Anxiety Questions

[mombuzy]

I am a healthy 30 year old mom that has never had any real health issues. I eat healthy and exercise regularly. I have always tried to stay away from prescriptions and over the counter medications except when completely necessary. About a year ago I started having occational anxiety attacks, although at the time I wasn't sure what was going on. Over the passed five months it has steadily gotten worse to where I didn't want to leave the house. I tried several natural remedies with little success. My doctor put me on 10 mg of prozac a day to increase to 20mg after a week. I at first had very minimal side effects for the first week and when I increased to 20mg it all went out the window. I only took 20mg for two days but that was enough to give me side effects for over a week. My doctor reduced me to 5mg which means I have to seperate my capsules into empty capsules my self. After everything has smoothed out they have finally started helping me with the anxiety. My doctor wants me to stay on these and I am feeling pretty normal now other than mild anxiety and some anxiousness with rapid pulse that happens when I wake up and lasts until mid-morning. I have also been having trouble sleeping. (She is currently doing blood work to check me for hormone imbalances and thyroid problems) Because my pulse rates seem to stay pretty high, usually 72-92bpm going up to 100bpm in the mornings, she is considering putting me on a beta blocker. From what I have been reading, it will also lower your blood pressure which mine stays about 100/70 even with the rapid pulse rates. I am not happy about being on the prozac long term but don't want to start a beta blocker with new side effects that will also be taken potentially long term. I am not sure where all of these health problems are coming from and there is no similar family history to what I am experiencing.

My questions are: How long should I stay on the prozac? Is there a better drug that is less addictive with less side effects that I can ask my doctor about? Is there a more natual way to lower my pulse rate  or a better prescription than a beta blocker?  Is there anything that could be causing this?

[cj29]

It looks like you are doing the right thing by working through this with your doctor.  I suffered my first anxiety/panic attack three years ago when I was 27 and it absolutely floored me.  I was social, confident, loved life, ran over 40 miles a week, etc.  When it happened, I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ER. I had more and more tests over a period of time and had a hard time trying to understand and deal with it.  I became reclusive, anxiety ridden, and depressed.

When I first started to try to come to grips with it, I was EXTREMELY against ANY forms of medication, but with consult from my doc and therapist I went on it.  I went on Zoloft (which is in the same class as Prozac), and had many side effects in the beginning and while increasing dosage.  Unfortunately, it made me a little more agitated and on edge, but after stabilizing on certain dose, it really helped me cope immensley.  Now, there is no 'magic pill' to 'cure' anyone of this, but in my opinion, combined with talk therapy it is a VERY powerful tool to help you.  

My anxiety actually returned in January of this year, after almost three years of being anxiety free, and I went back to the doc and I am now back on Zoloft.  I also went and found a great therapist to talk this through, and in less than two months I am feeling much better.  I was on Zoloft about a year last time, and plan to stay on it a year again this time.  My attitude towards this is naturally different this time.  To be quite honest, I have more side effects from taking a Claritan.  Three years ago, my doctor urged paitence with the medication and she turned out to be right.  When I went back on it I felt more agitated again but after about a month my body adjusted and it has helped.

As far as your pulse, I have a naturally occurning slow pulse because I run so much (in the 50's), and mine can be racing even faster than that; my doctor says that it just happens sometimes and I realize I am just hypersensitve to bodily sensations because of the health anxiety.  Three years ago when I was suffering from this in a really bad way, my panic and anxiety would cause my heart to race, skip, etc.

I also suggest talking this over with your doctor just to ensure everything checks out okay physically, which it already sounds like you are doing.  I found that as I talked it over with my counselor, especially this time, my pulse and bp have gone way down as I learn to live with it again.  In my opinion, a natural way to lower it was relaxation, which I know is so much easier said than done.  Also, as you work with your doctor, ask as many questions as you possibly can and also try to find someone professional to talk this over with.  By understanding this cycle of thinking, this is very manageable, and in my case, has made me a better person and husband.  Also, use this forum as much as possible; there are so many people here that have gone through what you are experiencing and genuinely care how you are doing.  Please keep us posted.

[scaredjo]

hi i have had anxiety on and off for 10 years just recently i have been taking proprananol beta blockers cause i dont like the side effects of anti-depressants, i had no side effects off the betas (i know everyones different) and havent had a panic attack as such, i do still suffer wi the anxiety although i think thats cause i moved onto hypochondria!!!!