Medication for panic attacks and anxiety disorders aims to alleviate symptoms. These include anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and beta-blockers.

Panic attacks are sudden, brief experiences of extreme fear. Anxiety involves feelings of panic, fear, and nervousness that arise when a person feels stressed, threatened, and under pressure.

Panic attacks and disproportionate anxiety levels can be symptoms of panic disorder, an anxiety disorder that causes a person to have frequent, abrupt feelings of panic, stress, and fear. Usually, symptoms occur with no clear cause.

Treatment involves alleviating symptoms and reducing the amount of anxiety and panic attacks a person experiences. Depending on the symptoms and severity, a person may use a combination of medication and other treatments, such as talk therapy.

This article will cover the best medications for panic attacks and anxiety, common symptoms, additional treatment options, and getting support.

An image of a female alongside a medication package which may be used for panic attacks and anxiety.Share on Pinterest
Design by MNT; Photography by Jonathan Knowles/Getty Images & Jordan Lye/Getty Images

Medication does not cure panic attacks or anxiety disorders but may help alleviate symptoms.

A healthcare professional will prescribe medication based on the severity and frequency of symptoms and a person’s medical history.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants may help boost a person’s mood and reduce stress.

A 2018 review of 41 clinal trials found that antidepressants were more effective than a placebo at treating panic disorder in adults. However, the study only assessed short-term outcomes.

Common antidepressants include:

Side effects

Antidepressants may take 2–4 weeks to begin working and up to 8 weeks to work fully.

Side effects of antidepressants can include:

Antidepressant medications may also cause increased suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teenagers, and adults under 25. These side effects are more common during the first several weeks of taking them.

Suicide prevention

If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:

  • Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
  • Listen to the person without judgment.
  • Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.
  • Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
  • Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects if it’s safe to do so.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

Find more links and local resources.

Withdrawal

If a person wishes to reduce their antidepressant dosage, a healthcare professional can help them do so slowly and safely, as stopping these medications suddenly can lead to withdrawal symptoms.

Anti-anxiety medications

Anti-anxiety medications may help alleviate symptoms of panic attacks and anxiety disorders, including intense fear and worry.

The most common anti-anxiety medications are benzodiazepines, which are sometimes the first-line treatment for generalized anxiety disorder but often second-line due to their potential for creating dependency. This risk of dependency increases with long-term use.

Benzodiazepines may work faster than antidepressants. However, a person may develop a tolerance to benzodiazepines, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.

For these reasons, healthcare professionals often only prescribe benzodiazepines for brief periods. They may also avoid prescribing them to people with a history of substance misuse.

Examples of benzodiazepines include:

A 2019 review of 24 clinical trials found consistent evidence for a possible advantage of benzodiazepines in improving panic symptoms compared with a placebo. However, a major limitation was that the studies only measured short-term effects and did not reflect the risks of dependence and withdrawal.

Side effects

Common side effects of benzodiazepines include:

  • drowsiness
  • lightheadedness
  • confusion
  • impaired coordination and an increased risk of falls, especially among older people
  • dizziness
  • slurred speech
  • memory problems
  • constipation
  • nausea
  • dry mouth
  • blurred vision
  • muscle weakness

Less common side effects include:

A person may also experience paradoxical effects, where the medication does the opposite of what it is supposed to. These include:

Withdrawal

If a person abruptly stops taking benzodiazepines, they may experience withdrawal symptoms, and their anxiety symptoms may resurface. A healthcare professional can provide guidance on how to slowly and safely decrease their dose.

Beta-blockers

Healthcare professionals typically prescribe beta-blockers to reduce high blood pressure. However, this kind of medication can also help reduce physical symptoms of panic attacks and anxiety, including:

People may take beta-blockers for short periods or as necessary to alleviate acute anxiety, including performance anxiety.

A 2016 review found no significant differences between the efficacy of propranolol (Inderal), a beta-blocker, and benzodiazepines in treating panic disorders, with or without agoraphobia. However, the review suggested that the quality of evidence is currently insufficient to support the routine use of propranolol in treating anxiety disorders.

A 2020 study suggests that the beta-blocker atenolol (Tenormin) may be more effective and better tolerated than propranolol in people with anxiety disorders. More studies are necessary to investigate its efficacy.

Panic attacks and anxiety have many similar symptoms. However, anxiety symptoms are more common and less intense than those of panic attacks.

Panic attack symptoms

According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), a panic attack can cause sudden, severe mental and physical symptoms for no apparent reason.

It states that symptoms last around 5–20 minutes. During this time, a person may feel out of control and not connected to their body or experience a feeling of impending doom.

Panic attack symptoms also include:

Anxiety symptoms

The main symptom of anxiety is uneasiness. A person may experience mild to severe feelings of worry and fear.

Anxiety symptoms also include:

  • a rapid heartbeat
  • a feeling of dread
  • fearing the worst
  • feeling on edge or panicky
  • difficulty concentrating
  • restlessness
  • irritability
  • feeling detached from the self or the world
  • feeling dizzy or lightheaded
  • wobbly legs
  • tingling in your hands and feet
  • shortness of breath or hyperventilation
  • nausea
  • needing to use the toilet more or less often
  • sweating
  • sleep issues
  • panic attacks

In addition to medications, treatment options for anxiety disorders and panic attacks include psychotherapy, which aims to teach people to modify their behavior and stay calm when they feel anxious and fearful.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common type of psychotherapy that focuses on helping people learn to adjust their thoughts, feelings, and reactions to minimize anxiety symptoms and reduce panic attacks. The process may involve methods such as exposure therapy, which may help a person address the fears underlying their anxiety by participating in activities or situations they usually avoid.

Acceptance and commitment therapy is a newer type of psychotherapy that may help alleviate discomfort and anxiety through mindfulness and goal setting. The technique involves learning to accept negative emotions, thoughts, and events.

Additional treatment options include:

If a person senses the onset of a panic attack, it is best to resist the urge to fight it. It may help to remember that the feeling will pass, is not dangerous or life threatening, and will not harm them physically.

Finding a peaceful spot may help if possible, as sights and sounds can intensify a panic attack. A person can also try some relaxation techniques, such as:

  • taking long, slow, deep breaths
  • smelling a soothing scent, such as lavender
  • focusing on a physical object in the environment to help them feel more grounded
  • repeating a mantra, which is a word, phrase, or sound that may help shift their focus away from fear

A person may wish to consult a healthcare or mental health professional if they regularly experience panic attacks and anxiety without a clear cause. This is especially important if they have severe symptoms that affect their daily life.

The healthcare or psychiatric professional will evaluate a person’s symptoms and may perform a physical exam to check for any underlying conditions before making a diagnosis and offering advice.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is an online resource that offers a search tool for finding mental health treatment centers across the United States. The National Institute of Mental Health offers further resources for finding support.

People can also join an in-person or online support group if they wish. However, this is not a replacement for treatment from a healthcare professional.

Anxiety and panic attacks share similar symptoms, though anxiety is more common and less intense.

Medication and treatment options for anxiety disorders and panic attacks depend on the duration, frequency, and severity of a person’s symptoms.