Types of medication for panic disorder and their function

Pharmacological treatment can be a useful component in the management of Panic Disorder, especially in cases of greater severity or when symptoms are very disabling.

Several types of medications have been shown to be effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of panic attacks and anticipatory anxiety.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs, such as fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, and escitalopram, are often considered the first line of pharmacological treatment for Panic Disorder.

Function: These medications work by increasing the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.

Serotonin plays an important role in regulating mood, anxiety, and sleep.

By increasing serotonin levels, SSRIs may help reduce the frequency and intensity of panic attacks and reduce overall anxiety in the long term.

They usually take several weeks to reach their full therapeutic effect and, like all medications, can have side effects.

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors

SNRIs, such as venlafaxine, may also be effective in treating Panic Disorder.

Function: These drugs act on two neurotransmitters: serotonin and norepinephrine.

By increasing the availability of both, they may have a broader spectrum of action in modulating mood and anxiety.

Norepinephrine is involved in alertness and energy response.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam, and diazepam, are medications anxiolytics that offer fast relief from the symptoms of panic and acute anxiety.

Function: They work by enhancing the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which has an inhibitory effect on the central nervous system, producing ca