I am an 18 years old boy. My problem is that I am suffering from anxiety and panic attack from the last 2 years but haven't gone through any treatment. 15 days before I haven taken online consultation of a psychiatrist she prescribed me nexito 10 mg for 15 days. I have used for 15 days and started to feel little better than previous and I made another consultation with her she suggested me to continue now for 1 month and after that continue for 6 months. Now I have stopped taking nexito 10 after 15 days. And now I am having anxiety issues again. My question is after continuing it for 6 months will it affect my physical system and is there any guarantee that my anxiety and panic attack will completely go forever.

Mr. Saul PereiraPsychologist50yrs exp

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No there is no guarantee that your problems will end just by taking medication. I strongly suggest that you go for therapy in tandem with the medication. It works best in combination. Because you are young you can solve these problems better if you cooperate. Don't stretch this unnecessarily and make a long drawn affair of it. Anxiety has all to do with fear and your inability (or so you would tend to think) to handle the same. Fear is based on looking too much into the future and imagining things that usually do not tend to happen (usually 90% of your fears will not happen). You need to change your perception of the fearful stimulus then you can change your response to the fear. The first one is the best and will preempt the need for the second. If you are already far gone into the reaction mode, then you need both responses to counter the attack. The way we see things in life (like half empty or half full glass) is very dependent on our attitude. Attitude may have developed over many years but fortunately can change in a matter of sustained choices made and acted up on now. Sometimes, fear may have originated in childhood and your body, more than you brain, remembers the emotion and will react with heightened fear even for the slightest provocation or stimulus. Sometimes, you may not even need a stimulus! these matters can ideally be resolved in therapy only, and exclusively. There must be some early influences that your parents may know about. These will come up often for resolution in adolescence at least three times and if you don't resolve it, you will carry a permanent negative trait into adulthood. So don't delay or neglect your condition. Accordingly, you will choose to see things as either threatening or as an opportunity. The opportunist will be positive and work with the situation to make good out of it. The individual who sees it as threatening, will, out of fear, try to avoid/run away from the situation or react with anxiety and panic. Yes, self-belief does impact it too, but you can see that prior to that, perception will tarnish the belief system too. Here, you can see that all the resolution lies in just changing your perception/attitude, even if it is against odds. Changing your response, despite the perception, is building up of your reserves and resources to handle any contingency that life throws up at you. And life throws up situations quite regularly and heavily. For this you need to develop a fit mind and body: the former, by meditation and mind exercises; and the later, by exercises and proper diet. You need good sleep too. Included in the development of the mind is the handling of emotions, in your case, fear. These changes will give you a handle on life and your perceptions and responses. Prayer is really powerful, if you are a spiritual person. Repeat some personally framed affirmations that are geared to calming you down and building confidence. Do a personality development course too. Anything that develops you personally will be of great assistance in building resilience.  

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Mrs. Hiral KhimaniPsychologist19yrs exp

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Hello Lybrate user You need counselling for anxiety n panic attacks to help you in long run 

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Jitendra KeshwaniPsychiatrist12yrs exp

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As you have history of anxiety and panic attack symptoms since more than two years and also it got improved with medication then you should continue the treatment. Treatment of anxiety disorder usually takes 9-12 months and dose of medicines have to be titrated accordingly. The risk of relapse increases if the treatment is not taken properly .also, psychological interventions (cbt, relaxation exercises etc) needs to be started in most of the cases. If both psychological and pharmacological treatments are used, anxiety disorders has good recovery rate.  

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Dr. Prof. Jagadeesan M.S.Psychiatrist17yrs exp

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You should understand anxiety occurs due to reduced serotonin (a neurotransmitter, protein, in the mind (brain)). Nexito which is escitalopram, is an ssri, which normalises the serontonin levels and brings the anxiety symptoms under control. For some a 6 months course will make the anxiety symptoms subside. But for those with inherent reduced serotonin, they may have to take the same for longer duration for years together under supervision from a psychiatrist. So get the scientific information on anxiety rather than myths and misconceptions and get back to treatment. Good luck.  

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Hello, you were guided rightly. Every disorder has a treatment for a specific period of time like in tuberculosis, medicine is taken for 9 months, likewise asthma, diabetes and also anxiety and depressive disorder too. Duration for which medicine is needed to be taken in anxiety and depressive disorder is 6 montha after the remission of symptoms and taking it for 6 months will not affect your physical system in any permanent way. There may be few side effects but that will go away in few days.  

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Dr. Saranya DevanathanPsychiatrist50yrs exp

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Dear Kunal, You have stopped nexito before you are fully treated. Taking it for 6 months may not affect your body seriously. But side effects may be there - not serious nor life threatening. Nobody can guarantee of complete cure forever. You will learn that your symptoms will be under control with tablets. You will even recognize the early symptoms of recurrence and take prompt treatment. 

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Ms. Rachna MishraPsychologist9yrs exp

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The healthiest way to deal with a panic attack is to acknowledge it. Try not to fight your symptoms. But keep reminding yourself that they will pass. There is plenty that can be done for people who have problems with panic attacks. These can include: relaxation techniques, such as mindfulness and meditation healthy diet and adequate sleep exercise cutting back on alcohol, cigarettes and drugs distracting yourself with mental activities, like counting grounding techniques slow and deep breathing positive self-talk psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) medicine Getting professional support is always a good idea. 

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