PTSD and panic attacks

[Anonymous]

If your kid had this combination, what worked? I am interested in both medication and therapeutic solutions.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience with this combo.

[Anonymous]

Worked for what? To end it completely or to learn to live with it? We aren't at the end it completely phase.

A neat trick I learned from my therapist is that sour cherry Warheads (or other sour candy, but this is the sourest flavor you can easily get) will snap your body out of going into panic mode. It's not a long term solution for dealing with the PTSD, but if you're in a place where you literally can't be panicking it works shockingly well.

[Anonymous]

I suggest talking to a psychiatrist. It will likely involve a cocktail of meds and therapy. That's what I have to do to cope with PTSD and panic attacks.

[Anonymous]

I know people with PTSD who have sworn by EMDR. One was in a horrific accident in which their spouse died -- just one of those nightmare scenarios. They said EMDR helped it become something that happened instead of something that felt like it was happening again and again. I don’t really understand why it works, but I remember looking into it for a family member and being surprised how supported it seemed to be in the medical literature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Worked for what? To end it completely or to learn to live with it? We aren't at the end it completely phase.

A neat trick I learned from my therapist is that sour cherry Warheads (or other sour candy, but this is the sourest flavor you can easily get) will snap your body out of going into panic mode. It's not a long term solution for dealing with the PTSD, but if you're in a place where you literally can't be panicking it works shockingly well.

Thank you! We will try this! Any kind of tip is helpful.

He has done grief counseling, art therapy and EMDR. He has a psychiatrist, but we haven't tried medication, in part because he has close relatives who have had horrible reactions to medication, and so he's fearful (as am I). I'd love to know what medications have worked for people so maybe we can find something different than what caused the reaction, and also about both therapeutic approaches that have worked, and tips like this one about warheads.

The PTSD has been a thing for a few years, the panic attacks are new.

[Anonymous]

How often are the panic attacks? If often and the PTSD is pretty bad, I would recommend Lamictal.

A lot of doctors will go to SSRI’s but in my opinion unless they are extremely anxious or extremely depressed, the side effects and how long they take to titre up in your system don’t make them worth it for panics attacks/PTSD.

Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and is very mild. You have to start with a low dose and move up every week to a slightly increased dose to prevent the side effect of rash. But when I tell you that medication can do wonders with no side effects like weight gain, nausea, sweats, etc… My daughter took it for anxiety/PTSD and it was amazing. Once a day at bedtime. I could see changes within 7-10 days even with a low dose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How often are the panic attacks? If often and the PTSD is pretty bad, I would recommend Lamictal.

A lot of doctors will go to SSRI’s but in my opinion unless they are extremely anxious or extremely depressed, the side effects and how long they take to titre up in your system don’t make them worth it for panics attacks/PTSD.

Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and is very mild. You have to start with a low dose and move up every week to a slightly increased dose to prevent the side effect of rash. But when I tell you that medication can do wonders with no side effects like weight gain, nausea, sweats, etc… My daughter took it for anxiety/PTSD and it was amazing. Once a day at bedtime. I could see changes within 7-10 days even with a low dose.

Thanks! That isn’t a med his psychiatrist has suggested. I will ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How often are the panic attacks? If often and the PTSD is pretty bad, I would recommend Lamictal.

A lot of doctors will go to SSRI’s but in my opinion unless they are extremely anxious or extremely depressed, the side effects and how long they take to titre up in your system don’t make them worth it for panics attacks/PTSD.

Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and is very mild. You have to start with a low dose and move up every week to a slightly increased dose to prevent the side effect of rash. But when I tell you that medication can do wonders with no side effects like weight gain, nausea, sweats, etc… My daughter took it for anxiety/PTSD and it was amazing. Once a day at bedtime. I could see changes within 7-10 days even with a low dose.

This is really upside down. Lamictal is a much heavier duty drug than SSRIs. No competent doctor would prescribe it as a first step for panic or anxiety

Not sure what SSRI side effects OP fears but you can start at a very low dose and take an Ativan for the first few days.

As for therapy, treating panic attacks is the bread and butter of therapists specializing in anxiety. The main thing is to find a specialist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How often are the panic attacks? If often and the PTSD is pretty bad, I would recommend Lamictal.

A lot of doctors will go to SSRI’s but in my opinion unless they are extremely anxious or extremely depressed, the side effects and how long they take to titre up in your system don’t make them worth it for panics attacks/PTSD.

Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and is very mild. You have to start with a low dose and move up every week to a slightly increased dose to prevent the side effect of rash. But when I tell you that medication can do wonders with no side effects like weight gain, nausea, sweats, etc… My daughter took it for anxiety/PTSD and it was amazing. Once a day at bedtime. I could see changes within 7-10 days even with a low dose.

This is really upside down. Lamictal is a much heavier duty drug than SSRIs. No competent doctor would prescribe it as a first step for panic or anxiety

Not sure what SSRI side effects OP fears but you can start at a very low dose and take an Ativan for the first few days.

As for therapy, treating panic attacks is the bread and butter of therapists specializing in anxiety. The main thing is to find a specialist.

Also SSRIs are very effective for anxiety and take less time to work than for depression. Gently, your and your child’s fear of SSRIs is an anxiety symptom and not rational. Obviously there can be side effects but the costs of not treating panic are high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How often are the panic attacks? If often and the PTSD is pretty bad, I would recommend Lamictal.

A lot of doctors will go to SSRI’s but in my opinion unless they are extremely anxious or extremely depressed, the side effects and how long they take to titre up in your system don’t make them worth it for panics attacks/PTSD.

Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and is very mild. You have to start with a low dose and move up every week to a slightly increased dose to prevent the side effect of rash. But when I tell you that medication can do wonders with no side effects like weight gain, nausea, sweats, etc… My daughter took it for anxiety/PTSD and it was amazing. Once a day at bedtime. I could see changes within 7-10 days even with a low dose.

This is really upside down. Lamictal is a much heavier duty drug than SSRIs. No competent doctor would prescribe it as a first step for panic or anxiety

Not sure what SSRI side effects OP fears but you can start at a very low dose and take an Ativan for the first few days.

As for therapy, treating panic attacks is the bread and butter of therapists specializing in anxiety. The main thing is to find a specialist.

Also SSRIs are very effective for anxiety and take less time to work than for depression. Gently, your and your child’s fear of SSRIs is an anxiety symptom and not rational. Obviously there can be side effects but the costs of not treating panic are high.

I don’t think that our fear of side effects is irrational. His psychiatrist doesn’t think it is. I don’t see how you can say that without knowing the specific reaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How often are the panic attacks? If often and the PTSD is pretty bad, I would recommend Lamictal.

A lot of doctors will go to SSRI’s but in my opinion unless they are extremely anxious or extremely depressed, the side effects and how long they take to titre up in your system don’t make them worth it for panics attacks/PTSD.

Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and is very mild. You have to start with a low dose and move up every week to a slightly increased dose to prevent the side effect of rash. But when I tell you that medication can do wonders with no side effects like weight gain, nausea, sweats, etc… My daughter took it for anxiety/PTSD and it was amazing. Once a day at bedtime. I could see changes within 7-10 days even with a low dose.

This is really upside down. Lamictal is a much heavier duty drug than SSRIs. No competent doctor would prescribe it as a first step for panic or anxiety

Not sure what SSRI side effects OP fears but you can start at a very low dose and take an Ativan for the first few days.

As for therapy, treating panic attacks is the bread and butter of therapists specializing in anxiety. The main thing is to find a specialist.

Also SSRIs are very effective for anxiety and take less time to work than for depression. Gently, your and your child’s fear of SSRIs is an anxiety symptom and not rational. Obviously there can be side effects but the costs of not treating panic are high.

I don’t think that our fear of side effects is irrational. His psychiatrist doesn’t think it is. I don’t see how you can say that without knowing the specific reaction.

Did he actually refuse to prescribe an SSRI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How often are the panic attacks? If often and the PTSD is pretty bad, I would recommend Lamictal.

A lot of doctors will go to SSRI’s but in my opinion unless they are extremely anxious or extremely depressed, the side effects and how long they take to titre up in your system don’t make them worth it for panics attacks/PTSD.

Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and is very mild. You have to start with a low dose and move up every week to a slightly increased dose to prevent the side effect of rash. But when I tell you that medication can do wonders with no side effects like weight gain, nausea, sweats, etc… My daughter took it for anxiety/PTSD and it was amazing. Once a day at bedtime. I could see changes within 7-10 days even with a low dose.

This is really upside down. Lamictal is a much heavier duty drug than SSRIs. No competent doctor would prescribe it as a first step for panic or anxiety

Not sure what SSRI side effects OP fears but you can start at a very low dose and take an Ativan for the first few days.

As for therapy, treating panic attacks is the bread and butter of therapists specializing in anxiety. The main thing is to find a specialist.

Also SSRIs are very effective for anxiety and take less time to work than for depression. Gently, your and your child’s fear of SSRIs is an anxiety symptom and not rational. Obviously there can be side effects but the costs of not treating panic are high.

I don’t think that our fear of side effects is irrational. His psychiatrist doesn’t think it is. I don’t see how you can say that without knowing the specific reaction.

Did he actually refuse to prescribe an SSRI?

Refuse would imply that I asked him to. He said he didn’t recommend it because of the family history, and I agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How often are the panic attacks? If often and the PTSD is pretty bad, I would recommend Lamictal.

A lot of doctors will go to SSRI’s but in my opinion unless they are extremely anxious or extremely depressed, the side effects and how long they take to titre up in your system don’t make them worth it for panics attacks/PTSD.

Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and is very mild. You have to start with a low dose and move up every week to a slightly increased dose to prevent the side effect of rash. But when I tell you that medication can do wonders with no side effects like weight gain, nausea, sweats, etc… My daughter took it for anxiety/PTSD and it was amazing. Once a day at bedtime. I could see changes within 7-10 days even with a low dose.

This is really upside down. Lamictal is a much heavier duty drug than SSRIs. No competent doctor would prescribe it as a first step for panic or anxiety

Not sure what SSRI side effects OP fears but you can start at a very low dose and take an Ativan for the first few days.

As for therapy, treating panic attacks is the bread and butter of therapists specializing in anxiety. The main thing is to find a specialist.

Also SSRIs are very effective for anxiety and take less time to work than for depression. Gently, your and your child’s fear of SSRIs is an anxiety symptom and not rational. Obviously there can be side effects but the costs of not treating panic are high.

I don’t think that our fear of side effects is irrational. His psychiatrist doesn’t think it is. I don’t see how you can say that without knowing the specific reaction.

Did he actually refuse to prescribe an SSRI?

Refuse would imply that I asked him to. He said he didn’t recommend it because of the family history, and I agreed.

I’d probably get a second opinion in that case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How often are the panic attacks? If often and the PTSD is pretty bad, I would recommend Lamictal.

A lot of doctors will go to SSRI’s but in my opinion unless they are extremely anxious or extremely depressed, the side effects and how long they take to titre up in your system don’t make them worth it for panics attacks/PTSD.

Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and is very mild. You have to start with a low dose and move up every week to a slightly increased dose to prevent the side effect of rash. But when I tell you that medication can do wonders with no side effects like weight gain, nausea, sweats, etc… My daughter took it for anxiety/PTSD and it was amazing. Once a day at bedtime. I could see changes within 7-10 days even with a low dose.

This is really upside down. Lamictal is a much heavier duty drug than SSRIs. No competent doctor would prescribe it as a first step for panic or anxiety

Not sure what SSRI side effects OP fears but you can start at a very low dose and take an Ativan for the first few days.

As for therapy, treating panic attacks is the bread and butter of therapists specializing in anxiety. The main thing is to find a specialist.

Also SSRIs are very effective for anxiety and take less time to work than for depression. Gently, your and your child’s fear of SSRIs is an anxiety symptom and not rational. Obviously there can be side effects but the costs of not treating panic are high.

I don’t think that our fear of side effects is irrational. His psychiatrist doesn’t think it is. I don’t see how you can say that without knowing the specific reaction.

Did he actually refuse to prescribe an SSRI?

Refuse would imply that I asked him to. He said he didn’t recommend it because of the family history, and I agreed.

I’d probably get a second opinion in that case.

Why do you say that, if you don't even know what happened?