise you to take medicines if: These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "I was having lunch with some friends and suddenly began to feel strange—like I couldn't breathe and my heart was pounding. I didn't know what was happening; I thought I was having a heart attack. Although the symptoms began to go away after about 10 minutes, I went to the emergency room, where they did some tests and didn't find anything wrong. A week later, the same thing happened in the middle of the night. I went to see my doctor, and she suggested I may have had a panic attack. Since then, the attacks have been occurring at least once a week, and I have been diagnosed with panic disorder. Although each attack is still a horrible experience, I now know what is happening and that I will get through it. I have been going to therapy for several weeks and am learning how to deal with the symptoms of panic attacks. They are less frequent now and less intense. I think I can get through this without taking any medicine." — Annie, age 32 "As an executive, I have to travel a lot for my job. A few months ago, I was boarding a plane for a business trip, and I began to feel very apprehensive. I felt trapped and got off the plane because I was shaking and sweating and my heart was pounding. I wasn't sure exactly what was wrong, but I felt like I was dying. I had a drink at the bar and was still shaky but took a later flight. After that I began to feel nervous if I even thought about flying, and I had several more similar attacks. Then I had an attack on the subway. I felt like everyone was watching me and there was no escape. I didn't even want to go to the office after that because I was afraid I could have an attack at any moment. My doctor says I have panic disorder and agoraphobia. I can hardly function, so I am going to take antidepressants and try exposure therapy. My doctor says a benzodiazepine would make the symptoms go away sooner. But I am worried they will make me too drowsy and they may be too hard for me to quit." — Manuel, age 43 "When I divorced my wife, Celia, I began to feel down and very anxious. As a contractor, I have to deal with people every day, and it seemed very hard to do my job when I felt so stressed out and depressed. I had my first panic attack when my dog got lost at a job. I knew he was probably fine and would soon come back, but with the stress of everything else it just seemed like more than I could handle. I felt awful; I was choking and had bad stomach cramps. Since then, I have had attacks like this nearly every day and a lot of the time I feel down in the dumps. I have been diagnosed with panic disorder and depression. I am going to therapy, and it seems to help a little, but I still have panic attacks and often feel like life is not worth living, and I feel anxious about interacting with people at all. At first I didn't want to take any medicine. But after reading about it and talking it over with my doctor, I decided to start taking an antidepressant." — Louis, age 28 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to take medicines for panic disorder Reasons not to take medicines for panic disorder I am willing to take medicine for at least several months, or longer if I need to. I don't want to take medicines if at all possible. My panic disorder is not improving enough with counseling alone. I want to continue counseling, without medicine, at least for a while. I think my symptoms may be worse than the possible side effects of the medicine. I think the side effects of the medicine would be worse than my symptoms. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Taking medicines NOT taking medicines 1.
Taking medicine is the only way I can treat my panic disorder. 2.
There are two different kinds of medicines that I can take to help my panic disorder. 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: June 24, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardPanic Disorder: Should I Take Medicine?
Panic Disorder: Should I Take Medicine?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is panic disorder?
What are the risks of panic disorder?
What types of medicines are used for panic disorder?
What can you expect if you take medicines for panic disorder?
What can you expect if you DO NOT take medicines for panic disorder?
Why might your doctor recommend taking medicines?
Compare your options
Personal stories about people deciding whether to take medicine to treat panic disorder
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits
Author Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Panic Disorder: Should I Take Medicine?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is panic disorder?
What are the risks of panic disorder?
What types of medicines are used for panic disorder?
What can you expect if you take medicines for panic disorder?
What can you expect if you DO NOT take medicines for panic disorder?
Why might your doctor recommend taking medicines?
2. Compare your options
Take medicines for panic disorder Don't take medicines What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories about people deciding whether to take medicine to treat panic disorder
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
FAQs
Take medicines for panic disorder Take medicines for panic disorder
Don't take medicines Don't take medicines
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Leaning toward
Undecided
Leaning toward
Not sure at all
Somewhat sure
Very sure
Credits
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
FAQs
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
More important
Leaning toward
Undecided
Leaning toward
You're right. Counseling works just as well for many people.
That's right. Antidepressants are taken every day for long-term treatment. Benzodiazepines are taken as needed to help relieve your symptoms.
Not sure at all
Somewhat sure
Very sure
Credits