Why now?

[peanutbd]

In 1995 I was diagnosed with anxiety after a very scary anxiety attack (which not knowing anxiety really was awful). I did the best I could to just realize my symptoms were in fact anxiety and panic attacks.  a couple years later I started taking Paxil. Things became much better, felt fine and myself again.  However this past summer I started having waves of anxiety and surges of adrenaline out of nowhere. Now I feel Im heading into that spiral of just existing as if Paxil can no longer help.  I'm work out regularly and that now is creating concern.  Since the summer when I had racing palpatations I've become obsessed with my Heart Rate.  Which is at rest 60-70 and rest and when I work out it goes to 128 and then back to a normal rate in a regular way.  I wish I could stop "feeling" this obsessive and just get back to normal. anyone?

[peanutbd]

Thank you for your answers.  I saw my DR. and she upped my dosage to 30mg. I tried it for a week and found it to be harsh. Nausea, seemed anxious. lack of detail (i know thatt sounds odd, but that is what it felt like).  I'm gong to go back down to 20mg.  I felt like myself then.

[DJ873]

i had it younger and had it come back a few years ago, it seems to be an ebb and flow disorder. I work out too but for some reason don't worry about my heart very often. I am always feeling dizzy and get obsessed about that, i have learned to remind myself i have felt this way a zillion times before and didn't die and no matter what happens i will handle it

[mammo]

Your heart rate is excellent, while at rest and exercising.  It sounds like your body has built up a tolerance to the Paxil and it may be time to switch to another medication.  This is very common with these types of medications, so contact your doctor right away.  We are respond differently to these medications, and where one gets many years on one...another doesn't.  Keep exercising, it not only benefits you physically but helps with the anxiety.  Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling and he will know what to do.  Take care!

[gofio]

220 - your age is the max. heart rate you can sustain for only a very short period. Forget about your heart rate unless you have other troubling symptoms. If you do then get checked out by a Doc. I used to 'come off' meds, only to relapse after anything up to a year. The anxiety was beyond what I could cope with ~ now I'm on meds for life, not ideal, but better than the horrors of relapsing. Pulse rates, mine at rest was sub 50 bpm. Recently I had a major abdominal op. Later my pulse was up to 200 + , my blood pressure's low & that was said to be worse than high blood pressure, but I'm still here & continue to run. not as fast as previously, but while I'm above ground I hope to continue with it. Maybe Paxil will no longer work for you, but I was on it for many years without problems. When I came off it was OK, but later when I relapsed the Doc. would not prescribe it as it now has a bad reputation. Effexor XL's my med for life, it seems to work OK, the side effects are unwelcome, but the benefits are worth it. Anxiety/Depression's no joke as you understand well. Hope things work out for you. George