Is this panic disorder?

[Jocie]

I have been waking up in the night from a sound sleep, most of the time from a dream, with an anxious feeling. I become sweaty with hot flashes first. Then my heart rate goes up and I have to jump up out of bed because I'm scared something bad is going to happen to me. I have a very strong urge to urinate and sometimes have to have a bowel movement. My heartrate has gone as high as 180 bpm (which was diagnosed as sinus tach by an event monitor). This has been going on for about 5 years. I have had an echo, ekg, worn a holter and an event monitor. My cardiologist states by heart is fine. I did start taking Atenolol 25mg Qday after my heart rate went up to 180 bpm. Since taking this med my heart rate does not go up very high but I still wake up in the night with this anxious feeling and sometimes 2 or 3 times a night with sweaty, hot flashes, dizzy and the feeling of something bad is going to happen. When I get up out of bed and focus on something else, it will go away. Can panic disorder cause your heart rate to go that high? I do not drink caffeine anymore.My FP prescribed me Zoloft 25mg Qday. I took it for 3 days but it made my head feel fuzzy. Will this go away after taking Zoloft for longer. Should I try it again? I need sleep! I have other family members who are also taking Zoloft without any problems. These symptoms rarely happen during the day. Can that still be panic disorder? I do feel overwhelmed and sad during the day. Just normal living activities sometimes overwhelm me and I cry. Can this be depression/anxiety? Thank you for your reply.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

What you described is most certainly a panic disorder, and yes it can cause heart rate to go up that high.  The odd feelings from Zoloft do go away in time and you need a longer trial, but also ask your doctor about more specific anti anxiety drugs like Klonopin.  Psychotherapy can be immensely helpful, and the mastering stress program above is a good and inexpensive way to get help online until you can arrange therapy in your community.

[boo]

hey,
   i just wanted to say that i had panic attacks as early as 10 yr. at least 3 nights a week. i would wake up and literally jump out of bed, scared to death. I was to afraid to check my pulse. and i didn't know they were panic attacks anyway. my mom was abusive to me every night. so mine were from post-traumatic stress disorder. i still have gad, ptsd, and panic attacks. so, you are not alone. it just feels that way. will prey 4 ya.

[Nebula]

I said some good stuff on this way up North in the discussion.  Don't take drugs for ths waking up stuff, I get it too and I think its somewhat normal.
  DO YOGA BREATHING!!! Just breath in through your nose slowly and out through your nose slowly and evenly and fill your abdomen and think Calming stuff or something soothing.  I like to eat when I wake up like this and often eat bananas in an effort to be healthy and increase my natural seratonins. Good luck! from an Occupational Therapy student