I have had severe panic disorder with agoraphobia for as long as I can remember. The agoraphobia has fluctuated over the years but I am now digging out of a huge hole, so to say. So I take an ssri, clonidine, and klonopin and things are going okay. I have therapy weekly and cognitive behavioral therapy. I know from experience and from having been a medical student myself (had to quit after third year because of the agoraphobia) that desensitization is the only way to help the problem. But the klonopin only helps so much because of it s long half life. Would a fast acting benzodiazepine (like alprazolam), be appropriate for back up for when I put myself in difficult and anxiety inducing situations? My psychiatrist is pretty understand in and gives leeway since I am a very compliant patient and not drug-seeking.