Heart palpitations

[dancingtothebeat]

HI everyone, I just joined the community and am happy to be here!   I have an anxiety/depression disorder and have been on many medications over the years.  I went for several years without being on anything but find I start to be depressed (I fight it like crazy!)  but I cannot. When I am well, I am happiest when I am around people and socialzing but when I start to go downhilll it is a struggle to see or be around people.  Depression sure is hell isn't it?  I have a reputation of being very outgoing, funny, etc......but I am someone else when I am depressed.  It is scary....I start to isolate myself, yes I am drug free...but I am not free.   Yesterday I took half of a 150 mg pill of Wellbutrin as I had to go for lunch with a friend and was so depressed.  It really did "pump" me up, I had a great lunch, felt like myself other than the aggressive feelings I was having.  That is not like me, and I also had continual heart palpitations all day too.  That scared me, has anyone else had the heart palpitations, does it go away eventually?   I haven't taken anymore today yet.  I have a history of heart palpitations due to anxiety.  Any help or advice would be appreciated from anyone.  Thankyou in advance!

[dancingtothebeat]

Yes, I seem to very sensitive to the medications and have such bad side affects that I cannot function, the nausea and headaches coupled with insomnia are horrible.  I went on the generic Prozac a few months ago for a whole month and the side affects remained, that is when I went off.  I did end up taking another half of a 150mg Wellbutrin yesterday and another half today.  I don't feel that anger, I have no nausea, and I slept well last night. It has given me a headache this morning, but I can handle that. I cannot remember why I went off the Wellbutrin when I was on it a few years ago.  I want so much to not be dependent on anything, but you really hit the nail on the head when you said I can be somewhat normal on medication and have a life, or ill and not have anywhere near a normal life as I am doing now.  Very good point!  My Dr said that people with an anxiety/depression disorder are generally above average intelligence.  I asked him if that was suppossed to make me feel better?  We both had a good laugh....and my anxiety and I left without a long term solution.  I forgot to mention, if I do feel an attack coming on, I have some Ativan,  I think I am also afraid of becoming addicted again like I was on Effexor. My Dr said I had been on long enough (9 months() and I needed to wean off. I did feel better on Effexor, but as you said you felt...you still have that anxiety in the background. It was like that for me too.  I think for now I will take the Wellbutrin and see how I do as I am able to still at least function while taking it . If I am truly honest with myself I would say I am someone that needs to be permanently on medication.  As for therapy, no I have never done that.  This site is as close to sharing with anyone as I have ever done.  I again thankyou so much for taking the time to chat with me. It feels really good to know I am not alone anymore with my illness.  I hope you will have a great day today, again thankyou!            

[MMahon]

Many people are sensitive to medication and find their side effects worse then their anxiety and depression symptoms.  You have to be carefull with medications and supplements by taking them as prescribed and being cautious of medication interactions.
In order for antidepressants to be fully beneficial they need to be taken for about 2 months at least, in my opinion.   Keep in mind that they do not cure anything but do help you cope with the symptoms by masking them sufficiently to help you get back to somewhat of a normal life.  I could almost always tell that my symptoms are still there but kept at bay by medication.
It isn't the same as being fully well, but a reasonable alternative to being fully ill.
Have you ever tried therapy?  Some people find seeing a psychologist very helpful and talking about their problems and exploring your feelings with a trained professional may benefit you a lot.  

[dancingtothebeat]

Hi, thankyou for your welcome and comment, I appreciate it.  Actually no medication has really worked for me.  Probably Effexor worked the best, (it really helped the anxiety),  although I felt like a zombie and went off of that, and then hello.....those withdrawals!  I don't ever want to go through that again.Yes, I have been on Wellbutrin in the past for a brief period of time, it gave me a lot of energy but I didn't take it long enough to see if the anger and aggressive feelings disipated,  It was scary to feel that angry....it is as if someone else is in control of your mind, not you. I have a really difficult time getting past the initial side effects of all the anti-depressents.  I was put on the generic brand of Prozac a few months ago, and it really aggitated me too, so my Dr gave me more drugs to calm me down.  I was given Ativan for during the day and a sleeping pill for bedtime.  I quit that. Too many pills for me, I didn't know if I was coming or going!   II have so many bottles of unfinished prescriptions, that is how I just happened to take a half of a Wellbutrin yesterday, I had an old prescription from a few years ago. When I am so depressed and have to go out socially it is like asking me to jump out of a plane.(I am terrified of heights and would probably die of firght on the way down, laugh!)  All kidding aside, at the time it seems that difficult for me. I have learned that any type of anti-depressents (a low dose) will calm me down and will take the edge off of my anxiety within a short period of time.  I thought taking half the dosage of Wellbutrin would be better but it still made me pretty angry inside, although no-one would probably know that I am feeling that way. My Dr. doesn't know what to do with me, he said I am very drug sensitive and there is nothing left to try. I am not knowing what to do at this point in time, I was hoping talking and getting support in the community would help me and hopefully I could help someone else in the process as well.  I again thankyou for your comment, what you said was helpful and it is also nice to know you cared enough to respond to my question.  Take good care of yourself!  

[MMahon]

Welcome to the anxiety forum.  Sorry you are having problems.
Have you had success with wellbutrin in the past?  It can cause agression and irritablility and maybe the heart palps as well.  However these are symptoms of anxiety and depression too.
Yes depression can be hell and recurrent episodes can have a debilitating effect on us.
I suggest you go back to whatever worked for you in the past and convince yourself there is light at the end of the tunnel and your history shows you go into remission and return to 'normal' so there is every reason to believe you will again this time. Talk to your doctor and discuss your medication and other treatment options.  Take care.