Anxiety

[Nadine]

I am 34 female. I have had anxiety and panick attacks for about the last 9 years. Now I have been having palpitations all the time for about the last year. I have had tests done and everything came back normal.  When I took medication before it made me feel tired. I can't feel this way because I work and have 2 young children to take care of.  What other options do you know that could help me.  They are really beginning to become annoying. Will the attacks ever go away.

Thank You

[HFHS-M.D.-HG]

Dear Nadine

It seems like you have been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for a long time. At present, there are several medications that are available in the market which are proven to be effective. I am not sure which medications you have been tried on in the past. Benzodiazepines (eg. Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan etc) can be used for immediate relief of anxiety symptoms. At present SSRI's (Serotonin Specific Reuptake Inhibitors) are considered to be the first line of choice for depression and anxiety disorders, the advantage being they are non-sedating and not habit forming unlike Benzodiazepines.

To answer the input regarding Coenzyme Q10,  I know of no good research to support its efficacy with palpitations or panic disorders. It was hoped to promote cardiovascular health. Emory university has a web site with useful information on alternative therapies which can be reviewed.

I would recommend that you consult with a psychiatrist for a detailed discussion about the options that are available. In addition to medications, cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques are shown to be very effective. This information is provided for general educational purposes only and should not replace evaluation by a physician.

[M]

Coenzyme Q 10 will help your palpitations. Most people who suffer from PAD, GAD, PNE have good results with it. Check out http://www.algy.com/pdi/BBS/index.html
It's a wonderful site dedicated to panic disorder.  A physician monitors and answers questions. You'll get a wealth of info. THe palpitations can go away completely with CO Q10. PAD tends to have periods of remission. The theory is that it isn't curable but you can control it enough to return to normal daily life or the remissions can be long term, during which youdon't feel like you have it. I've had 2 lengthy remissions. I'm symptomatic right now and hoping for another remission. Good luck!

[NRO-Sx]

The medication that made you tired was probably a benzodiazepine (e.g. Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam), alprazolam etc.).  These drugs have both sedative and anxiolytic properties.  Whereas tolerance develops to the sedative effects (i.e. sedative effect wears off) in 2-3 weeks, the anxiolytic property of these drugs tends to remain.  There are other anti-anxiety drugs that have no sedative side effects.  These include the SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors such as Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Prozac, and Paxil), 5-HT1A agonists (buspirone), and TCA's (tricyclic antidepressants) which all affect the concentration of serotonin at certain receptors in the brain.  One in particular is Manerix (moclobemide).  It is the only commercially available drug in its class (RIMA which stands for Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase - type A) and it works to elevate serotonin (5-HT) levels in the brain.  Although marketed as an antidepressant, is has also been shown to be effective in anxiety disorders (e.g. panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social phobia).  Ask your doctor about which of these is best for you.
Hope this helps!

[A]

Nadine,
have you tried the antidepressant paxil?

[Melissa]

to nadine on anxiety  i am also on meds for panic attacks. and also in therepy for them,and am learning relaxation skills to cope with them ,and am finding it to be quite helpful. i would like to recommend a bookto you called anxiety and panic attacks ,their cause and cure by robert handly. it tells you how to do these skills i hope you will find it helpful. thank you