on and off bipolar cells
It is increasingly common for physicians to prescribe beta blockers for panic attacks. Is this something good? Just what are these drugs and what are the risks?
Beta blockers belong to a class of drugs known as hormone blockers. The hormones affect cells by binding to receptors on cell membranes. When a hormone that does this, it sets off a reaction in the cell.
Naturally, the specific reaction it depends on the hormone is the cell and binding.
Hormone blockers are chemicals that can bind to receptors on the cell membrane without activating the same response as the hormone. Because these chemicals occupy the binding site, preventing the hormone from binding there. Thus, the substance chemical blocks the effects of the hormone.
Part of the sequence of events in a panic attack is the release of excessive amounts of the hormone adrenaline. As you know, this hormone is an important player in the response of fight or flight. It is responsible for the rapid pulse and shallow breathing and beating many people experience when they have a panic attack.
Beta blockers are a group of drugs that bind to receptors of adrenaline. There are alpha and beta binding sites for the adrenalin, so as to be expected that these drugs are called beta blockers, because they carry most of their effect on beta receptors.
Now that know how they work, I think you can see that beta-blockers only treat some symptoms of panic attacks. They do nothing to prevent or treat the cause underlying.
They can be useful, but its role is probably in the short term. And remember that all medicines have side effects. In the circumstances wrong, any drug can become a "poison pill".
So If you are receiving treatment for panic attacks, be sure to get the full story you doctor about the benefits and risks before starting any drug treatment.
To get more information on BetaBlockers for Panic right now, click that link.
And a great resource for all aspects of panic attacks and other anxiety problems is Panic Attack Release. You can find great info there on the causes, symptoms and the different ways to prevent panic attacks in the first place.
Lovebug: A Jonas Love Story-Chapter 25
