HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Suggest Treatment For Panic Attacks And Depression

default
Posted on Tue, 12 Jul 2016
Question: hello I have a question regarding panic disorder and depression. I always seem to get a different diagnosis between panic disorder or general anxiety disorder. my whole life ive had mild social phobia but after my dad died in may of 2015 I started having really weird symptoms. like I wouldn't cry and I was always tired than in December I had a horriable panic attack when attempting to exersicise a week later it moved to masturbation and sex than a month later it went to eating. basically I will shake and feel impending doom chest pain and shakey like im going to die for no reason and out of the blue. my gp did tons of mri and ct scan on chest brain spine holter monitor celiac test vitamin test heavy metal toxicity test. everything good except low vitamin d 15.6 ml and high pm cortisol. that's when doctor diganosied me with anxiety. over two months I saw two different psychiatrists and psychologist. one digoanosied me with depression and panic disorder, the other diagnosed me with general anxiety disorder and depression. so I am concerned with which I actually have. I am not scared of most things in general I just seem to feel anxious all the time for no reason. like my body symptoms are always there ever since first panic attack I do fear having another attack. but for example im not afraid or nervous to get in the car with my brother while he is driving, even though he crashed a car with me and him in it four months prior to my first panic attack. but I will panic if I try to jog or masterbate and I don't know why. doctor has me on Zoloft 150 mg day 9 and buspar 5mg once a day. what im also concerned about is,is whats the long term remssion rate for these conditions? also is there any other medical conditions like stomach cancer? I have stomach pain often and pain during bowel movements and am gassy often. when I wake up in the moring im very tired and slow, I feel like my head has been under water all night. I feel tired like I ran 10 miles breathe is shallow. sleep study came back normal
doctor
Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Consultation

Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.

From your description, I can safely say that you have both generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder is when you are anxious for most of the day about more than one area of life (work vs home, etc). Panic disorder is when you have discrete minutes-long episodes of panic including symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, and intense dread, which then resolve. Your symptoms are consistent with both conditions. You do not talk much about depression here, so that I'm less sure about.

In any event, both GAD and panic disorder are treated the same: with antidepressants. You are on Zoloft 150mg, which can be increased up to 200mg a day to control your symptoms.

You do not have stomach cancer, you are much too young for that, and there was no evidence on any of your bloodwork for this. This is your anxiety that is causing you to worry too much.

Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.

In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private link below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (34 minutes later)
what is the cure or long term remssion rate for general anxiety disorder and panic disorder? do people ever fully recover?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (1 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Followup

Detailed Answer:
The goal of antidepressant treatment should be total remission of panic symptoms and >80% reduction in anxiety symptoms. This is almost always achievable.

Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.

In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private link below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2014

Answered : 2236 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Suggest Treatment For Panic Attacks And Depression

Brief Answer: Consultation Detailed Answer: Hello, and thanks for your question. From your description, I can safely say that you have both generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder is when you are anxious for most of the day about more than one area of life (work vs home, etc). Panic disorder is when you have discrete minutes-long episodes of panic including symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, and intense dread, which then resolve. Your symptoms are consistent with both conditions. You do not talk much about depression here, so that I'm less sure about. In any event, both GAD and panic disorder are treated the same: with antidepressants. You are on Zoloft 150mg, which can be increased up to 200mg a day to control your symptoms. You do not have stomach cancer, you are much too young for that, and there was no evidence on any of your bloodwork for this. This is your anxiety that is causing you to worry too much. Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied. In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private link below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers