Need a New Drug? How to Know When to Switch Panic Attack Medications

When you start taking a new medication you need to give it time to work, and the same is true when you start taking a new panic attack drug. It will take some time for the panic attack drug to work, and it will take some time for the side effects to subside as your body becomes used to the medication. But sometimes a panic attack drug is just no good for you, it’s not working or the side effects are not worth the therapeutic effects. How do you know when that time is? When is it right for you to ditch your old panic attack drug and try something new? It’s not an easy decision, and you should always approach it with the help of a doctor, but here are some tips to help you figure out if you need a new drug.

While you shouldn’t jump on the bandwagon of every panic attack drug being pushed by the pharmaceutical industry, you should probably think about changing your medication if it is old. With the way pharmaceutical research works, significant advances can occur quickly and often. This makes it likely that your panic attack drug is outdated, and that you won’t know it. On the other hand, just because it is outdated doesn’t mean it isn’t still the right drug for you. Consultation with your doctor will help you figure out whether it’s worth it to update your medication.

If your panic attack drug causes significant medical problems, you should think about using a different one. Nausea is not a significant medical problem. Neither is dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia or drymouth. These are side effects, and all medications have them. Your body will adjust and the side effects will subside, or your doctor can recommend ways to deal with them. For instance, if your panic attack drug makes you drowsy, take it before bed. If it causes drymouth, chewing sugarless gum can help. Fainting spells, physical pain, easy bruising and bleeding – these are serious medical conditions. Not many panic attack drugs list these things as possible side effects, but if you experience these types of things or other symptoms a medical condition, consult your doctor about ceasing or changing your medication.

If your panic attack drug makes you even more anxious than before, you should switch. It sounds silly, but a common side effect of some anti-anxiety medications is anxiety. If this is your reason for wanting to switch panic attack medications, give it a little more time. It could just take longer than expected for the drug to work. Your doctor will help make that call.

No matter what, when you decide to switch panic attack drugs, do so under the supervision of a doctor. Just stopping taking the medication can have significant consequences – you are particularly likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. If, however, you’ve given the medication a chance and you’re pretty sure it isn’t working, or may even be hurting, talk to your doctor about another panic attack drug that may be more suited to you.