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Suggest Treatment For Recurrent Panic Attacks
Question: hello doctor, I'm XXXX from XXXXXXX and I'm 25 years old. I will tell u my story and now I'm really concerned about my sleep.
First of all, I never had any sleep disorder or panic attack before. It's all happened in my 8 days of job Interview trip to XXXXXXX I had a job Interview in XXXXXXX and basically I'm from XXXXXXX XXXXXXX So I had to travel for 2 nights in train and the day travel was a disaster in that train. I mean, I didn't have any food because the train food is disgusting. So I held my hunger for the whole day and I reached XXXXXXX by mid-night, found a hotel, had a non-veg food and the time was around 1:30am. I slept after having food and woke up at 6:30am with a panic attack (first time in my life). I really got scared and was observing my self that what's going in my body.. I was unable to focus and the adrenaline was pumping.. I was fine after 15mints. Tomarow was my interview and the next sleep was perfect, and I performed really well in the Interview and they will be in contact with me this september. (Interviewed at 6th Aug)
All done, going back home. I slept really well in the first night in the train, but i cant sleep for the second night because I will reach my destination at 2:30am (I had the food available in that train, it was a good train). I started getting sleepy and I was 100% really really sleepy during that night till i reach my destination, I sleep right instant if I close my eyes but I held my sleep. i reached my home and had a hug from my mom and slept after having the food. Next morning i woke up, everything is all right..but that day night I had a panic attack while sleeping. It was really scary even though I controlled my self and slept without any worries, my aunt was with me and she witnessed my panic attack and helped me to fall in sleep. And the next morning I was feeling really better, but my parents were freaked out. I told them what really happened to me, and I convinced them about panic attack.
The same day I consulted a doctor and he prescribed Clonotril 2mg for two days. 1 tab before going to sleep. I slept really well those 2 days and the 3rd day as well. But 4th, 5th, 6th night sleep wasn't that good, I woke up with minor panic attack during those nights. And the next day night I couldn't sleep, I couldnt sleep for a single second. I tried everything but I couldnt sleep till morning... and that day I was feeling really bad and tired and unable to focus so I called the doctor and he wanted me to have the clonotril 2mg.. I had one at lunch time and one more tab at the same night, I slept well, it was a 10hr sleep. I continued the medicine for again 2 days by tapering (half of the tablet in the morning and the next half at night, and the second day I only had Clonotril half at night only, which is yesterday night) And the yesterday night I slept for only 3hrs and woke up at 12:30 am and couldnt sleep since then...and i'm typing this message in my lunch time..my doctor want me to continue the medicine..I'm now worried about my health..please give me some tips fight this?
Sorry I mistyped the dosage. I'm having .25mg Clonotril
First of all, I never had any sleep disorder or panic attack before. It's all happened in my 8 days of job Interview trip to XXXXXXX I had a job Interview in XXXXXXX and basically I'm from XXXXXXX XXXXXXX So I had to travel for 2 nights in train and the day travel was a disaster in that train. I mean, I didn't have any food because the train food is disgusting. So I held my hunger for the whole day and I reached XXXXXXX by mid-night, found a hotel, had a non-veg food and the time was around 1:30am. I slept after having food and woke up at 6:30am with a panic attack (first time in my life). I really got scared and was observing my self that what's going in my body.. I was unable to focus and the adrenaline was pumping.. I was fine after 15mints. Tomarow was my interview and the next sleep was perfect, and I performed really well in the Interview and they will be in contact with me this september. (Interviewed at 6th Aug)
All done, going back home. I slept really well in the first night in the train, but i cant sleep for the second night because I will reach my destination at 2:30am (I had the food available in that train, it was a good train). I started getting sleepy and I was 100% really really sleepy during that night till i reach my destination, I sleep right instant if I close my eyes but I held my sleep. i reached my home and had a hug from my mom and slept after having the food. Next morning i woke up, everything is all right..but that day night I had a panic attack while sleeping. It was really scary even though I controlled my self and slept without any worries, my aunt was with me and she witnessed my panic attack and helped me to fall in sleep. And the next morning I was feeling really better, but my parents were freaked out. I told them what really happened to me, and I convinced them about panic attack.
The same day I consulted a doctor and he prescribed Clonotril 2mg for two days. 1 tab before going to sleep. I slept really well those 2 days and the 3rd day as well. But 4th, 5th, 6th night sleep wasn't that good, I woke up with minor panic attack during those nights. And the next day night I couldn't sleep, I couldnt sleep for a single second. I tried everything but I couldnt sleep till morning... and that day I was feeling really bad and tired and unable to focus so I called the doctor and he wanted me to have the clonotril 2mg.. I had one at lunch time and one more tab at the same night, I slept well, it was a 10hr sleep. I continued the medicine for again 2 days by tapering (half of the tablet in the morning and the next half at night, and the second day I only had Clonotril half at night only, which is yesterday night) And the yesterday night I slept for only 3hrs and woke up at 12:30 am and couldnt sleep since then...and i'm typing this message in my lunch time..my doctor want me to continue the medicine..I'm now worried about my health..please give me some tips fight this?
Sorry I mistyped the dosage. I'm having .25mg Clonotril
Brief Answer:
paroxetine, lifestyle modifications.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Dear XXXX,
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
You have developed this problem of difficulty in sleeping and panic attacks during your travel to XXXXXXX for job interview.
I would like to tell you that these panic attacks are unpredictable. These can develop even with minor stressors (like in your case it was travelling).
Clonotril is a good drug for panic attacks and insomnia. But you try and take it only when anxiety is severe. Regular and long term intake of this drug can cause dependence.
In my opinion, a better drug for panic attack is paroxetine (prescription drug). This is an antidepressant and antianxiety drug with some sedation. This will help you in sleep problem also.
Other than this, you can practice deep breathing exercises and meditation regularly. This will keep your mind calm.
Whenever you feel anxious, you can drink a glass of cold water and take deep breaths.
Try to avoid caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee or soft drinks. Please stay away from alcohol, if you take.
For better sleep, practice sleep hygiene habits like avoiding daytime naps, listening to soft music at night, drinking a glass of warm milk at night and taking warm water bath before bed and using bed only while during sleep.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Kindly discuss this with your doctor.
Take care.
Thanks.
paroxetine, lifestyle modifications.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Dear XXXX,
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
You have developed this problem of difficulty in sleeping and panic attacks during your travel to XXXXXXX for job interview.
I would like to tell you that these panic attacks are unpredictable. These can develop even with minor stressors (like in your case it was travelling).
Clonotril is a good drug for panic attacks and insomnia. But you try and take it only when anxiety is severe. Regular and long term intake of this drug can cause dependence.
In my opinion, a better drug for panic attack is paroxetine (prescription drug). This is an antidepressant and antianxiety drug with some sedation. This will help you in sleep problem also.
Other than this, you can practice deep breathing exercises and meditation regularly. This will keep your mind calm.
Whenever you feel anxious, you can drink a glass of cold water and take deep breaths.
Try to avoid caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee or soft drinks. Please stay away from alcohol, if you take.
For better sleep, practice sleep hygiene habits like avoiding daytime naps, listening to soft music at night, drinking a glass of warm milk at night and taking warm water bath before bed and using bed only while during sleep.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Kindly discuss this with your doctor.
Take care.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for those tips. I also started having magnesium food like 3 bananas from today. Yesterday i was really tired because i couldnt sleep previous night. (previous night I had half of the clonotril and slept at 8:30pm and woke up at 12:30am because of the pain in my left arm) So last night i had a clonotril and I slept with wonderful dreams and woke up this morning..I'm a stress free person and now I feel really good. My doctor want me to continue clonotril for the next 4 days, but i'm feeling really good and completely stress free. Should I continue taking this drug when I'm not feeling stress? The stress part is Ok. Can I start sleeping naturaly without taking any drug? What should I do if I dont fall in sleep? Should I push 1 or 2 days without sleep until I naturaly fall in sleep?
Brief Answer:
regular clonotril for short term, herbal preparation.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
I think taking clonotril for 4 days regularly is absolutely okay.
This should normalise your sleep.
As your sleep cycle is normalised, you would be able to sleep naturally.
Practice those sleep hygiene tips which I suggested earlier.
But on long tern, I would recommend using clonotril only when you are stressed or unable to sleep.
Neither force yourself to sleep nor force yourself to stay awake. This will disrupt your natural sleep cycle further.
Go for a morning walk daily.
You can also try herb called 'valerian root extracts' manufactured by Himalaya company under the trade name 'Tagara'.
Hope this helps.
I wish you well.
Kindly close the discussion if you are satisfied with the response and give your feedback.
Thanks.
regular clonotril for short term, herbal preparation.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
I think taking clonotril for 4 days regularly is absolutely okay.
This should normalise your sleep.
As your sleep cycle is normalised, you would be able to sleep naturally.
Practice those sleep hygiene tips which I suggested earlier.
But on long tern, I would recommend using clonotril only when you are stressed or unable to sleep.
Neither force yourself to sleep nor force yourself to stay awake. This will disrupt your natural sleep cycle further.
Go for a morning walk daily.
You can also try herb called 'valerian root extracts' manufactured by Himalaya company under the trade name 'Tagara'.
Hope this helps.
I wish you well.
Kindly close the discussion if you are satisfied with the response and give your feedback.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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