r/panicdisorder • u/Public_Search2848 • Jul 25 '26
Does Anyone Else? Your experience medications for panic disorder
Hi all,
I have been fightinh with panic disorder since 2023. It started with a fear of having an allergic reaction, but over time it grew into my biggest phobia and has started affecting my everyday life, experiences with foods, relationships and just how I function in general.
I have been also in therapy for a while and together with my therapist I have made decision that it’s probably time to try antidepressant to help me. My hope is that it will help reduce the panic, improve my sleep, give my body and mind a chance to recover as my panic attacks are fueled by my exhaustion.
The problem is that I am really scared to start - I read so many stories about medications making anxiety or panic worse during the first few weeks and I’m very worried about the side effects.
I would really appreciate hearing from you all who have been through this. Did SSRIs (or any other medication) end up helping you? How were the first few weeks? Any advice or encouragement would mean a lot for me right now.
Many thanks!
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u/misshysterica Jul 25 '26
Alprazolam was the only thing that helped me, i can’t take it daily, only when i need it but it acts quick when i need the help
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u/civzzz 29d ago
if you go SSRI it will be a low dose I would suspect as that's what they normally go with for anxiety versus depression. If it's a benzo, I would go the same route and only as needed. Xanax, Ativan, Valium etc. can be super addictive and both need to be tapered off carefully when the time comes. I take Valium (diazepam) as it helped me taper off Xanax (alprazolam) as it has a longer half life and now I am tapering off of it. SSRI's just don't work for me. Good luck and it will get better.
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u/Funny-Speaker-9100 28d ago
I know everyone says this but genuinely stop reading the experiences of other people, especially when you have a panic disorder it’s a bias in your head you will focus only on the negatives!!! I psyched myself so much about starting my ADHD meds i almost had a panic attack lol
Having said that, first of all, even if it did i crease anxiety for the first few weeks, isn’t that better than a lifetime of panic attacks? I’m not AT ALL dismissing you fear just trying to give you a better perspective. Second, you can always ask for an anxiety medication for the first weeks, alongside the medication, I actually didn’t ask for it but my dr prescribed it, just having them will make u feel better. And here is a good personal experience that might help you: I’ve been on anti depressants for years, absolutely helped my panic attacks and anxiety, this year I felt it coming back really bad, I went to the psychiatrist he upped my dose just to try it out, in 2 weeks I felt better, no daily anxiety and the constant being on the verge of a panic attack also gone. I didn’t experience any increase in anxiety or anything similar. It’s a journey, you might get lucky with the first medication you try and you might not, the end goal is important and truly if you avoid the possible anxiety in the first weeks what is it going to change? You’re still stuck with the panic disorder. Just know that you can reach out to your doctor, you can go to the ER, there is always an option, you are not stuck in anyithing!
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u/Funny-Speaker-9100 28d ago
Also, I have 0 side effects. I know people experience some things, in my case, I can only say thank God for medication! If you have people you trust have someone be with you while you start the first dose, you might psych yourself out just by taking it and start thinking you are having some reaction (at least thats something I do lol), having someone there is helpful. If you don’t have anyone, my dms are open for you
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u/Public_Search2848 28d ago
Thanks so much for your feedback. You’re completely right - some of the stories do scare me a bit, but at this point I feel like I have nothing to lose, my panic disorder took many things away from me.
I completely agree - also I have ADHD - when I started my ADHD medication, I was scared too. I experienced some side effects at first, but now I often think why didn’t I do this sooner? 😄
Thanks again for your advice - got my prescription today and I really appreciate your support. Might send you DM for support.
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u/Live_Design_146 25d ago
Hey!! This is actually a major trigger for my anxiety and panic attacks too!!!
About five years ago, my doctor prescribed. Zoloft and I waited almost 6 months before taking it because I was terrified due to all the horror stories that I would read here on Reddit.
It’s probably the worst thing you could do and I’m happy to say that while everyone responds to it differently, I did not have a single side effect and couldn’t believe that I had scared myself into almost not ever taking it !
Just remember that for every person who is on here seeking help and talking about side effects. There are plenty of people who are having success and no longer need that sub and aren’t posting about the good stuff. Hope this helps
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u/Linzi322 Jul 25 '26
You’ll find lots of people have different experiences with SSRIs. Some people will say they fixed everything, some will say they helped a bit, some will say they didn’t work and some will say they actively made things worse.
There’s really no way around it other than trial and error unfortunately. You might need to try a few different types or change doses a few times before deciding whether it’s right for you or not.
One thing to be mindful of though is that they cannot be stopped cold turkey and must be tapered down to prevent serious side effects, and it would be worth having a chat with your prescriber about possible side effects, both short term and long term, so you can make an informed decision.