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Yanicosco

(76 posts)
Sat Feb 12, 2022, 07:30 PM Feb 2022

Panic attacks? What drugs will VA give me?

I am trying to get the VA to prescribe me panic attack drugs of some kind. I have been told because I am over 65 they won't. Anyone run into this?

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Panic attacks? What drugs will VA give me? (Original Post) Yanicosco Feb 2022 OP
Welcome to our DU family. I am sure that some of our Vets will be able to help. niyad Feb 2022 #1
thx n/t Yanicosco Feb 2022 #3
For immediate calming, try over-the-counter CBD while awaiting other answers. MomInTheCrowd Feb 2022 #2
ok thx n/t Yanicosco Feb 2022 #4
My navy vet wife gets buspar for ptsd panic attacks. Lunabell Feb 2022 #5
Food with B vitamins are what a friend recommended. She was prone to panic attacks Tetrachloride Feb 2022 #6
Age Shouldn't Matter FrankTC Feb 2022 #7
Thx---I don't tolerate daily SSRIs well. Hate them. Yanicosco Feb 2022 #8
The VA had me on clonazepam when I was in my 60s. marie999 Feb 2022 #9
Appreciate it n/t Yanicosco Feb 2022 #10
I'm prescribed Propranolol for PTSD and anxiety. denbot Apr 2022 #11

MomInTheCrowd

(335 posts)
2. For immediate calming, try over-the-counter CBD while awaiting other answers.
Sat Feb 12, 2022, 07:45 PM
Feb 2022

Unless your workplace prohibits it.

It has helped me through numerous anxiety attacks

Lunabell

(7,064 posts)
5. My navy vet wife gets buspar for ptsd panic attacks.
Sat Feb 12, 2022, 08:00 PM
Feb 2022

One doctor gave her ativan which was great and she never abused it. But some other asshole came along and said no scheduled prescriptions. Buspar is ok, but not entirely useful for acute attacks.

They tried all different meds like inderal and vistaril. It depends on the doc and their willingness to prescribe a scheduled drug. Good luck.

Tetrachloride

(8,485 posts)
6. Food with B vitamins are what a friend recommended. She was prone to panic attacks
Sat Feb 12, 2022, 08:03 PM
Feb 2022

One lazy way is get Chinese noodle takeout and divide it in half. Add more of your fresh Vitamin B set veggies.

So you will get multiple meals and fresh veggies with less preparation than usual.

I use mint tea daily now

FrankTC

(223 posts)
7. Age Shouldn't Matter
Sat Feb 12, 2022, 10:42 PM
Feb 2022

Panic attacks suck, but there are many therapy options. First-line meds for help aren’t exclusively anxiolytics. Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, or tricyclics) are first-line meds too, and for them age isn’t an issue. Panic attacks — like hell flowers that grow in the dark soil of depression — are typically correlated with depression over the life course. So treating the depression can be helpful. Especially since many physicians are reluctant to prescribe benzodiazepines due to their potential for habituation (and abuse). There are other classes of medication also, and psychological therapies can be effective too. They can be challenging (sometimes you are coached into creating panic symptoms in order to learn to master them) but nevertheless effective. Nothing works for everyone but usually something does.

 

Yanicosco

(76 posts)
8. Thx---I don't tolerate daily SSRIs well. Hate them.
Sat Feb 12, 2022, 11:42 PM
Feb 2022

I just want something I can have and take as needed. I'd rather not need them at all.

 

marie999

(3,334 posts)
9. The VA had me on clonazepam when I was in my 60s.
Sun Feb 13, 2022, 07:14 AM
Feb 2022

They also had me working on the triggers that caused my panic attacks. One trigger that I stopped was when I go shopping I write down what I need. I do not write toothpaste, I write down Crest, Pro-Health, 4.6 oz. The list is also broken up into what stores I am going to and in what order I will go to them. I find peer group meetings at the VA help. I find the biggest problem with mental health issues is it is not like being a paraplegic, people don't ask a paraplegic to get up and walk, but they expect us to just get over it. I am also bipolar and take medication for that. When my bipolar came under control my panic attacks lessened considerably. A person who is bipolar may also have an anxiety disorder. Sorry if I rambled, I also have aphasia. I hope this helps. Keep in touch. More important, make sure you and your psychiatrist are working together. If not switch to another doctor.

denbot

(9,914 posts)
11. I'm prescribed Propranolol for PTSD and anxiety.
Sun Apr 24, 2022, 06:00 PM
Apr 2022

Last edited Tue Apr 26, 2022, 11:39 PM - Edit history (1)

It's fast acting and can help you take things down a notch.

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