panic attacks

[dlcottage]

I was diagnosed with trigiminal neuralgia in oct 2007, and nov 2007  started tegretol 200 mg 3 x day .. I hate being on this med, however it does help with the pain . In the past i have had panik attacks diagnosed in 1995 . However they have been at  bay i get a little one  maybe once a month but no biggy i am zoloft 25 mg per day and ativan 0.5 prn (but hardly ever have to use the ativan) i also learned coping skills .Can  being on this tegretol  be causing my panic attacks ? It seems the panic attacks came back about a month ago .I am still on tegretol i dont know for how much longer ..It is funny because my neuro when i told him a have panic disorder he then told me "oh tegretol might also help with panik disorder too" Thanks  

[JudyNewOrleans]

Yes it can.  It did for me.  Check out this research

http://www.annals-general-psychiatry.com/content/7/S1/S119

[shelzmike]

As far as I know, tegratol has no incidence of causing panic attacks. I think it is simply a matter of your panic disorder recurring. your body is under a lot of stress and especially the nervous system, since TN is a nervous disorder. And yes, your doctor is right when he says that the tegratol may help the panic/anxiety because of the way that it affects the nervous system.

Now, I am not a doctor, but I think that it these are two different issues - if you can, try to use coping skills and the atavan as needed to alleviate some of the panic attacks. Good Luck.

Mike