Veterans
Related: About this forumPanic 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?
niyad
(120,663 posts)MomInTheCrowd
(335 posts)Unless your workplace prohibits it.
It has helped me through numerous anxiety attacks
Yanicosco
(76 posts)Lunabell
(7,064 posts)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)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)Panic attacks suck, but there are many therapy options. First-line meds for help arent exclusively anxiolytics. Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, or tricyclics) are first-line meds too, and for them age isnt 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)I just want something I can have and take as needed. I'd rather not need them at all.
marie999
(3,334 posts)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.
Yanicosco
(76 posts)denbot
(9,914 posts)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.