Antidepressants should help you start to feel better within 1 to 3 weeks. But it can take as many as 6 to 8 weeks to see more improvement.

Talk with your doctor if:

You don’t notice any improvement by 3 weeks.
You have concerns or questions about your medicines.

The medicines may cause side effects, but these are usually mild. They may get better after a few weeks.
Benzodiazepines help relieve symptoms right away.

You may have to try more than one medicine to find one that works. Your doctor may have you switch to another medicine if the first one doesn’t help.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT IF I DO NOT TAKE MEDICATIONS FOR PANIC DISORDER:

Some people use counselling, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, to treat panic disorder. It can help you to:

• Deal with problems you are having right now.
• Learn how to deal with future anxiety and panic attacks.

Other treatments include support groups and exercises that help you relax, such as progressive muscle relaxation or meditation.

WHY MIGHT YOUR DOCTOR RECOMMEND TAKING MEDICATIONS:

Your doctor might advise you to take medicines if:

• You have not been able to control your symptoms with other treatment, such as counselling with cognitive-behavioral therapy.
• You have other problems linked to panic disorder that could benefit from medicine, such as depression or problems with drugs or alcohol.