What is it if you have a panic attck that lasts for multiple days?Is it considered a panic attack?

Laura W
#1. May 3rd, 2008, at 9:03 PM.

talk to the dr. about it..the anger is not a panic attack

k.shorty21
#2. May 5th, 2008, at 10:18 PM.

Sounds like anxiety to me… I would have him consult his Dr.

vickisara
#3. May 6th, 2008, at 7:58 AM.

This is a very interesting question as I had my first panic attack at my job as a medical transcriber /triage nurse, et cetera for three cardiac surgeons. I was typing away, this being 1985, in Charleston, SC and had my first panic attack — the most horrific thing I have ever gone through, trust me. I was feeling like I was dying and I was worried only about my children and who would take care of them in the future.

Well, I was given Xanax slowly by one of the doctors and lied down on his sofa in his office. He had to give me doses of Xanax every so often to finally get me out of the attack. But I finally did and went home with my boyfriend, whom my doctor had called from our office.

A few days later, as I was making rounds in the hospital next door for admittances and such, I suddenly became faint and could not breathe. Luckily my other doctor at the office was right there speaking with a nurse and saw me. He had me sit down and breathe through a brown paper bag, thinking I was hyperventilating. Did not work of course. So I was wheeled to the ER and he met me there and began the Xanax (or another sedative of the same class) IV and had to keep pushing it very often. Why? Because my blood gasses had all gone out of whack and my electrolytes left my body, mainly potassium almost totally. He had to keep giving me the Xanax and watching my blood gasses and potassium, et cetera. Finally all my bloodwork was back to normal, even potassium. He had my boyfriend take me home, normal once again after only an hour or so, and watch me for the night. Anyway, it happened once again and I was hospitalized for five days or so. Nothing showed up. Honest! So I was placed on Xanax for these occasions in the future and it has been a miracle drug for me. Sometimes I never take a Xanax for a month; but when I do have a panic attack, it will take almost 20 milligrams to fight it off. If I would take that much without being in the throes of an attack, it would wipe me out mentally for a long while!!! But when you use it for what it is intended, you will be so happy to have it on hand for just those times. I must back up here to tell you that both of my doctors seeing me during the panic attacks said that they had to give me so much Xanax to make me “normal,” they were really afraid for me. But they said all it did was make me turn back to my normal self. And I can truly say the same, I was not drugged at all and I just felt completely normal. They were quite surprised I did not get “high” or “crazy” but I did not at all!!!!

Anyway, that is my experience with panic attacks. I can believe that every one of us could have a different type of panic attack, but if you take the Xanax and do not become “high,” then it is the nuts!!! But take it without having a panic attack will only make you weird, high and if you like that, then you are not using it for a panic attack. And a doctor will know for sure!!!! So do not abuse a drug that is a miracle worker for us with panic attacks who really need them, okay?!!!