Panic Attack and/or Panic Disorder - Medtick

Panic Attack and/or Panic Disorder

What is it?

A person with panic disorders can occur at anytime and one has regular feelings of irritable, anxious and stressed (when one is under pressure and can’t cope).

  • The condition for most people develop in their teenagers years and in their twenties.
  • The attack can last from 5-20 minutes and normally peaks at 10 minutes.
  • Females tend to be more affected with this condition than males.

General anxiety

According to the DSM-5, a diagnosis of GAD requires anxiety and worry that are associated with at least three of the following six symptoms, occurring on more days than not, for at least 6 months:

  • Restlessness or feeling keyed-up or on edge
  • Being easily fatigued
  • Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
  • Irritability
  • Muscle tension
  • Sleep disturbance

Diagnosis Tests

For diagnosis, symptoms must result in the patient’s impaired ability to function and cannot be attributed to a separate medical condition.

Cause

  • Family history
  • Work
  • Stressful event
  • Relationships
  • Money problems
  • Excessive worry and stress to situations:
    • Extreme fear
    • Distressing events
    • Frightening events
    • Panic disorder conditions (i.e. phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, confined spaces)
  • Smoking
  • High caffeine intake
  • TANC2-related disorders

Syndromes

Medications with known potential to directly cause anxiety include:

  • Corticosteroids (cortisone, dexamethasone, prednisone)
  • Drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, dexmethylphenidate, lisadexamfetamine, methylphenidate)
  • Asthma medications (aminophylline, albuterol, salmeterol, theophylline)
  • Thyroid medications (Armour Thyroid, levothyroxine)
  • Seizure medications (phenytoin)
  • Parkinson’s disease medications (levodopa and carbidopa)
  • Heterocyclic antidepressants
  • Atropine
  • Cycloserine
  • Digitalis
  • Ephedrine (found in cold and flu products -decongestants)
  • Epinephrine (found in cold and flu products -decongestants)
  • Insulin
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors anti-depressants
    • Isoniazid
  • Nitrates
  • Reserpine

Illicit drugs

Vitamins, herbals and minerals

Symptoms

(Symptoms can be intense)

Emotional:

  • Irritated, depressed, anxiety and/or panic attacks?
  • Depressed or low mood?
  • Go over and over things?
  • Have racing thoughts?
  • Imagining the worst?
  • Worry constantly?
  • Over whelming feeling of fear?
  • Strong feeling that something is going to happen?
  • Fear of having another attack?

Physical:

  • Chest pain?
  • Churning stomach?
  • Feel full quickly when eating trapped wind and burping  (‘foul rotten egg smell’)?
  • Dry mouth?
  • Bad breath?
  • Balance and dizziness?
  • Heart palpitations, irregular heartbeats?
  • Flushed face/Hot flushes and chills?
  • Have cold feet and hands which can be numb and painful?
  • Pain, numbness, burning and tingling ( pins and needles) sensation in one’s hands and fingers (thumb and/or index finger and/or middle finger and/or ring finger and/or small finger)?
  • Sensitivity to every day noise and/or ringing noise within and/or difficulty hearing?
  • Shaking and/or trembling?
  • Short of breath?
  • Sickness or nausea feeling?
  • Increase thirst, heavy sweating and need to urinate frequently?
  • Voice changes/or a hoarse voice?
  • Long term persistent indigestion, frequent heartburn or constant abdominal pain?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to:


Please beware (as this could be of initial symptoms) of symptoms of:


Driving Authority


This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Panic Attack and/or Panic Disorder in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

  • NHS

    Find information and advice on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living, medicines and how to get help (British National Health Service).

  • Medscape

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  • Pharmaceutical Journal

    The Pharmaceutical Journal covers analysis, features, opinion, learning and careers articles, providing insight and knowledge about drugs, pharmacy practice, medicines use and healthcare policy in the context of the pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical science.

  • Healthline

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  • ChatGPT

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  • Medical News Today

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  • WebMD

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  • Cleveland Clinic

    Pushing the Standards of care.

  • Mayo Clinic

    No.1 Hospital in the Nation (America)

  • Drugs.com

    Know more. Be sure.

  • National Organisation of Rare Diseases

    NORD is dedicated to supporting education, elevating care, advancing research, and driving policy for rare diseases.

  • Verywell Health

    Know more. Fell better.

  • Fit for Travel

    Information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad.

  • DR Axe

    Health and fitness news. Recipes, Natural Remedies