anxiety side effects of medicaitons

[mdd]

I have recently changed medications that seem to have troublesome side-effects, the doctor says these are anxiety or panic attacks. I take medicine for Thyroid (Levoxyl, 6:30AM), BP (Lotrel, 7:30 AM), Aspirin (9:00 PM), and Cholesterol (Advicor, 9:30 PM). I also take two fish oil tablets after dinner. My BP, and blood tests including thyroid are normal with these medications.

However, almost every alternate day I feel very uneasy/nervous, cannot focus, have palpitation (heart beating hard but not irregular), and shortness of breath - all lasting 4 to 8 hours. Deep breathing has not helped. These are not acute conditions but a big problem for me nevertheless. I do not smoke or drink, and exercise regularly. No headache, regular bowel, sound sleep. My stress echo and angiogram came normal. I tried Ativan and Xanax but they did not have any impact.

Are these anxiety attacks? Are these side effects of drug interaction? They started when I changed from Norvasc/Crestor to the current combination of medicine six months ago, when Thyroid was detected. I have schduled an appointment with endocrinologist but that is months away. Any help or tips will help me a lot!  

[swfl_guy]

you are def. having anxiety and panic attacks. What you describe is the same as so many of us on here. copy and paste this link it tells you the symptoms of anxiety and panic and all of yours are on there.

http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml

You need to just tell yourself you know it is just a panic attack and let it run its course. If you try to fight it it will just last longer. Hopefully these will go away when your body adjusts to all the meds. Good luck

[mdd]

Here is the anxiety attack experience from today, and very typical: at 1:00 PM-ish I felt restless and lightheaded, with palpitation, some sweatiness in palms, and feeling weak in legs. Felt as if my chest was already stuffed with something, and would not allow me to breath in air. I could not finish lunch (not hungry), felt as if I would throw-up if I ate anything, but drank water, and left message to cancel a meeting scheduled for 2:00 PM. My body wanted me to exercise, jump, run, do something, or lie down, but not just sit on the chair. So I went outside the office to parking lot and it felt better - either the fresh air, or sunlight, or open space - can't tell what. I sat in the car for few minutes putting the seat in recline. Tried M&Ms to cheer myself - that did not work. Then I thought it might not be a good idea to be there by myself in the car, in case I needed help. So I walked back to my desk. Meanwhile the guy I had 2:00 PM meeting with did not get my message, so he came by. We talked for 30 minutes or so, and that was painful. It could not divert my attention from anxiety. One more meeting after that, and by 4:00 PM I felt fine. Finished my lunch and came home.

[magen7984]

I know when im not having attacks everything is normal my bp heart rate etc.... but when i am nevous and go to the dr. that goes up and i have hbp im am taking xxanx as needed and the side effects i have from this medication is drowsyness

[suzi-q]

It sounds like it can be anxiety. However, since you changed medication it can also be a side effect of that.  Since you have not had anxiety issues before the change in medication, I tend to feel it is related to the medication.  Give your body a month to adjust to the new meds...if you are still experience symptoms, go back to your doctor to see if there is something different that he can prescribe.