PVC'S BOTHERING ME A LOT

[Lynneartist]

Hello; I am a 62 yr old married female, with history of panic disorder and pvc's, although I didn't know what they were called then. Multiple trips to the ER with normal EKG'S , once a Holter monitor showed nothing. A doctor years ago put me on Prozac which stopped the panic attacks almost immediately.  After some time on Prozac, the side effects were bothersome, so was switching to Paxil... also talking Clonazepam when needed... Paxil became problematic after a few years, and ended up on Cipralex, 10 mg in the morning, and Clonazepam .5 mg 3x a day...was working...
  been on that dosage for a long time and decided, not for the first time, to reduce the Clonazepam, half at a time.  I was doing fine until recently---down to half a tablet morning and afternoon, then took whole one at night.  when I reduced the night one, well here I am --last night had wine, then PVC'S constantly... felt awful...  slept though and still having pvc's which sent me online.  was almost ready to run to ER yet again.  Have only done that once in the past oh 2 years I think.
  I think the reduction of the clonazepam is a factor and the wine is out as of this minute.  I don't drink coffee, only a couple of teas in the am.. I am not overweight, but used to be. This past year has been very stressful with my husband and I moving twice.  Our heads are still spinning from that, and the financial challenges we are facing, so stress is def a factor.  I am comforted that I am not alone in feeling nervous about this feeling in my chest, and checking my pulse to see what is happening, but at least I am not being thrown into panic right now.  I know how this feels, and am just glad I am not alone.  thanks  Any suggestions?  

[achillea]

As a woman of faith, you might consider that a kindly God expressly made medications available to His creatures when they need help.  He would not advise those with cancer to turn their backs on meds that work for that, and for those with anxiety who are helped by Clonazepam, perhaps He is saying, "Work with Me here, Lady,"

Good luck to you.

[Lynneartist]

ok, this is how much you have helped me here in this forum.  I called my doctor a few minutes ago to leave a message with his nurse, that I am going back to my dose of 3 per diem Clonazepam.. YAHOO.. pressure off!  I loved the 'drooling' visual...  it is true: i have tried this before and had it not work-- I am a woman of faith and was determined, but alas..  my husband, my darling, who is so supportive and my safe place to fall, doesn't need ME to be worried about right now on top of other stuff.. we are hanging in and getting through, but I will be better as I was, calm...coping.... peaceful...thanks....THANKS

[Lynneartist]

I agree that is a good point about reducing meds NOW.  I thought someone might say that..  I did start reducing in the midst of last year... it was a calm time, we were located in a new place...we THOUGHT we would be there to settle..then we learned we were not!  so bingo bango we were packing and moving again.
  You are quite right in your question-- I am asking that today, after 3 days now, of PVC action.  should I just go back to the dose i was talking? hmmm felt tired, but at least not THIS.  For the first time in a long time I needed my asthma puffer last night....  One doesn't like to be defeated in something one is trying to accomplish, a drug free ME.  ah well... thanks so much for the answer and I appreciate the response I have received already!  

[achillea]

My PVCs are definitely related to my emotional state, I find, and there are periods of time when psych meds are essential to my comfort.  

Atter your long experience with medications and PVCs, it seems that you also have observed a real relationship also.   I am in the same age group as you, and I would have to ask WHY at age 62 and in the midst of stressful life changes, you would want to reduce a medication that seemed to be working nicely for you.  

IMHO, this is not a matter of moral strength but of genetics and biochemistry.  You are not going to die a raving, gibbering addict, a prisoner of some mind-sapping drug.   Feeling  tempted, you know, to compulsively check your pulse is not a sign of good mental health, either.  Fighting and fearing PVCs would not seem to me a terrific way to spend the next 20 years.

I would suggest you return to your doctor and discuss with him your reasons for wanting to fiddle with your meds at this particular point in time.

[MichelleP_3811]

No, you are not alone that is for sure.  For me there seems to be a rather big stomach relationship to the pvcs.  Well it is one of them, stress being the other.  I also know from previous experience wine would give my stomach troubles so it may have been the wine that caused this flare up.  So I suggest taking a few antacids if they do not interfere with your medicine and see if that helps.  And, as you know, do your best not to stress or obsess about them as that will indeed make them worse.  Welcome to the group.  Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing.