PVC's and Anxiety

[jmarco]

Hi everyone, I have a question that I am sure some of you will be able to help me with. I've been expreriencing PVC for years now but it seems like lately they are happening more often and getting worst and scarrier but I am yet to determine what's triggering them which is something I will probably never be able to pin point. Do they get worst as we get older?  I had one the other day that was so bad I could actually feel my heart stalling and then starting up again about 3 or 4 times. I was just waiting for it to quit for good and could see myself dropping to the floor. Interestingtly enough, I was in the middle of an exhibit called "Body Worlds" where they were showing actual plastinated human hearts in all its forms. I am not sure if I was  overly impressed by the whole thing and that's what caused me to experience the worst event of pvc's to date or what?. Anyway, I guess what I really wanted to ask is whether you think anxiety medicine would help keep the pvc's under control. My doctor prescribed Xanax and a low dosis of Prozac and said to give it a try because she feels it is anxiety and stress (eventhough I don't feel anxious or stressed out) that is causing the strange palpitations considering that they have done all the necessary tests and determined that my heart is healthy ha, ha.... I have not been taken the medicine because after I got home from the pharmacy and read all the side effects (sucidal thoughts etc.) I got scared and decided not to take it. Is any of you on anti anxiety medication and if so, has it helped you at all?  thank you all for always being here for the ones of us that can't get used to living with these horrible, horrible heart "hiccups".

[dolfnlvr]

Hi there.  Are you near Baltimore, MD?  I just saw the Body Worlds exhibit at the inner harbor this summer.  Very impressive, if not a bit morbid.  

Anyway...since your heart is structurally normal then you know that you are "fine."  Isn't that fun to type?  You're fine.  Yeah RIGHT!!  But, we are.  And, the PVC's that cause us such angst are not going to kill us--though they feel as though they might.

I don't buy that these are originally brought on by anxiety, but I do feel as though once they hit, our fear and uncontrollable biological response of fight or flight causes them to continue.  The original hiccups can be caused by Lord only knows what, but the subsequent worry and fear can just exacerbate them!!!  

I've never taken Xanax, but I do take a low dose of Prozac.  I've found that it "takes the edge off" and helps me put aside frustrating emotions more quickly (not just in response to the PVC's).  I think the suicidal thoughts part is mainly for youngsters taking the drug.  Recent research showed that there MAY be a SLIGHT correlation between children under the age of 20 taking the SSRI's and suicide rates.  Subsequent studies have shown otherwise, but alas, any possibility must be showcased on the possible side effects list.  

I wouldn't take both of the drugs, but a low dose of one or the other might be worth a try.  However, it is a personal decision and one you have to make for yourself.

Good luck, take care.

[lagoya]

i have taken a low dose xanax for pvcs in the past and yeah it does help calm u down enough to take the mind and attention off them .i am just used to them now ,in fact when i cant feel them i start to worry {joke}.they are un comfortable if u feel u dont need something everyday xanax is good --but it would not be for everyday stress relief -the ssri maybe better than that.there are also loads of other relaxing techniques not saying u have stress here but if u are like some of us who dont like taking meds ,there is reading .yoga,hobbies,
painting ,renovate the whole house without asking the wife {thats what i did and found a whole new stress} or u could just have a nice bowl of ice cream and unwind.
but apart from all that when i feel worn out from pvcs i would rather a xanax every now and then rather than the anti-d everyday.but that is just me.i have read a good few posts in here of others who take low dose ssri's for anxiety with pvcs and it works good for them,

be good

[upbeat633]

Half a .25mg tablet of xanax only when I absolutely need it, does wonders for me.

Mostly it's nice just to know I have it, if I need it.

[PRADA001]

I would definitely reccomend taking the xanax. I took one every day for three months and I came off of them really easy with no addiction and with no withdrawal effects. I was advised to go on antidepressants after that but I tried around three different ones and the side effects were just horrible so I gave that up!! I had a few Xanax left over and I agree with upbeat633, it was nice knowing they were there should I have needed them, though I never took them and evntually threw them out.  I take beta blockers now and have started taking a Hawthorn herbal supplement (which claims to be a heart tonic) which I think is amazing. My PVC's have reduced along with the "dizzy/fuzzy" head my PVC's give me and my blood pressure has been the best its been for three years!! Hope this helps and think about taking the Xanax again. It will help, I promise.

[artskip]

I read somewhere.. the people who are afraid to take anti-anxiety medication are exactly the people who should be taking it.
I take Xanax if the palps are not letting me sleep. I tried an anti-anxiety med but it made me stomach sick. Both can be helpful, but remember they wont get rid of the palps. They can help you relax enough to accept this condition, acceptance is the key.

[bobad]

I think your doc is right.

Since the heart related anxiety is hard wired in to us, nothing but medicine can help.

I take 1/2 of the smallest Xanax pill available, and it helps a lot. I like it because it's PRN. Some days, I don't even need the Xanax, and that's good insurance against addiction.

My doc also highly recommended Welbutrin, and I have a bottle sitting on the shelf. I'm eying it, trying to decide whether to take another med you must take every day for it to work. That's also the down side to the Prozac, I suppose.

Best of luck to you,,,