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Panic disorder vs medicine side effects

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Posted 3/3/2012 12:27 AM (GMT -8)
First of all, I want to say I have many medical problems and panic disorder is just one of many problems I have. A few years ago I started to have panic attacks that sent me to the hospital many times. Make the story short, it rule out the heart problem. I was seeing a doctor and been on Prozac for about a year and it seems to be under control, but 6 months ago, it stared to come back. Im now seeing another doctor and he started me on Paxil, which seem to work until recently, my eyes can not focus and getting extremely dizzy.
He took me off Paxil and started me on Zoloft, this is my 3 day taken it. I realize I been having a lot of issues the last 2 days.
1. I been getting minor panic attacks a few times a day.
2. I feel extremely discomfortable when I took my other medicines
3. After taken my other medicines, within an hour, I feel some kind of attack like shaking, tingling through my whole body, etc.

Yesterday I took another med, which I take every other day, I felt like I wanted to vomit all day, with pressure in the chest and GERD in my stomach. I never had this problem before Zoloft.

Today I took a blood pressure medicine, I was shivering and tingling through my body.

I can not distinguish between these effects was from a panic attack or these are medicine side effects.

I wanted to give Zoloft a chance, but I'm afraid it might give me more problems and discomfort with my other meds.

Can anyone comment on my problem or experience something like this before?
Posted 3/3/2012 4:56 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Swon
I started back on zoloft about 4 weeks ago. I did have more generalized anxiety over the first couple of weeks. It seems to have settled down now and I'm feeling a lot more like my self. I actually want to got out and do things were before I didn't bother because I knew I'd be too anxious. The symptoms you described sound a lot like the ones I get with pain attacks and anxiety but I don't take any other meds and some drugs do interact with others. I'd ask my doc. or pharmacist about it just to be on the safe side.
hope things get better for you soon
Posted 3/3/2012 6:29 AM (GMT -8)
Swon,

I am not sure what your other medical problems are and what medications you are on.  There is always that chance that your meds are causing some of your symptoms.

Many different types of medications are used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including traditional anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines, and newer options like antidepressants and beta-blockers.

These medications can be very effective, but they shouldn’t be thought of as a cure. Anxiety medication can provide temporary relief, but it doesn’t treat the underlying cause of the anxiety disorder.  I mistakenly thought the medications would "cure" me and take away all my anxiety.  I have anxiety and major depression and over the years I have been on 15 different ADs so I understand how you are feeling. 

Therapy and self-help strategies can help you get to the bottom of your underlying issues and develop the tools to beat anxiety/panic attacks.  Even with all the tools available those of us with anxiety have to work very hard at not letting this disorder take over our lives. 

Please do talk with your Dr. about your medications and see if there is any interaction that could be going on. 

We are here to help and support so please keep talking with us as we understand where your coming from and what you are going through.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 3/3/2012 3:20 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks belleadonna, I do think it's the Zoloft that is causing my panic attack. it's coming up very frequently. 2-3 times an hour. I wanted to give it a chance, but I'm only on my 4th day and it's giving me so much problem. I have to call my doctor and see.
Posted 3/3/2012 3:26 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks Kitt, I have a few meds that I take on a regular basis and it's been for years, such as blood pressure meds and pain medicine. I didn't have problem when the doctor put me on Paxil, but as soon as I'm no Zoloft, taking the other meds makes me sick and with other problems as well. I been on a couple of meds before and some just made me very dizzy and can not focus.
I'll have to talk to my doctors more about it, because it's ruining my life.
Posted 3/3/2012 4:40 PM (GMT -8)
swon,

I do hope your Dr. can suggest a better medication for you.  I can identify with your comment, "it is ruining my life".  You derserve to feel good and be happy.

Blessings,

KItt

Posted 3/4/2012 12:18 AM (GMT -8)
Thank You Kitt, I hope my doc can work out something for me as well, because it driving me crazy. All day long i been having minor attacks and I just had a larger one not to long ago with heavy chest pressure, tightness. nausea and wanted to vomit very bad. i can still feel it now, it's been more than an hour. I'm going to stop Zoloft for a day until i speak with my doctor Monday.
Posted 3/4/2012 6:31 AM (GMT -8)

swon888 said...
Thank You Kitt, I hope my doc can work out something for me as well, because it driving me crazy. All day long i been having minor attacks and I just had a larger one not to long ago with heavy chest pressure, tightness. nausea and wanted to vomit very bad. i can still feel it now, it's been more than an hour. I'm going to stop Zoloft for a day until i speak with my doctor Monday. Swan I hope you feel better, let us know how you were doing, I went to the E.R a few days ago with similiar symptoms, squeezing in my upper abdomen, chest pain and pressure, also left arm pain and going numb, But after blood tests and chest xray they said it was just a panic attack and gerd, Try to calm down and look on youtube for relaxation videos, there are some great ones i like to watch also, I have been Having several Major panic attack almost every single day since september, mainly after going off celexa, and i haven't felt right since, i been getting all kinds of test done and so far they just found mild asthma, gerd, panic attacks, but i had panic attacks since age 14 and im 33, but they just seem to be getting worse and lasting alot longer, I hope you feel better swan, i said i would never try another antidepressant but I don't know, if i have to keep living like this, i may give one another shot, but i tried about 7 so far with no luck, Hope you feel better.

Posted 3/4/2012 6:32 AM (GMT -8)
Swan I hope you feel better, let us know how you were doing, I went to the E.R a few days ago with similiar symptoms, squeezing in my upper abdomen, chest pain and pressure, also left arm pain and going numb, But after blood tests and chest xray they said it was just a panic attack and gerd, Try to calm down and look on youtube for relaxation videos, there are some great ones i like to watch also, I have been Having several Major panic attack almost every single day since september, mainly after going off celexa, and i haven't felt right since, i been getting all kinds of test done and so far they just found mild asthma, gerd, panic attacks, but i had panic attacks since age 14 and im 33, but they just seem to be getting worse and lasting alot longer, I hope you feel better swan, i said i would never try another antidepressant but I don't know, if i have to keep living like this, i may give one another shot, but i tried about 7 so far with no luck, Hope you feel better.
Posted 3/4/2012 10:28 PM (GMT -8)
I will keep you posted after I speak with my doctor tomorrow or when I get a chance to visit him again. I know exactly how you feel, everytime when I have symptoms like that, I want to run into ER as well. It scares me when i have pressure or chest pain alone with the rest of the other symptoms, it just make me more worry.

I'm not that much off from you, I have many illness as well, Arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, panic disorder, GERD, depression (mainly from my arthritis pain), Liver disease, high blood pressure. Believe it or not, I'm seeing 8 different doctors for different issues and it doesn't see to be helping much.
Posted 3/5/2012 12:22 PM (GMT -8)
Hi, I had the same issues. For panic attacks got described Effexor - had horrible nightmares. It took me about 4-5 month to return to my normal sleep (and I took that med only for a month). Last year I've decided to give another shot with antidepressants and Dr. prescribed me Zoloft. Horrible side effects. Tinglings all over body, couldn't focus at work, felt nauseous. I was trying but couldn't. After 3 weeks I stopped everything and decided not to torture my self anymore. I have anxiety disorder and panic attacks, not to often (had them 3-4 per week 10 years ago and now only 1-3 per year, but still have anxiety and anxiety attacks). Anyway, I have Xanax in my purse, just in case I have panic attack, that's it. Xanax helps me and I have the smallest dosage for all these years. I feel way better without meds on daily basis and I think with proper exercises and breathing you can manage your anxiety as well. Listen to your body. Good luck.
Posted 3/7/2012 7:56 PM (GMT -8)
So I called my doctor as of Monday, he still did not return my call yet as of Wednesday, but I took myself off Zoloft, my panic attack has subsided. I still feel a little anxious here and there and still feel a bit panicky with minor chest pains and pressure, but not nearly as bad as when I was on Zoloft. I think I'm going to stay off meds to see how I feel until I see my doctor in a couple of weeks
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