Are Benzodiazepines The Best Panic Disorder Treatment?
QUESTION: Dear Dr. Heller, I’ve been lead to believe SSRI’s are the one stop solution to this problem. I’ve suffered from panic since I was 5 years old, and social anxiety has been around in a less severe way. When I was 35 my hormones began to change and Panic Disorder came back full blown and I finally decided living with it was too exhausting and ruining my life. Well, I take Zoloft, but find I still need Klonopin for twitching, buzzing and other CNS complaints. Is it ok to use both? I’d like to use Klonopin as needed and Zoloft only when I have hormonal depression, as it works well for that, but I’ve yet to find a doctor who isn’t afraid of prescribing a benzodiazepine long term. I hope you can respond. ANSWER: Panic disorder is likely a lifetime disorder. SSRI’s can help dramatically, and reduce the need for benzodiazepines like Klonopin, lorazepam (Ativan) or alprazolam (Xanax). The medical climate regarding treating pain and anxiety disorders is slowly changing, allowing physici
