WAHM Forums

Does depression cause panic attacks? My doctor wants me to take antidepressants to cope with panic attacks which happen a few times a week.

I had asked this question in caring.com (http://www.caring.com/questions/depression-panic-attacks) for some expert advice, however, I would like to know more before I can make any decisions.

Please advise.

Thanks,
Angela

I wouldn't say it causes it, but it's possible that they're related since depression and anxiety disorders often go together.

Did your doctor just recommend this or actually prescribe you something? If they prescribed you something, could you give the name of the drug?

There are quite a few antidepressants that can be used to treat panic disorders but not all of them.

Either way, I think you should maybe get a second opinion from another professional if you're doubtful. You shouldn't base your decision on information from message boards.

-Danielle

Does depression cause panic attacks? My doctor wants me to take antidepressants to cope with panic attacks which happen a few times a week.

Many of the common antidepressant medications currently in use have anxiolytic "side-effects", some of them to the extent that they can also coincidentally be used for the treatment of panic disorder.

I think the viability and potential treatment value of doing so isn't connected at all with whether depression can actually cause panic attacks.

Just like some antihistamines can be used as minor sedatives for the "side-effect value" though that's got nothing to do with treating allergy. It may well be a coincidence, rather than a causative thing, in other words.

The relevant question isn't "Does depression cause panic attacks?" but "Can antidepressants successfully treat panic attacks?" (The answer is "yes".)

(Just passing this sentiment along from my MD brother - though I should also mention that psych med isn't his specialist subject!).

You shouldn't base your decision on information from message boards.

This is for sure. I've seen some truly horrendously mistaken "medical/healthcare advice" and "information" given here before! :eek:

Good luck!

Hi Angela! Yes, anxiety attacks and depression can be link. Did you doctor suggest see a psychologist? If you are having a few anxiety attacks each week, it would probably be a good idea for you to see one. The psychologest would work with you in determine the cause of your panic attacks and way to deal with them. A good psychologist would ask you to keep a log of when you have one and what events lead up to it. Once you know the cause, you can work on handling them in a healthier manner.

I wish you the best of luck. I know what it's like to have anxiety attacks. Luckly, I haven't had one in almost 4 months. At times I can feel one coming on but then I do what works for me (I always think that things could be much worse).

Hi! I guess that the best way is to wait for a while and try to cool down a little without taking pills! Try to find some others ways out. Probably some changes on you way of life would help. Good luck!

It's not unusual for them to exist together (comorbid i think it the prof. term).

I work in a mental health clinic. There are several anti-depressant meds that also serve as anti-anxiety meds.

If you are not sure about the drug run the name through a couple of search engine

Hello Angelatanner,

Here is a link to an article in the Examiner.com of San Francisco that may help answer your question - Panic attack symptoms, hope and help for your nerves (http://www.examiner.com/x-11705-NY-Holistic-Body--Spirit-Examiner~y2009m9d8-Panic-attack-symptoms-hope-and-help-for-your-nerves).

It gives a pretty good review of panic attack, it's causes and how to deal with them.

Not all cures are by prescription. There are non drug alternatives to dealing with panic attacks.

Best of Luck!
Edwinb

I have been dealing with panic attacks for about 2 years. Mine was not caused my depression in the beginning. The panic attacks I have now come and go..sometimes if I am depressed then I will have panic attacks. I went to a few doctors in the beginning and I tried all the antidepressants and xanax. I have to say I wish I would not have taken any kind of meds to cope with anxiety. Because you will always have to rely on meds...about a year ago I went to my dr and told him I wanted off the meds..I was on effexor and it was the worst one to get off of for me. I still take the xanax and wish I didnt...that will be a hard one to get off of. I feel 10x better now that I am not on an antidepressant! But everyone is different...you first have to ask yourself why am I depressed? If you can fix that then you will be fine without the meds. I used to go to webmd.com and go to the panic/anxiety decussion board. There is alot of information there. Ask your doctor if there is another way to cope without meds! Good Luck!!!

What's the "antidepressant" you're on? I put that in quotes because I realized after trying several different meds that different doctors refer to them in different classes.

I've been diagnosed as bipolar and my manic stage is anxiety. Ive been on anti-depressants before and they didn't work so now I'm on a "mood stabilizer" that balances out the anxiety mostly but also some of the depression.

You may be on a stabilizer that is also referred to or prescribed to some as an antidepressant.

The best thing to do would be to talk to your doctor. Get all of the details of your diagnosis and your medication. Years ago I just would ask a few questions, google it and take the prescription. Now that I've been told about how many times I've been misdiagnosed and put on the wrong meds, I know the importance of having a good relationship with my doctor with open communication.

HTH! :)

Depression affects your outlook on life. Its not just about what you think is going on in life now but how you see the future so it can lead directly to panic attacks.

Anti-depressants are commonly used to treat panic disorder. There are some that work better than others.

I have panic attacks from time to time. My dr. put me on Zoloft to take daily then Ativan to take as needed for the really bad times (usually around that time of the month). I was taken off the Zoloft and just have Ativan about 6 months ago.

Does depression cause panic attacks? My doctor wants me to take antidepressants to cope with panic attacks which happen a few times a week.

I had asked this question in caring.com (http://www.caring.com/questions/depression-panic-attacks) for some expert advice, however, I would like to know more before I can make any decisions.

Please advise.

Thanks,
Angela

Hi. I am sorry you are going through this. I have panic attacks too. I have had them since I was young. Mine are nowhere near as frequent as yours though. I've never been medicated for them because I can tell when one is coming on and I know what I need to do to keep from passing out.

I dont know if depression can bring on a panic attack, but I would be concerned about having so many of them. As an adult, mine occur once every few years. Before they were more like a few times a year.

Depressions doesn't cause them, but they do often coexist as the chemical imbalance in your body can contribute to both.