Affordable panic attack treatment at home.

A panic attack can have physical, mental and emotional symptoms. Common physical symptoms of a panic attack include:¹

• Pounding or racing heart.

• Sweating.

• Chills.

• Trembling.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Weakness or dizziness.

• Tingly or numb hands.

• Chest pain.

• Stomach pain or nausea.

Mental and emotional symptoms of a panic attack include:²

• Overwhelming anxiety, fear and/or dread.

• Intense worry.

• Feeling of being out of control.

• Urge to flee.³

Women are 2.5 times more likely to experience panic attacks or have a panic disorder than men. Women are also more likely to report certain panic attack symptoms⁵ like:

• Shortness of breath.

• Choking or difficulty swallowing.

• Feeling faint.

• Feeling smothered.

Panic attacks can occur while you are sleeping. Symptoms are similar to a daytime panic attack but can wake you from sleep. Nocturnal panic attack symptoms⁶ include:

• Sweating.

• Rapid heart rate.

• Trembling.

• Shortness of breath.

• Heavy breathing (hyperventilation).

• Flushing or chills.

• A sense of impending doom.

There are overlapping symptoms, like chest pain, that can make it difficult to determine if you are experiencing a panic attack or a heart attack. If you are experiencing concerning chest pain, please do not delay getting professional help and get to an emergency room or call 911.

Both panic attacks and heart attacks have symptoms of:

• Chest pain.

• Shortness of breath.

• Lightheadedness or dizziness.

• Nausea.

The biggest difference is how the attack comes on. Heart attack symptoms usually (but not always) start slow and get worse over a period of time. Panic attack symptoms come on quick and intense but usually fade after a few minutes.⁷

Anxiety attacks and panic attacks have many overlapping symptoms like:

• Rapid heartbeat.

• Shortness of breath.

• Sweating.

• Nausea.

• Dizziness.

• Chest pain or discomfort.

However, there are some key differences in symptoms to help tell anxiety and panic attacks apart. A panic attack:

• Starts suddenly and peak within minutes.

• Has intense physical symptoms.

• Includes a fear of losing control or dying.

• Typically lasts for a shorter duration (a few minutes to an hour).

• Can happen without any apparent trigger or cause.

While anxiety attacks⁸:

• Develop slowly over time.

• Give individuals a general feeling of unease, restlessness or tension.

• Have less intense physical symptoms.

• Can be triggered by specific situations or events.

• Can last for days, weeks or months.

Panic attacks are not fatal or life-threatening. However, many of the symptoms of a panic attack are the same as serious health conditions. It is always better to err on the side of caution and seek medical attention if you are unsure.⁹

It is possible to pass out or faint from a panic attack due to hyperventilation or other symptoms. However, it is rare. You may feel faint or dizzy, but you’re unlikely to pass out from a panic attack.¹⁰

There is no certain way to prevent a panic attack, but you can lower your risks. The best option is to seek professional medical help for your panic or anxiety disorder. If you have been prescribed a treatment or medication, it is best to stick to the plan to help prevent panic attacks.¹¹

A panic attack raises levels of adrenaline and spikes heart rate, circulation and respiratory rate. As the attack subsides and adrenaline levels get back to normal, you can feel drained, fatigued, exhausted and even sore. This experience is sometimes called a panic attack hangover because of the symptoms.

Post panic attack symptoms include:¹²

• Lethargy.

• Sleepiness.

• Muscle soreness.

• Excessive fatigue.

• Body aches and pains.

• Trembling or shaking.

• Sweating or chills.

• Abdominal discomfort.

• Chest pain or discomfort.

• Racing heart.

• Dizziness.

• Nausea or stomach pain.

1. National Institute of Mental Health

2. National Institute of Mental Health

3. Psychiatric Times

4. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems

5. Psychiatric Times

6. Mayo Clinic

7. American Heart Association

8. EMS 1

9. Mayo Clinic

10. Simply Pyschology

11. Mayo Clinic

12. Simply Psychology

Yes! Telehealth providers, like RedBox Rx, allow you to connect with a licensed provider anywhere you have an internet connection. If prescribed, we can ship prescription treatment for panic attacks to all 50 U.S. states. Start an online consult now.

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent a panic attack from happening. However, seeking professional treatment can lessen the risk of a panic attack.¹

To stop or move through a panic attack fast, there are a few techniques you can try:²

• Learn to recognize the signs of a panic attack so you can quickly stop the symptoms.

• Talk to yourself positively and calmly. Practice saying things like “I’m not in danger” or “This will pass.”

• Breathe. A panic attack can speed up your breath. Try taking deeper, slower breaths until you feel the panic subside.

• Practice H.A.L.T. This acronym can help you understand if the panic attack is being triggered by one of your needs not being met. Ask yourself: Am I hungry? Am I angry? Am I lonely? Am I tired? This practice also helps you stay in the present moment, which can calm down panic attack symptoms.

Seeking treatment through therapy or medication can also help lessen the risk of panic attacks.

You may feel fatigued or hungover after having a panic attack. Try a few of these recovery tips to feel better:³

• Rest.

• Talk to someone you trust.

• Get some light exercise.

• Eat nutritious foods.

• Change your scenery.

Medication can be an effective treatment for both the short- and long-term treatment of panic attacks. Most medications treat the underlying anxiety while others can help ease panic symptoms in the moment. Commonly prescribed medication for panic attacks include:⁴

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs):

• Fluoxetine (Prozac®)

• Paroxetine (Paxil®)

• Sertraline (Zoloft®)

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs):

• Venlafaxine (Effexor XR®)

Benzodiazepines:

• Alprazolam (Xanax®)

• Clonazepam (Klonopin®)

Anxiolytics:⁵

• Buspirone (BuSpar®)

Antihistamines:⁶

• Hydroxyzine (Atarax®)

1. Mayo Clinic

2. WebMD

3. Simply Psychology

4. Mayo Clinic

5. National Library of Medicine

6. National Library of Medicine

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