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Do Smoking And Alcohol Consumption Cause Anxiety Attacks?

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Posted on Mon, 24 Oct 2016
Question: I am on antidepressants spenzo 0.5 mg and paxidep 12.5 mg . i have also started to drink and smoke a lot . please let me clarify i am not an alcoholic . since the time my marraige has been fixed i have been drinking almost everyday as i want to enjoy this phase before marraige and relish the fact that i am getting married to the love of my life . but now i feel i am overdoing it and it may slowly hamper my sense of well being . i feel anxious and feel panicky because the thought of drinking and smoking so much causes me to overthink . i have realised that everytime i have panicked is because i have worried about how much i smoke and drink and i know the day i control or quit smoking panic and anxiety would go away for ever . i have understood the root cause of my problem . i am just worried if medication would stop working if i continue like this . is it true that when you eliminate the root cause of anxiety and panic attacks, they never come back ? i have had rarely any panic attack without a reason or out of the blue .Also i dream a lot in the night and mostly bizzare dreams . how do i stop them . sleep isnot much of a problem after i started taking paxidep
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
deaddiction is needed

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing to us.

Smoking and drinking initially relieve the anxiety. However after continuous use it exaggerates the problem and worsens the anxiety. You are passing through this phase. These habits do not directly affect the effectiveness of medicines but they relatively reduce the overall efficacy of the medicines by increasing the problem. I recommend deaddiction from smoking and drinking to treat your anxiety and panic attacks in better way.

Yes you are right that if root cause of the anxiety is treated with medicines and psychotherapy (like CBT- cognitive behavior therapy), they do not come again.

Ask your psychiatrist to help you for deaddiction with medicines, motivational counselling and psychotherapy.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2407 Questions

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Do Smoking And Alcohol Consumption Cause Anxiety Attacks?

Brief Answer: deaddiction is needed Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX Thanks for writing to us. Smoking and drinking initially relieve the anxiety. However after continuous use it exaggerates the problem and worsens the anxiety. You are passing through this phase. These habits do not directly affect the effectiveness of medicines but they relatively reduce the overall efficacy of the medicines by increasing the problem. I recommend deaddiction from smoking and drinking to treat your anxiety and panic attacks in better way. Yes you are right that if root cause of the anxiety is treated with medicines and psychotherapy (like CBT- cognitive behavior therapy), they do not come again. Ask your psychiatrist to help you for deaddiction with medicines, motivational counselling and psychotherapy. Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.