Does Prozac Help?

[PVCpanic]

I had anxiety when I was 14-15 related to I guess a phobia that something was wrong with my heart. I have had PVCs since then. I used to only get them about once every other week. So, it was easy to ignore. 9 months ago I started in a new line of work (teaching) and started having anxiety again and PVCs several times a day. I had a full-blown panic attack. I thought I was having a heart attack and would die any second. I did the ER thing. I've had several EKGs and one 48-hour holter monitor. All normal. Blood tests showed normal stuff too. They gave me lorazepam (Ativan) to use for oncoming panic attacks. It worked pretty well.

Now I'm still struggling with it so I went to an internist and explained it all. He put me on Fluoxetine (prozac). I've been on it for a week and have had numerous side effects. I've had to use some lorazepam a couple of times. Also, I get a PVC every day (randomly). They say prozac takes awhile to get used to and after like 4 weeks should be working well.

Has this helped anyone else? Did it get worse before it got better?

By the way, I do excercise 5 days a week fairly intensely (started last June). My resting HR is like 50 but normally my HR is high lately when I'm teaching because I'm worried something will happen and I can't just leave. (like 95-115bpm)

Lastly, my HR stays high after exercise for hours (90-110). Anyone experience this?

THANKS for any input.  

[PVCpanic]

If it matters, I'm 28 years old. I'm pretty overweight but I've lost 45 pounds in the last 9 months via the exercise I mentioned above.

[silverberg]

The meds can help, but you need to give them a chance.

From what you write, please don't take this the wrong way, but maybe try leaving ANY monitor devices  you have that is not specificilly directed by your doctor for use somewhere away from you for a week. Sounds like you are reading into your body way to much, also when you exercise your hr will go up, this is normal and  your body knows AND WILL go back to normal.

[Taybey]

I hated prozac it was the drug from hell for me. Im on paxil and i like it much better but everyone is different.  On prozac my heart would race and i felt aweful.

[PVCpanic]

For what it's worth, I've been on 10mg for almost 2 weeks. I had a lot of side effects (jittery, racing mind, insomnia, dizzyness, nausea, loss of appetite, and now fatigue) BUT, they've been disappearing for the last several days and SO HAS MY ANXIETY. It's been quite a bit better. I sure hope it continues to be better like this. The PVCs are even happening less. I think I went two days without noticing one. Awesome. I'm cautiously optimistic.