Do benzos prevent panic attacks?

[brittany09]

I've had bad anxiety lately and do not want to be out in public. I'm starting to feel better,but being at home is the reason why. I'm avoiding driving,shopping,traveling,visiting my boyfriend's family,etc because of my fear of having another panic attack. This has been going on for about 3 weeks.

Could I take a benzo before going out to prevent one from happening?

[laurandisorder]

Benzos can be used to treat anticipatory anxiety, so yes, they probably would help you if you take them before you go out. They are more effective however to quell an anxiety attack as they happen.

I mean, if you take them before any and every stressful experience, you aren't going to know if it truly WAS a stressor or if the benzo kicked in and stopped it. It's a trap I have fallen into. I have been on Valium - a daily dose for the last three months. Now I have to wean off and I am experiencing rebound anxiety because I was too reliant on them.

Use them with caution and if you are unsure, see your doctor.

Good luck.

[alankay]

Yes. They will reduce/minimize/prevent panic/high anxiety....................they are well known for that and are fast acting and effective. Just don't get too liberal with them. Use an ssri and education in addition to the meds. Learn all you can about anxiety managment. Alankay.

[bhamlaxy]

Like Alankay said, they are best used as-needed, although some people definitely need them on a daily basis, under heavy supervision, with a careful reduction period when coming off.

In my experience, .5mg of ativan is enough to kill a panic attack or make anxious feelings go away in 15-20 minutes. Once it's active, I have had brief moments of anxiety but not bad at all and quickly subsiding. I firmly believe that for me at least, 1mg, and in most cases .5mg, is enough to totally kill panic and anxiety for hours.

Although they are very good at what they do, dependence can be an issue as pointed out above. While I was taking a small dose daily for awhile, I have also started an SSRI which has kicked in recently, allowing me to only need ativan 1-2 times a week.

[brittany09]

I haven't even had to do this yet. I'm going out and doing things now,but there are still a few things that make me nervous. But since I've gone out and did them when I didn't think I could or at least without meds and succeeded,I try to avoid taking my Ativan. Thanks everyone for responding :)

[Tomasz Kopec]

I fully agree with Laurandisorder. Benzo are very good in resolving anxiety and it is easy to fall into trap of taking them well too often. The problem is quickly developing tolerance which makes you taking 2 then 3 then 4 a day after short time to maintain the same effect. There are useful for short term interventions (bereavement, fear of flying) but there are very slippery in long term problems. Try SSRI or psychotherapy.