increase in pvc s since zoloft last 5 days

i was put on zoloft for anxiety seems to help that a bit but my pvc have been increasing i usually feel just a few a day but today it has been several to alot per hour alot of the day esp tonight--any relation???

[yarrow]

I'm a zoloft veteran due to panic attacks coupled with pvcs, and for me, the drug eventually takes away my awareness of the ectopic beats--and also seems to decrease their frequency.

However, it can take two to four weeks for most people to get the full calming effect from zoloft (or any of the SSRIs); you really can't tell anything from the first week or so.  In the meantime, there may be transient increases in anxiety as well as changes in the heart rate.  Psychiatrists often give their patients small doses of short-acting anti-anxiety drugs like Ativan to help them over the bumpy spots until the zoloft kicks in all the way.

How long have you been taking zoloft?

[Madge270]

I have thousands of PVCs a day, and deal with them without medication; but I didn't  take Zoloft when the PVCs started.
However, a decade ago I was put on Zoloft when I had a lot of stress, which caused anxiety.  What I found was that, a few hours after taking Zoloft, I'd feel shaky and more anxious.  I also developed hand tremors, which bothered my neurologist.  My body always felt wired.  I tried to stay on Zoloft for two years, but eventually I was switched to a low dose of clonazepam which worked much better. While the clonazepam (Klonipin (klonopin)) is addicting, the dose is very small, and I take it just at bedtime.

My doctor's opinion is that Xanax and Clonazepam are much better for anxiety (because they don't create the internal shakiness and also the hand tremor I was getting with Zoloft), while SSRIs such as Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, etc., are better for clinical depression, which I didn't have.  
If I have a bad evening, with PVCs, the clonazepam will tend to calm them down some. Of course, I'd rather be on a medication that's not addicting. I take it every day.  Now, neurologists say that if you take xanax or clonazepam for a few days, then stop for a week or so before taking them again, you don't become addicted. Wish I'd known that earlier.

I really just wanted to say that, if you continue to have increased PVCs, you might want to get off the Zoloft.  My anxiety didn't really stop when I took it.  My mind may have been calmer, but my body always felt wired. For me, shakiness/weakness was the problem. I was never really relaxed physically on Zoloft.  Everyone reacts to medications differently. Be sure to let your doctor know what's going on with you. Give the Zoloft a fair trial, but if the PVCs don't decrease, you and your doctor may need to rethink this and try something else.

Good luck to you.  I know it's difficult.

[CFS56]

When I tried zoloft I had to stop because it increased the palps tremendously.  Lexipro works better for me.

[yarrow]

Lexapro made them worse for me.  It's a matter of finding the right med for each individual.

[yvonnealderdice]

Zoloft caused me terrible pulse issues, was fine before it and still suffering aft coming off it.Made my pulse race and irregular.Is one of the serious side effects of this antidepressant. Most can have these as serious side effects but our bodies don't react the same way to different pills.
I stayed on this too long. loved it for appetite and made me happier but was killing me pulse wise. Sorry.

Hope you get it fixed. Yvonne x

[rmontgom21740]

Hello,

I am 43 and have had PVC's for years.  I have tried many of the SSRI's because the DR's tell me its the anxiety that causes it.  That is true to a point but many other things cause it also.  I can tell you first hand that when I was put on Zoloft, I went from about 100 PVCs a day to about 30,000 a day.  This was not caused by anxiety but directly related to zoloft.  As I decressed the drug, the PVC's returned to the normal 100 daily for me.  Seems for me that many drugs cause the PVC's to increase.  I have been trying to find something that helps me for a few years and have not had much luck.  I have been to many Drs and just last week went to the Cleveland Clinic.  They did a MRI of my heart and met with me after.  The DR was very nice and told me there was nothing wrong with my heart and that I am in good shape.  He told me the PVCs wont kill me.  Well, thats just great but as everyone with this condition already knows, they are very hard to live with.  In my opinion they cause 90% of my anxiety.  Short of trying the ablation procedure, I'm not sure there is anything that can be done.  So the decision comes down to putting yourself at risk with the ablation procedure and hope it will fix the problem or live with a condition that wont kill you.  Not sure what the right direction is.

Rich

[aylish28]

had to stop the zoloft and heart is calming down ----yes they cause much anxiety a horible cycle!!!!!!thank you all so much for your shareing :)