Allow me to describe to you some important issues related to dealing with panic attacks. I have written articles on dealing with panic attacks and how the physical symptoms of panic attacks, such as chest pains, breathlessness, or dizziness, can cause people really worry for quite some time. Nobody will be surprised then that people often visit their doctor as soon as possible. Especially if you fear something is physically wrong with you, e.g. worries about having a heart problem, a brain tumour, a lung problem etc. However, visiting your physician just to receive a “quick-fix” recipe of panic pills or panic tablets may not be the best idea. Let me describe to you what I feel are the main pros and cons of using panic medication.

So how to stop panic attacks then? What is essential in learning about how to stop panic attacks is the notion that the core problem is not physical at all but is in your mind. No, you are not crazy, but it is well-known and well-documented that panic symptoms themselves are not dangerous. Naturally I agree they are awful to experience, but they do not bring your health in actual danger. So a large part of learning how to get rid of panic attacks is related to your beliefs about the symptoms. But of course, your panic attacks might feel so out of control to you that you truly believe panic pills are a necessity, so you go see your doctor to get your panic tablet. Now, do panic pills have a role to play here?

Let me first tell you when I think they have a role to play:

1. If your life is so disrupted by your panic symptoms that you feel it is impossible to function normally. For example, you just cannot go to, or function at work, or the quality of your relationships is going down, or you just seem to be avoiding situations or places for fear of panic, and where this avoidance makes your life a lot harder.

2. After some considerable time you still haven’t managed to overcome panic attacks through any other means (e.g. relaxation techniques, lifestyle alterations, controlled breathing, or counselling)

3. If your panic attacks are in fact linked to another condition you might have, and which needs medication.

For reasons why you should not take panic tablets you could of course simply look at the opposite of the reasons given above. But here are three additional reasons why panic tablets might not be the best option.

1. If your symptoms do not disrupt your life too much (see point 1. above) and you feel this is unlikely to happen.

2. If what you want is immediate help every time, yet, you are also aware that panic attacks can only truly be overcome through a psychological approach.

3. If you can confirm to yourself that in fairness, you suffer from a high level of dependency on, or addiction to, tablets or medication.

If you do decide to go ahead with “panic pills”, then please make sure you understand if this has any negative effect on other medication you are currently taking. Also, be aware that you could be taking panic tablets for quite some time, and not everybody is comfortable with that.

In any case, please realize that you should try not to grab the panic pills immediately when trying to get rid of panic attacks, because controlling your panic attacks for the long-term can really best be done without relying on them. It will help you get rid of panic attacks better perhaps, and also, in might make it more possible for you to use psychological treatment.