Why Medication Isn’t the Best Way to Stop Panic Attacks

If you suffer from panic attacks, you know how important it is to find a cure.  However, many people think that medication is the best way to stop panic attacks, so they visit their doctor for a prescription.  Unfortunately, this is not true at all.  In fact, there are actually several reasons you should avoid using medication to stop panic attacks.  You can read some of the reasons below. 

First of all, medication doesn’t really stop panic attacks.  It stops the symptoms of panic attacks.  This means that when you stop using the medication, it’s extremely likely that you will start having panic attacks again, because you never dealt with the actual problem.  There’s obviously something that’s causing you to have panic attacks.  Until you understand the underlying cause, you’ll never truly be able to stop panic attacks.

Another reason that medication is not the best choice to stop panic attacks is because of the negative side effects.  Many of the anti-anxiety pills and anti-depressants used to stop panic attacks can have terrible side effects that may actually be worse for your health than the attacks themselves.  So, if you do decide that medication is an option, make sure you’re fully aware of all of the possible side effects before you start taking it. 

The next problem with using medication to stop panic attacks is the risk of dependency.  Several of the medications used for panic attacks and anxiety can be addictive.  This is a very serious problem for many people.  If you’re taking medication to stop panic attacks and are worried about becoming dependent, talk to your doctor.  They may be able to switch you to a medication that has a reduced risk of dependency.

Finally, the last reason that medication is not the best choice to stop panic attacks is the cost.  It can be very expensive.  First, you have the cost of the initial doctor’s visit.  Then you have the monthly cost of the medication.  Also, many doctors like to see you on a regular basis when you take this type of medication, so you will probably need several follow up visits as well.  This can be very expensive over time.

Now that you know some of the reasons it’s not a good idea to stop panic attacks using medication, you should also know that safe and effective panic attack treatments do exist.  If you research how to stop panic attacks online, there’s a ton of free information that can point you in the right direction.