Anxiety and PVCs

[juniorfan32]

I am having serious anxiety problems.  None of my meds seem to work.  I was on Lexapro 20 mg and it stopped working, Effexor raised my blood pressure and didn't work, and 100 mg of Zoloft for about 2 weeks now.  My doc gave me xanax to take as needed, which a take maybe 2 times a week.  I have PVCs which they tell me is normal but I am having a ton and they are affecting my life.  I feel like I have no life.  My doc just upped my zoloft to 150 mg.  What does a person do when they get to this point?  What anxiety meds have worked for people?  Any suggestions would be great!!

[micag123]

It is totally the anxiety bringing on the PVC's. You can probably predict when they are coing on because you have nervously released some adrenaline. Extremely common with anxiety. I have them and when I am nervous or stressed, boom one after the other. I know that it is hard not to focus on them, but it really makes it worse. I was sitting watching TV and my husband and I were arguing, so I was tense, and my whole chest moved, it was freaky, but I am still here typing!! They really are nothing to worry about.

Good Luck!!

[396SS]

Same here too.  PVCs since age 14 and I'm 31 yo now.  They started with a stressful time in my life.  I went to a cardiologist at 18, because I thought there was something seriously wrong with my heart.  I had my first panic attack ever in his office.  He was a great cardiologist, and he had a stress test done, a monitor and an echocardiogram.  He said he could hear an ever so slight mitral valve click.  The echo said I had a very slight mitral valve prolapse, but my heart looked and functioned great.  Four years later, same tests, same outcome.  I just had an echo again a few months ago, and they found absolutely nothing wrong, not even mitral valve prolapse.  So, I am having PVCs as I type right now. They come and go, but I am stressed today, hence the PVCs.  They even detected them on the EKGs, stress test and they are no big deal.  I had one of the best cardiologists in the country for arrythmias, and he told me they were no problem at all.  However, I fully understand how uncomfortable they are, trust me.  What helps is knowing that they will not really hurt me.  I think everyone should get checked out, though, just to make sure.  

As far as meds, Toprol helped me.  It's a beta blocker and it lowers your blood pressure and helps with PVCs and chest pain.  I only take it when they are bad now but used to take 50mg (I think) every day.  Zoloft helped my anxiety.  Xanax doesn't do much for me.  I take Valium when things get bad, I hate taking meds, but I do when I need to.  I take Ativan for sleep.  I also try not to eat a big meal, drink caffeine, or sleep on my left side (it makes mine worse for some reason).  Hope you feel better:)

Take care

[cats55]

Hi,
I get a lot of Pvcs too, they are horrible aren't they! they drive me mad too but when im busy on things i don't notice them too much.  Taking up hobbies definitely helps and also have you tried taking magnesium?  although they haven't gone completely it does lessen them a bit. Also massaging your jugular vein in your neck helps control them (thats what my doc said). Re medication for anxiety I am not sure as I'm trying my best to cope without it but I think I may have to get some!  Be strong and hope you feel better soon

K