A panic attack may appear to only occupy a short space of time - around two to six minutes usually, and it's easy to think that it's all over after that. However the reality is that there are a number of long-term effects that can linger for a great deal longer. One of the most common long-term effects is flashbacks. This involves the person having a flashback to when the panic attack took place, and often experiencing the same negative feelings all over again.

Another potential long-term effect is the use of drugs. These are often prescribed to reduce or eliminate the panic attacks when they first start to occur. The problem is that at some point the sufferer will need to be weaned off the drug, which can result in various reactions that might not be expected. It might even lead to further complications.

The problem with flashbacks is that they don't usually just occur once. Sufferers will often report that they experience the same panic attack over and over again, and are find that if a similar situation arises again, they instantly start to experience another panic attack. This makes it extremely difficult for people to control their reactions, with the flashbacks simply reminding them over and over again of the sensations and emotions they experienced the last time, making it easy to duplicate them again.

The other difficulty is that often the individual doesn't have any warning that one is about to occur. Doctors, however, do agree that there are certain events that are more likely to trigger a flashback. These include going back to the place where the original panic attack occurred, or using recreational drugs. Both of these may trigger flashbacks, although there's no conclusive evidence that this is definitely the case. Still, it does make it more difficult to avoid having a flashback.

Flashbacks don't always fade over time, either. Some individuals have reported suffering as many as five or ten years after the panic attack originally occurred. This can throw someone who in every other respect is a perfectly healthy individual, into a highly confusing state, can very scary, and for most people the flashbacks are unavoidable.

The use of drugs to reduce or remove the incidence of panic attacks can also be problematic. Many of these prescription drugs are quite potent, and as they are often used for extended periods of time, the sufferer’s body may become reliant upon them. So when the time comes to reduce or stop using the medication, there can be side effects. Often the patient experiences a gain in weight, or acne, but luckily these are fairly minor effects. Some patients, however, suffer drastic mood swings, seizures, feelings of depression, or even contemplate suicide.

Unfortunately these drugs alter the mind, and although they're no longer needed to combat panic attacks, the mind itself may struggle to cope without them. This leads to unexpected complications. Because many patients have experienced this in the past, doctors now generally recommend that the patient be weaned off the drugs gradually. This helps to ensure that the panic attacks don't start reoccurring, but also to give the mind and body time to adjust to existing without the drugs any longer.