After initially experiencing a full blown panic attack, the first thing people typically do is seek medical advice, and that can be good and bad, for this simple reason.

Doctors are trained to treat physical symptoms, and to treat symptoms they typically offer prescription drugs, and the medications used to calm panic attacks can be very addictive.

Additionally, most drugs only disguise the symptoms, they do not treat the underlying emotional cause of the panic attacks. And if you think panic attacks are painful to live with, they are nothing compared to trying to break an addiction to drugs. Your panic attack will seem like a cheerful time compared to breaking an addiction.

With that in mind, let's talk about some of the exams and advice physicians typically bring to the table so to speak.

There are pharmaceuticals that could temporarily help you.

If you arrange a visit with your doctor after having a panic attack, chances are they will put you on medication as a treatment for the panic attacks.

Someone who is having a full blown panic attack is typically thought to be having what is commonly known as a nervous breakdown'

A doctor will often prescribe drugs as well as perhaps counsel you to obtain psychiatric care.

Your physician will also most likely tell you to stop harmful activities such as smoking or drinking of alcohol, to diet right and exercise.

These can be helpful when you are seeking to prevent or control panic attacks.

When you see the physician the first time, it is highly likely that he or she will prescribe an anti-panic attack medication. Most prescription drugs used to treat panic attacks are labeled benzodiazepines.

They work to alleviate your fears and will take the edge off of your panic attacks. The problem with these medications is that they are highly addictive and can cause even greater panic attacks when you are trying to control your use of them.

Some of the most commonly prescribed medications for panic attacks include Xanax, Klonopin and Ativan. The important thing to remember when taking drugs like Xanax is that they are not only habit forming, but they build up a tolerance in your system. This means that you gradually require more medication to achieve the same effect.

While these drugs can effectively relieve the symptoms, they should only be taken as needed - that is, when you are experiencing an actual panic attack. Xanax and other medications work to alleviate the symptoms that you feel from your panic attacks, but they do not cure the underlying cause.

In order to treat panic attacks properly, and prevent panic attacks, you have to get to the underlying trauma for the panic attacks themselves.

One must remember that panic attacks are caused by two things - a fear of the unknown and a loss of control. That's it in a nutshell, and drugs, while they can have a temporary calming effect, do not address the primary causes.

Thus, speaking from my personal experience, the primary objective from the doctor's viewpoint will be to treat the panic attacks with medications that do nothing more than provide a very temporary relief to the discomfort you feel.

Medications do nothing to treat the cause or help you cure panic attacks themselves, but just mask the condition.

Is that what you want?

Here is what you must remember. Even with sedatives, you will still experience episodes of panic or panic attacks. In my opinion, doctors are not the best equipped to treat panic attacks and one should look elsewhere for more permanent results than that offered by prescription drugs.

Are you experiencing panic attacks? If so, I can empathize with you but I can also tell you there is help for you. If you wish to learn more about panic attacks, visit my blog:

Stop Panic Attacks.

There you can find a free report describing exactly what I did to end panic attacks and take control of my life again.