Do I really have Anxiety?

[fastasian79]

Prior i got sick, i was on adderal for 3 months and I only took 1-2 times a week but I stopped a week or two before I felt sick.

One doctor said that I intake too much stimulant stuff like...redbulls, cigarettes and coffee.
Another doctor said that I have Anxiety b/c I told  him that I have
                                      shortness of breath
                                      dizzinesss (i guess it's lightheadedness)
                                      heart races
Therefore they prescribed me some Buspirone.  Whenever the symptoms occur, i take the med and the symptoms go away with 24hours.  I dont take it everyday, only when i really needed.  These symptoms tend to come back every few days or every week.  It seems like whenever I eat or drink anything that has caffeine i will get one of the symptoms above.

If i move around too much ( like sitting up, running) I will get lightheadedness and a little bit tired.

So my question is do I really have Anxiety or not?  If no, what do you think it is? What  should you suggest me to do? Stress test?, MRI my head?

Thank you very much.

[Mark TX]

You definitely need to ditch the stimulants!  No coffee!  No soda!  Extra precautions with over-the-counter cold and flu medications!  Any of those can and will send me into a panic attack in a matter of minutes.  I made the stupid mistake of drinking half a cup of caffeinated coffee while visiting family several weekends ago and within a few minutes I was gripping my chair feeling like I needed to rush to the ER... stupid, stupid, stupid!

I've been hooked on Big Gulps for years and know how easily stimulants can set me off... yet  after giving up alcohol, and giving up cigarettes, and giving up most every kind of thing I enjoy putting in my body, it's tough to give up soda.  But I know I've got to.

I experience symptoms nearly identical to those you describe... light-headedness, racing heart, shortness of breath.  Same thing.

Good luck!

mark

[Kimmas]

Hi, one thing to mention first is that buspirone is not an as needed medicine. It needs to be taken daily in order to work properly. It takes up to 6 weeks to fully get into your system so if you take it every day two or three times a day you would most likely eliminate the symptoms you are feeling.
However, when you have anxiety any kind of stimulant makes it worse. I avoid caffine as much as possible.
I take buspiron now twice a day 5 mg each time and it does help to take the edge off.

[valashu]

Caffeine sensitivity (the amount of caffeine that will produce an effect in someone) varies from person to person. On average, the smaller the person, the less caffeine needed to produce side effects. Caffeine sensitivity is most affected by the amount of caffeine a person has daily. People who regularly take in a lot of caffeine soon develop less sensitivity to it. This means they may need more caffeine to achieve the same effects.

It may seem like you're getting plenty of liquids when you drink caffeinated beverages. But that liquid doesn't stay in your system. Caffeine has a mild dehydrating effect — it works on the kidneys to produce more urine. This increases a person's need to pee, taking liquid out of the body.

Caffeine may also cause the body to lose calcium, and that can lead to bone loss over time. Drinking caffeine-containing soft drinks and coffee instead of milk can have an even greater impact on bone density and the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Caffeine can aggravate certain heart problems. It may also interact with some medications or supplements. If you are stressed or anxious, caffeine can make these feelings worse. Although caffeine is sometimes used to treat migraine headaches, it can make headaches worse for some people.

[fastasian79]

I have not been taking Buspirone for 10days now and I'm feeling great.  I guess I'm feeling better because I started to exercise daily.....and stay away from all the fat food, cheese, spicy food, and soda.  I only get a little bit of light-headedness every now and then.  Working out does help to fight against anxiety...I got the result after only 2 days of working out.

Kimmas- how long have you been on Buspirone? Do you have to be on it for a long term or just 6 weeks?  

Thanks everyone :)

[fastasian79]

Kimmas,
I'm just wondering if you have to take buspirone everyday? How long have u been on it?  Is there any side effect if you keep taking it for long term?  I feel really weak nowadays than prior i got this symptom....do you feel the same way or no?

Thanks kimmas

[itchyface14]

I do have anxiety and I was on adderall (adderrall) before. I also smoke and drink redbull, rockstar, starbucks, and lots of pepsi. You really are suppose to reduce having things with caffine in them while on adderall (adderrall). I didn't really do it either. I just didn't need starbucks as often because the adderall (adderrall) make me pretty alert. Your symptoms are ones shared with anxiety disorders, but it doesn't really sound like you have an anxiety disorder to me, unless your attacks are triggered by something or you have a feeling of fear that causes the attacks.  I have known people that cant drink caffine because it is there trigger for anxiety attacks. I also know that adderall (adderrall) can cause increased anxiety in people who have anxiety disorders. I have had the same symptoms that you stated from adderall (adderrall) and it didn't feel like one of my anxiety attacks. Thats why I quit taking it. Normally my anxiety attacks feel like a racing heart....on adderall (adderrall) my heart felt like I was having palpatations. My anxiety attacks would make me kind of hyperventalate...on adderall (adderrall) the weird hard beats cause me to breath funny. The anxiety lightheadedness came from me breathing to fast.....on adderall (adderrall) i would get dizzy out of no where.
I think I had problems with adderall (adderrall) because of drinking so much pop and not eating enough while on it.

[Kimmas]

I have been taking Buspar 5 mg twice a day for almost 3 months. I have had really no side effects. In the beginning I was nauseous for a couple of days but that went away very quickly. It does make me tired and so I have a hard time staying up past 9:00 at night, but always wake after about 6 hours of deep sleep feeling pretty rested. I was told by my doctor to take it daily because it has to build up in your system which can take up to 6 weeks. I started feeling the benifits at about week 2. Also if you are not feeling much benefit you can up the dose all the way to 60 mg daily. Iter was told there is no problem with taking it long term. I know people who has been on it for over a year with no problems.
I am getting ready to stop the med as I feel my anxiety is more under control. The buspar does help you to relax more. My concern is will I have withdrawls from stopping. They say it is not addictive but it must do something to you. Did you doctor talk to you about how to stop the med when needed?
Good Luck to you and give it a try....

Kimmas

[fastasian79]

Kimmas:  

My doctors has not told me much about this med...they just said try it out to see if i like it.  I actually like it but my concern is whether it will cure the symptoms permanently or just temporarily.
I heard it's not addictive but I just want to take this kind of medicine for long term.   I have been on and off but not everyday.  I guess i will just try it out for 2 months and then stop....  
Would you let me know how it goes whenever you withdraw from this med...

Thanks

[fastasian79]

Not sure if smoking caused all these problems.  I had stopped smoking cig for 3 years and i started to smoke again 4 months before i got all these symptoms.....i have not smoked again since i got sick.  So now I dont even know if this is anxiety or  the side effects from consuming too much redbull, coffee in 2 weeks and smoking during that time.  Now, I dont get suffrocated like i was anymore....it's just some light-headedness and feel like my heart beating fast.   Whenever my heart does that i feel there is an internal vibration.  

I'm afraid to take adderall (adderrall) eventhough i needed to focus in school ..just dont know what will happen after taking it.

Just wondering how to get my Vitamin level tested it? I heard if you dont have enough either one of them can cause these symptoms too.

Thanks

[sugarpea013]

Hey I don't know if it means anything but the day I got "sick" was the day I tried my first cup of coffee. My heart and nerves haven't been the same since.