In a panic attack, which action should the nurse take?

• A. Ignore symptoms
• B. Administer IV fluids and place in Trendelenburg
• C. Encourage exercise
• D. Administer alprazolam; Have client breathe into a paper bag

Answer: (D)

In a panic attack, the priority is to reduce the surge of anxiety and correct the rapid, shallow breathing that often accompanies it. Administering a fast-acting anxiolytic like alprazolam helps calm the patient quickly, decreasing the intensity of the panic and the accompanying physiological symptoms. Having the client breathe into a paper bag is used to raise carbon dioxide levels and restore the balance disrupted by hyperventilation, which can relieve symptoms such as dizziness and tingling and make breathing more controlled. The other options don’t address the acute distress: ignoring symptoms allows the panic to escalate; placing the patient in Trendelenburg with IV fluids targets conditions like shock, not a panic attack; encouraging exercise would likely worsen arousal.