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For more information about the symptoms and treatment of panic disorders and anxiety, visit http://www.anxietyinfo.com/.

For further information and resources, try the organizations, Web sites, and reading materials listed below. Your doctor or healthcare provider is also a helpful resource.

Organizations

  • Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA)
    The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) publishes informational pamphlets on a variety of panic disorder topics as well as a list of therapists to help people find specialists in their home area. The ADAA also maintains a listing of self-help groups that may be able to put you in touch with a local support group. For more information, visit: www.adaa.org
     
  • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
    The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders. The NAMI is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the improvement of the quality of life of all whose lives are affected by these diseases. For more information, visit: http://www.nami.org/
     
  • Freedom From Fear (FFF)
    Freedom From Fear (FFF) is a national not-for-profit mental health advocacy association founded in 1984 by Mary Guardino. Ms. Guardino founded FFF as an outgrowth of her own personal experiences of suffering with anxiety and depressive illnesses for more than 25 years. The mission of FFF is to aid and counsel individuals and their families who suffer from anxiety and depressive illnesses. For more information, visit: http://www.freedomfromfear.org/
     
  • Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
    The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the nation's largest patient-directed organization focusing on these disorders. DBSA fosters understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically based tools and information and also supports research to promote more timely diagnosis, develop more effective and tolerable treatments, and discover a cure.

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Web Sites

  • American Psychological Association (APA) The American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. The APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide.
    http://www.apa.org
     
  • National Institute of Mental Health
    The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to diminish the burden of mental illness through research.
    http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/anxietymenu.cfm
     
  • National Anxiety Foundation
    National Anxiety Foundation's goal is to educate the public and professionals about anxiety through printed and electronic media.
    http://www.lexington-on-line.com/naf.html
     
  • Internet Mental Health
    Internet Mental Health is a free encyclopedia of mental health information created by a Canadian psychiatrist, Dr. Phillip Long.
    http://www.mentalhealth.com
     
  • the Anxiety Panic internet resource (tAPir)
    tAPir is a grassroots Web site dedicated to providing information, relief, and support for those recovering from debilitating anxiety.
    http://www.algy.com/anxiety/index.shtml
     
  • Panic/Anxiety Disorders at About.com
    Each site in About.com's unique network is run by a professional Guide who is carefully screened and trained. Guides build a comprehensive environment around each of their specific topics, including the best new content, relevant links, how-to's, forums, and answers to just about any question.
    http://panicdisorder.about.com/
     
  • Anxiety Disorders - The Caregiver
    A volunteer site offering information and support for family and friends of those with anxiety disorders.
    http://pacificcoast.net/~kstrong/
     
  • The Anxiety Coach
    This site is a self-help guide for people who have significant trouble with anxiety and phobias.
    http://www.anxietycoach.com/
     
  • The Anxiety and Stress Disorders Clinic at Ohio State University
    The Anxiety and Stress Disorders Clinic at Ohio State University is committed to the development and provision of state-of-the-art treatments for individuals suffering from anxiety-related problems.
    http://anxiety.psy.ohio-state.edu/
     
  • Yahoo's Anxiety Disorders (links)
    http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/Anxiety_Disorders
    Provides links to informational Web sites about anxiety disorders.
     
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
    SAMHSA is the federal agency charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses.
    http://www.samhsa.gov/
     
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
    This searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs shows the location of facilities around the country that treat alcoholism, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse problems.
    http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
     
  • US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
    FDA's mission is to promote and protect the public health by helping safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way and by monitoring products for continued safety after they are in use.
    http://www.fda.gov/
     
  • Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free American Workplace
    In an effort to raise awareness about the impact of substance abuse on the workplace, DOL has developed Working Partners to bring quality substance abuse prevention information to millions of small businesses.
    http://www.dol.gov/dol/workingpartners.htm

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Reading List

  • Panic and Anxiety Disorder: 121 Tips, Real-life Advice, Resources & More
    by Linda Manassee Buell
    Publisher: Simplify Life; ISBN: 1928607047; (April 2001)
     
  • The Anxiety Cure: An Eight-Step Program for Getting Well
    by Robert L. DuPont, Elizabeth DuPont Spencer, Caroline M. DuPont
    Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; ISBN: 0471247014; 1st edition (June 29, 1998)
     
  • No Need to Fear: Overcoming Panic Disorder
    by Koz St. Christopher, et al.
    Publisher: Creative Works Publishing; ISBN: 1930693877; (February 9, 2001)
     
  • The Anxiety Disease
    by David V. Sheehan, MD
    Publisher: Bantam Books; ISBN: 0553272454; Reissue edition (June 1986)
     
  • An End to Panic: Breakthrough Techniques for Overcoming Panic Disorder
    by Elke Zuercher-White
    Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; ISBN: 1572241136; 2nd edition (June 1998)
     
  • Panic Disorder: The Great Pretender
    by H. Michael Zal
    Publisher: Perseus Publishing; ISBN: 0306432978; (April 1990)
     

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Information for Healthcare Professionals >>

Important Safety Information: XANAX XR should not be used if you are allergic to benzodiazepines, have a condition called acute narrow angle glaucoma, or are taking the anti-fungal medications ketoconazole or itraconazole. XANAX XR is not recommended for use in pregnancy. Therefore, let your doctor know if you are pregnant, if you are planning to become pregnant, or if you become pregnant while you are taking this medication. Let your doctor know if you are nursing.

The most common side effect is sedation, but this often decreases or goes away in most people after their bodies get used to the drug. Until you experience how XANAX XR affects you, do not drive a car or operate potentially dangerous machinery, etc. Other common side effects, which occur in fewer patients, include sleepiness, memory impairment, impaired speech, abnormal coordination and/or muscle action, and reduced sexual drive. Some patients may experience side effects associated with psychological and/or physical dependence on XANAX XR. Medications like XANAX XR, even when used as recommended, may produce psychological and/or physical dependence. This may make it very difficult to discontinue treatment with XANAX XR. Discontinuation symptoms, including the possibility of seizures, may occur following abrupt discontinuation from any dose, but the risk may be increased with extended use at doses greater than 4 mg/day. It is important that you get your doctor's advice on how to discontinue treatment safely and carefully. Gradually tapering your XANAX XR dose will help to decrease the possibility of discontinuation symptoms.

For more information, see important safety information.