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1448936 tn?1363206346

him having a horrible panic attack. please help!

today i think i made a mistake. i drank a cup of coffee and a caramel macchiato from starbucks. since then ive been anxious and i keep getting awful cramps and keep having to go to the bathroom. its been awful. im shaking, im breathing heavy, im nauseous, and the cramps are driving me crazy. i took a xanax and no relief yet. im really losing it right now. im getting hot flashes and its getting really bad. its hard to type becuase im shaking so bad. i dunno what to do! please help.
11 Responses
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1416436 tn?1300317239
Sorry for the late reply. I guess you're better now but I just wanted to say that caffeine as you may know is not a good thing for people with anxiety. So I would recommend like others here have not to drink or take anything else with caffeiene. I also stay away from things with alot of sugar. And when you took the xanax and you said it wasn't working remember that it takes time for it to take effect. I remember that at the hospital they told me that it takes up to 40 mins for it to kick in. So keep that in mind next time, that thought might help you calm down.  
Helpful - 0
345079 tn?1299202476
yes the more we think about what happened the more it triggers our brain to start up the flight or fight response. Just try and forget about it and tomorrow is a new day! It must have been very scary. I remember that I was almost hyperventilating until I finally fell asleep. But its over now and you survived it, and also learned you are sensitive to caffeine! Try and get some sleep and wake up with only positive thoughts! Have a good night
Helpful - 0
1448936 tn?1363206346
Yea. I'm going to stick to chai tea lattes or the small drinks. What an awful day. I was on the phone with my mom in the bathroom shaking uncontrollably. I was shaking so bad I could barely even talk. I'm doing better after the xanax and now that the caffeine has left my system. I managed some jelly toast and a few bites of spaghetti and of course a few cookies. I figured I needed to eat to help the caffeine move through my system. Now I've been sipping ginger tea and ginger ale.

I've noticed that thinking about the attack starts to make me anxious. Awful.
Helpful - 0
345079 tn?1299202476
You are describing my first and last cup of coffee I ever tried. It was horrible! I didnt have xanax then so I had to take 2 gravol to knock me out. It was absolutely horrifying. I would say it was for sure a caffeine overload. Horrible for anxiety!! Next time try a Matcha green tea latte. They are amazing with little caffeine! I am glad you are better now and sorry you had to go through that. I will never forget my experience. I cant handle even one cup of coffee at all.
Helpful - 0
1448936 tn?1363206346
yea..i definitley overdid it with the caffeine today for sure. i normally only have one cup of coffee...small tea cups worth or i'll have a small starbucks drink which only has one shot of espresso but today i had my normal coffee then 2 hours later had a medium sized starbucks drink with two shots of espresso. i wont be doing that again. i cant believe how anxious i just was. i thought i was going to throw up, pass out, go crazy or do all of the above. guess i learned a valuable lesson today.
Helpful - 0
1492418 tn?1289149263
the caffeine can do all the above, cramps, bathroom, hot flash, anxiety can too. It can take 4 or 5 hours for the caffeine to work through. I get mine decaf or half caf if i feel i need the caffieine but then when i get edgy I have to remind myself that is how people with GAD react to caffeine and can usually ride it out. Do your deep belly breathing and that will help regulate your heart
Helpful - 0
1448936 tn?1363206346
the xanax is definitley helping. im not shaking as much and im breathing better. im still a little on edge but not too horribly. my stomach has also calmed down a bit. i cant believe how bad my panic attack was. i havent experienced one like that in a long time. thank you so much for the quick responses. it really helped.

out of curiosity...is it normal to get cramoing and have an urgent need to use the restroom while having a panic attack?? that always seems to happen to me during my worst attacks and then that makes me panic more and it turns into a vicious cycle.

im laying in bed now trying to watch some tv and hopefully calm down completely.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You may just still be wound up over what it did to you, and need to calm down.  Definitely take the other half of your Xanax, that's why you have them.  Try and get some rest.
Helpful - 0
1448936 tn?1363206346
i drank the starbucks at like 430 but i guess the caffeine could still be in my system. with all the pacing ive been doing im surprised i havent worked it out of my system yet. i only took half of my .5 xanax. i may take the other half i think i need it tonight.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Drink plenty of water to flush your system, deep breathing exercises, and some type of exercise to work off the caffeine.  Starbucks is very strong!  Try to keep yourself occupied mentally and physically....you know this will pass.....just relax.....you've been here before and you know it will pass, try to relax and not dwell on it. We're here for you!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
could be an allergy.     Go to a quiet cold room and start  deep breathing.     It will pass
Helpful - 0
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