Panic disorder produces sudden feelings of terror that strike for no apparent reason. People experience physical symptoms that include pounding heart, weakness, dizziness, numbness or tingling and nausea. Many patients suffer chest pains so severe they believe they are having a heart attack during their panic attacks. Treatment for panic disorder includes medication and psychotherapy, but panic disorder patients face other possible medical issues from the anxiety disorder.
Misdiagnosis
Doctors may have a difficult time distinguishing panic disorder from other health problems, including heart disease, hyperthyroidism and seizure disorder, according to the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. Symptoms of drug abuse can mimic panic attacks. Cocaine and amphetamines may cause panic attacks. Even caffeine, a stimulant, can trigger panic attacks. Health care costs rise significantly for people with panic disorder because they often spend time in emergency rooms without getting a proper diagnosis. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that many doctors confuse the symptoms of panic attacks with other disorders, including heart disease, gastrointestinal tract disorders and neurological problems. Exams and testing help to rule out other disorders, but the researchers concluded that more education is needed on panic disorder following 95 surveys from cardiologists, gastroenterologists and neurologists in Houston, Texas.
Co-Existing Conditions
Heart disease, respiratory illness and neurological disorders may occur at the same time as panic disorders, according to MedlinePlus. Some people who suffer from panic disorder may turn to self-medication through alcohol or drug abuse. They may use alcohol or drugs to calm down, but when they decide to stop self-medication, the withdrawal symptoms can worsen the panic attacks. People with panic disorder may also suffer from depression or other anxiety disorders as well as drug abuse or alcoholism because of attempts to self-medicate their symptoms. In cases of panic disorder and depression, panic disorder usually happens first, resulting in feelings of depression from the attacks or anticipation of panic attacks. The mental disorders and substance abuse problems need to be treated separately.
Medication Side Effects
Medications work effectively for panic disorder, but have side effects. Newer antidepressants, such as fluoxetine, sertraline and citalopram, have fewer side effects than older medications. Symptoms may include nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and weight gain, which may fade with time or can be reduced by changing medication or readjusting dosage. Patients respond differently to particular medications. Isocarboxazid, phenelzine and tranylcypromine belong to an older class of antidepressants that work for some panic disorder patients. However, these medications have serious side effects when interacting with certain foods and other medications. The combination may lead to confusion, seizures, changes in blood pressure or heartbeat and other side effects that can cause life-threatening situations, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Doctors prescribe the medications carefully with instructions on what foods and medications to avoid. Anti-anxiety drugs, such as alprazolam and lorazepam, help patients with panic disorder, but may cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped and need to be tapered off.
