Antidepressants in the panic attacks treatment

Antidepressants in the treatment

Antidepressants in the panic attacks treatment have been applied as anti panic medication.

Anti panic medications

Among the antidepressants in the treatment of panic disorders are currently using tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Tricyclic antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants – the first group of drugs that has been found full anti panic effects.
The most frequently used tricyclic antidepressants in panic attack: imipramine, clomipramine, amitriptyline.

Tricyclic antidepressants are the drugs of choice in cases of concomitant depressive disorders and agoraphobia pronounced.

Treatment of tricyclic antidepressants begin with small doses (12,5-25 mg / day), further doses are gradually increased to a mild level (on average 12,5-25 mg for 3-5 days).
The average effective daily dose is usually 150-200 mg / day, rarely reaches 300 mg.

The therapeutic effect of tricyclic antidepressants is the remoteness in time of anti panic efficiency – the first improvement in 2-3 weeks.

Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants:

• Sometimes in the first weeks of treatment there is worsening of symptoms;
• Dry mouth, weight gain, constipation, palpitations, a sense of internal trembling.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), another class of antidepressants are widely used in the treatments for depression.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors include: fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa).

Treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors starts with a minimum dose (5 mg fluoxetine, 50 mg of fluvoxamine, 25 mg of sertraline) and within 2 weeks, the dose is being sent to the middle, and then, if necessary, increase or remain the same.
Subsequently, even when long-term therapy, the dose does not change.

The features of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are that for a long time treatment of these drugs are much more convenient than the tricyclic antidepressants.

Side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors:

• Emergence during the first 2-3 weeks of treatment hyperstimulation (irritability, insomnia, nervousness), and increased anxiety and panic attacks symptoms.