Anxiety-induced symptoms or actual emergency?

[clintona]

I'm a 19 year old male, 163 pounds 6' 0''.  I take dexedrine 5mg 2x daily(for adhd) and metoprolol half a 25mg pill at night usually(to lower anxiety and hart rate).  I went to the cardiologist last year because I thought I had SVT and I had several EKG's, 1 ECG, a 24hr holter monitor and although my heart rate rose up to 168bpm that day, without exercise, the doctor just told me I was an anxious person with very slight mitral valve regurgitation that needed to be on anxiety meds, so I got diagnosed with panic disorder and put on klonopin.  I no longer take them as i've switched to the Tropol(lowers my heart rate & palpitations which is where the anxiety would stem from but that wasn't taken into accreditation which leaves me to believe even more I had a misdiagnosis).  I do notice small things when it comes to health issues but i've noticed now that i'm back on my adhd medicine my heart rate tends to always be over/around the 100bpm range resting, and with exercise can get up to 205bpm(that happens anyway with exercise though if I don't take my metoprolol).  I've developed a slight cough that I can't get rid of, I can always see my heart beating out of my chest, sometimes I get a choking feeling or I can feel my pulse in my neck, and my stomach is a little bigger.  I go running or biking at least 2 times a week and I eat healthy, so this leaves me to believe I am either psyching myself out or I have a pre-existing heart condition that the doctors have all shrugged off and I should not be taking dexedrine.  However I do smoke around 3 cigarettes a day sometimes less.  And if that is the case i'm really afraid I have heart damage or something with these new symptoms.  I don't have insurance as of last month too so I can't go back to the doctor for the time being.  I need to know what I should do and what I may or may not have.  

[nothingnew]

The dex seems like it may be making you more anxious and worried which isn't unusual.  You do have a valid reason to be concerned though; all of the things you mentioned are known side effects of this drug and it can be damaging to the heart.  I guess you have to ask yourself how badly you need this medication and if it is worth the possible risks involved.

[allmymarbles]

Did you suffer anxiety before your started taking dexedrine?

[Sandman2]

   I am really gald to see athat you are concerned aboaut your health, but wow, lot of really technical stuff here - and we aren't doctors.  
My thought is that you are downplaying what anxiety can do to you.  You said, "i've switched to the Tropol(lowers my heart rate & palpitations which is where the anxiety would stem from."  In my opinion, anxiety could cause the palpitations/heart rate problem, not the reverse.  " About 25 to 30% of children with AD/HD experience anxiety." ( from, "The ADD/ ADHD Answer book," by Susan Ashley, p 65.)     I suggest that you post to the anxiety forum to get their opinion of what is going on.
   Also, the cigs give you a nicotine high that  speed up the heart rate (not to mention all the other stuff).  If its only 3 a day - throw them away.  
   You are on a really light dose of dexedrine, makes me wonder how important it is your overall functioning.  What kind of a doctor prescribed it?
    Health insurance wise - can you buy into your parents plan?  If you only have been off insurance for one month, you can still get pretty good rates.  The longer you are off insurance, the more expensive it can become.
   Hope some of this helps.  My best advice is to take a look at the anxiety forum and get a feeling for what is going on there.  And ya, my non-professional opinion, is that you are probably psyching yourself out - and its understandable.