I wouldn't advise antidepressants as a good therapy for anxiety/panic. Antidepressants increase the level of serotonine in your brain but there never has been any proof that anxiety patients (without depression) have a lack of serotonin. Yes, these drugs often help because they make you feel so good you "forget" about your anxiety but they often come with a lot of negative side-effects.
There could be a lot of physical causes for anxiety/panic like hypothyroidism, hyperventilation and so on. I made a list here
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...c-attacks.html
In my case the anxiety is probably caused by hypothyroidism and a history of alcohol abuse. I am visiting the endocrinologist next friday but I will also start my CBT course this week.
One more link why antidepressant can cause damage to your brain
http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/...oglycaemia.htm