drug induced anxiety?

[ciscochick]

Hello.  I have recently been prescribed zoloft and dextroamfetamine (vyvanse).  My dose has just been raised to 150 zoloft and 50 vyvanse.  I am feeling dizzy, I'm sweating like crazy lying down in a cold room, and I've thrown up a few times since I took the increased dosages earlier today.  Occasionally it feels like my heart has butterfly wings too.  Am I just having panic attacks?  I heard the dex can increase anxiety...  I don't have insurance here...

[ciscochick]

It looks like it's possible the dex didn't do anything at all, though it might have raised my heartrate just that extra little bit to push it over the edge.  Doc tells me sometimes strep infections move to the heart lining which is dangerous...

[looloo141]

Yikes!! so did the Dex speed up the infection or something? You have been very lucky all things considered, thank goodness for your neighbour!!

[ciscochick]

Hmmm.  It looks like I was too quick to blame the drugs.  Further tests indicate infection (I think it's called myocarditis?)  Around the same time I started increased the dex I was getting over strep, and it never occurred to me...  Feeling decent now.  There seems to be no damage, or a negligeable damage to my heart, which is cool.

[looloo141]

Jeez!!! You're right these drugs are serious! In the Uk doctors won't prescribe stimulants for adult add/adhd sufferers because it works differently on adults, it speeds adults up and effects the heart too much..where as with children it makes them less hyperactive and helps with their concentration.

How are you feeling now? Hope things are settling down? Straight back to the doctor to change meds I think!!

[ciscochick]

So, it wasn't anxiety.  About an hour after my last post I passed out again.  Luckily my fall woke my neighbour and my door wasn't locked.  I wasn't breathing and by the time the paramedics came I was in vfib.    I'm 31 and before a few months ago I was quite athletic with no heart problems.  My usual sitting still rate was 60bpm back then.  Got out of the hospital today.  No more dex for me, methinks.  That drug is not a joke.

[lilymoon]

I think that yes the dex can increase anxiety. It might pass though when your body gets used to the higher dose. Also increased Zoloft can make you nauseous and dizzy and such,this should pass. hope you feel better soon! lily

[ciscochick]

dex for add.  do you think it can also make me pass out?  when I tried to stand up from my bed I passed out.  For less thank an hour though...

[looloo141]

Hello I'm not a doctor but I'm pretty sure that yes these drugs are causing you extra anxiety... Zoloft can cause an increase of anxiety in the first few weeks, kind of a restless feeling..but I'd say its probably the Dextroamfetamine that you are feeling the most, it is basically speeding you up, hence the fast heart rate, and high temperature..
What have you been prescribed the Dextro for?
I hope you feel better soon, but definitely keep an eye on things!!