Question for Panic Attack sufferers

Hi all,

I suffer with anxiety attacks, not panic attacks and I just had a question for those of you who suffer with panic attacks.  I was wondering if you have ever suffered a panic attack and took your emergency medication, and then forgot you took your medication because you are so panicked because its not working fast enough and ended up taking more without remembering you already took it? 

I am just asking this for informational purposes. 

Thanks,

Gail *Nanners*

Hi Nanners,

I have always thought that anxiety attacks and panic attacks were the same thing. PAD (Panic and Anxiety Disorder) is the term frequently used to describe what we have. When I take my meds, I usually write down the time and dose. Sometimes I do forget though and I end up taking more than I should and feel very sedated.

Nanners, I take Xanax on a daily basis. However, when I need to take more because I am having severe anxiety/panic, I immediately grab a pen and paper and write down the time/dose. I do this so I remember when I took it, and when I can take it again. I can't think clearly when in a state of panic, so this helps me tremendously. I hope this might help your family member. That way, if she ever needed to go to the ER again, she could take the paper with her. Blessings, Julie

Thank you Julie and Melodee. Yes she has suffered with these attacks for years. And has been prescribed Ativan to help. Actually I believe she has PSTD also, as when my first daughter was born (1978) they had come to the hospital to see my daughter and she was driving home from the hospital and a drunk driver slammed into the back of her truck and caused the truck to catch on fire. Her Mom died nine days later, and two of her children were burnt 85% of their bodies. (Both now close to 40 years old and doing very well in life by the way). And even though the accident was not her fault, she feels alot of guilt as she was the one driving.

I just wanted to make sure she really is okay, and did not take too much medication on purpose. Thats why I am asking is it possible to accidently take too much medication when in the middle of a panic attack and not remember. Another family member said at one point she took "a handful". But she keeps telling everyone she doesn't remember taking them. So I can understand the docs thinking she might have tried to commit suicide.

One good point to this story, she is now willing to see a therapist and get on some type of daily medication to calm these attacks down. She always was able to manage them for the most part before with the help of her Ativan.