If the panic attacks are associated with other conditions such as generalized anxiety, phobia or depression, then the course of action is to address these underlying issues first.
If the panic attacks are the main problem, then two courses of action are available – Drug treatment and psychological therapies.
Sedative drugs such as the Benzodiazepines (e.g. Diazepam (Valium)) are very effective in the short term, but are highly addictive and can lead to dependence. Further, when these drugs are withdrawn, a resurgence of the panic is likely.
Drug treatments are not as effective as psychological therapies in these conditions, though herbal remedies like Bacopa Monnieri and Valerian have shown resilience and are effective when taken over the long term. They also don’t cause dependence as they are of natural origin.
The alternative to drugs is therapy. Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) are the most effective kinds for treating panic attacks. The therapies involve an explanation of the psychological and physical symptoms of panic attacks, and may involve the deliberate precipitation of a panic attack during a session.
The aim is to reduce the fear associated with the physical symptoms — because when the fear of panic attacks is reduced, the attacks themselves will lessen in frequency and severity and, over time, disappear altogether.