Question:
Can a person have panic attacks and anxiety without having depression?
I've noticed that most of the medication that's talked about on
newsgroups are for depression. If different medication is mainly used
for anxiety and not necessarily for depression, what would it be?
Answer:
Lots of drugs are used to treat anxiety including anti-depressants. Just
because a person takes an anti-depressant doesn't mean they are depressed,
its just that the same drug can help with anxiety.
I take a beta blocker for anxiety, not for its original use which was high
blood pressure (it can also be prescribed to anorexics). Lots of the benzo
type drugs were developed for epileptics originally.
Panic Disorder and depression are closely related chemically. That is why
many *antidepressants* can also be used in the treatment of PD. The other
first choice group of meds for PD are *benzodiazepines* which as a rule
are of no use in depression. PD and depression are often comorbid. Also PD (or GAD) may lead to
depression from having to live with an anxiety disorder.
Yes, you can have a anxiety disorder and not have depression, although it is
quite common for the two to go hand in hand.
I take a anti-depressant called Paxil, I take it for panic disorder and it has
worked wonders on me. Alot of people have had good success treating their
anxiety disorders with anti-depressants.
There are another class of meds called benzodiazepines( tranquilizers ). This
class of meds if used for anxiety and panic. If you also suffer from depression
this class of meds would not help, although it is said that Xanax has a slight
anti-depressant effect to it.
If you suffer from depression you really need a anti-depressant. If you just
have anxiety, then a benzo and/or anti-depressant would be effective. Take
care.
