Is this a panic attack?

I have long time had depression and anxiety problems....... probably from early teen years.... I'm now 30.  I had not seen a doctor until about 6 years ago, and have since tried prozac....paxil.....wellbutrin, buspar, and now starting effexor xr.

In the past I had only seen gp docs.  Now I am seeing a psychiatrist.  He tells me I have been having panic attacks.  
Which I would NEVER have guessed.
I have had many times where my heart will race........ I will feel I can't breathe.... feel sick to my stomach... have to sit down...... or just go to bed, I can't keep on with what ever I'm doing ya know??

At these times I don't feel scared or particularly nervous about anything...... just the physical symptoms.

I had beeen given ativan for a couple of weeks which made me feel SO much better.

Told that was bad long term and have been taking klonipin (klonopin) 1mg 1 or 2 times a day as needed.

This hels lots too, I don't feel tired from it like the doc expects I should....... I just feel better........
but again says I can't take this much longer because its addictive????

Seems like I have heard of others taking it long term though?????

Guess this is a bit rambling...... would love some input if anyone has any though.


thanks for reading
cerulean.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I agree with your doctor. It sounds very much like a panic attack, and the fact that klonopin is helpful strengthens that diagnosis.

[D ave Replogle]

Man this sounds just like me some times i feel like i am throwing up at anytime and sometimes i throw up when i dont even eat anything they have me on buspar xanax and klonopin and trazadone too sleep at night because i toss and turn if i dont take anything at all!!! i just got a eeg done too se why i am dizzy all the time no one nos what to do with me i am losing it here i feel real tierd lately i am only 29 i shoud not FEEL THIS CRAPPY ALL THE TIME iam also seeing a shrink too but i dont no if hes helping too much???? i dont no but if u find out whats wrong get back too me at ***@****

[annieb]

Sounds like panic to me!  It is a very strange sensation that is not at all pleasant.  Had all of the same symptoms--everything felt surreal.  When I first had my attack, my MD gave me Ativan which I would only take if I absolutely needed it.  Made me feel so much better.  I got where I would just have them in my purse but would never use them.  It just made me feel better that they were there if I needed them.  Two years later, I still had a few left but they medicine had expired.:-)Anyway, I started reading up on Ativan and they can become addicted to it.  Klonopin comes from the same family as Ativan so I would assume it would be addictive as well.  It is a shame because they really do help!

[kelly]

It sounds really stressful living in fear of your body, day in day out. I am just begining to have random panic attacks, and i think i'll firstly get help via cognitive therapy, and manage panic attacks by treating the cause of the problem not just the symtoms (symptoms) with drugs.

[Tito]

i,m living with panic attacks since 2 years ,as i fear a lot to be adict

  to any kind of benzodizibem or any antideppressent which might make me

commit suicide  & since i tried both on 3 to 4 days scale i like to tell

  all who suffer from panick attaks  ,let the first defensive line for u to panick attaks is thet we all gona die  so when death comes no body can stop it,this made me not fear the attaks as it cme &went many times & i didn,t die.the second advice is don,t stay alone put ure self in company with at least 2 persons whenever u feel it is coming. third advice,do
any work which u feel as u accomplished somthing ,it will give u self satisfaction & strength against anxiaty.  good luck.Tito

[wildcat]

Panic attacks area common problem and are usually more
physiologically based rather than psychological. An example is
many people have a panic attack if they don't have their usual dose of alcohol they are used to having during dinner, parties etc.. That can cause a panic attack associated with the dependence or addiction to the alcohol which calms the brainwaves.

That is why the benzos work so well, they calm the brainwaves. If it was only psychological you would not get much effect from the benzos except tired and maybe annoyed from being too slowed down.

Personally I love Klonopin. I have to take if for my seizure and anxiety disorder. I take 10 mg per day split two fivew times a day. It has made my life managable again. I have Fibromyalgia, so they say but I think it is Lupus. I have had all the symptoms getting worse each year but the blood tests are borderline in the normal range so they won't offically call it that.

I cannot take Prednizone, that made me feel like someone kept zapping my brain and body with a stun gun type electrical feeling. It was quite unpleasant. So I take Ultram instead.

[CarolB]

Contact me on ***@****

I have many christian contacts who would
love to help you and prayer for you

Write soon

Your friend and prayer partner

Carol in Netherlands