Lexapro and PACs/PVCs

[fearfactor]

Well, I am FINALLY going to break down and try to take an SSRI - it is Lexapro.  My doctor told me I have to do something about my anxiety if I want to function the best I can, and Xanax isn't doing it.  I am terrified to death that this will cause more PACs/PVCs and it won't help my anxiety but make it worse.  I am also very scared of gaining weight on the meds.  Anyone have any good or bad experiences to share?

[freemanredneck]

Hi Fearfactor and all;  this may help your anxiety.  I am a combat veteran from the Vietnam Era and was wounded.  I had my first anxiety and panic attack ten years after I got home.  I was put on medication but that only postpone it temporarilty.  It was not until I started B-Complex vitamins for stress, exercised daily on treadmill and preoccupied my mind, along with magnesium, calcium and believe it or not a table spoon of cod liver oil daily.  Well anxiety attacks are gone, panic attacks are gone I travel all over the place by myself where before I could not.  Stress will bring it on, but avoid caffiene and nicotine.  I changed diet and basically went on a vegetarian diet with NO additives.  EXERCISE daily is very important to control and cure anxiety.  I do not watch the news.  Discovering your stressor is half the battle of what is causing your anxiety.  Once you find it, avoid it.

[fearfactor]

I went thru the cognitive behavioral program, too and it really did help. I still have residual anxiety, though.  Maybe I'll try the vitamin route.  My husband says taking extra B vitamins makes him feel better.

[fearfactor]

Thanks, everyone!  I think I will ask to try Celexa instead.  I guess I will go ahead and try to give it a shot, just hope it doesn't make me gain weight and have more palps!

[fjohn]

Regarding the weight issue when I presented it to my psychiatrist he always told me, "Calories In = Calories Out." I know this may be hard to believe but Lexapro changed a few things in my life, like I no longer sweated the little things, like failures which used to be devastating, now became disappointments. Bad things seem to be downgraded while the good things are appreciated. Not a bad thing for a med to do.

[fearfactor]

Probably because a "rare" side effect of Lexapro (and all SSRIs) is atrial fibrillation and arrhythmias.  That is what has me scared.  Even though it is RARE I am still afraid I will be that one person that has it!

[fearfactor]

I don't think I'm going to take the Lexapro - I have been reading on the internet about lots of people gaining weight on it.  I can't go through that.  I am taking stupid Inderal and wanted to get off of that - I thought maybe if I could get myself straightened out with Lexapro I could quit Inderal (which I have heard also causes weight gain).  It looks like I can't even do that.  Sometimes I get so frustrated - I need something to HELP me with my anxiety but all the cures seem to be worse than the condition.  If I gained even 5 lb. I would be ready to kill myself - I have SERIOUS body image problems and used to be anorexic.  I have told this to people before and they just say something like well if you are feeling better from the Lexapro then the weight gain is worth it!  Not so!    I had hoped maybe this would be the answer but it looks like it is not.

[fjohn]

This issue lies in the domain of psychiatry and that is who you should see. One thing with Lexapro is that it takes a few weeks to get into your system, so don't expect immediate results. I am pleased that you are taking an aggressive stance with your double-barreled salvo at your physical as well as mental side. All of us that suffer know that they are related.

I will say that when a cardiologist as well as family doctor have issues with Lexapro, independently, it is good to pay attention. I will get back to you on their reasons.

[CollegeGirl143]

i took lexapro for awhile when it first came out years ago, and it made me very sick to my stomach..

I had the most easiest enduced svt my ep had ever seen, but it never gave me a problem with my heart or palps.. Still, i would not recommend lexapro..

Celexa worked incredibly for me. The only side effect i had was about 20 minutes after taking it, ide need a cat nap.. I must say i enjoyed the cat naps during the day :P I never gained weight, and never had any problems with palps..

Ide be much more worried about the side effects of xanax.. If your doctor thinks its a good idea, ide say give the lexapro or celexa a try.. Ide venture to say any pvc's you may feel could very well be chalked up to anxiety

[fjohn]

After taking Celexa, I graduated to a new and better version called Lexapro. This was about 2 years ago. Recently, with my AFib issues, both my cardiologist and family doctor have taken issue with it. I'm unclear why and will ask them after I get my cardiovesion, but I think it is a "mood elevator" and with my heart thumping all the time anyway, the last thing I need is to take something that makes it go faster. I will have a more definitive answer for you soon.
I hope you go see a psychiatrist who can provide you with the category of meds that you can start of with. It may take awhile in this search so be patient. Also may take awhile to act upon the brain centers you want it to effect.
All my Best.

[massage therapy]

hi!
i started taking 10mg of lexapro about 3 weeks ago for the anxiety i feel about the svt/pvc's that i have. the first week, my stomach was definitely a bit churned up, but now i have had absolutely no weight gain, extra pvc's or svt episodes.
i think we all respond differently to different meds...it's all trial and error, but lexapro is working GREAT for me! my obsession with this stuff has significantly decreased, and i really hope that you find something that works as well for you! good luck!

[Mitcch]

I know it’s been a few years but I’m starting escitalopram today would be day 2 but nervous about my pvcs I constantly think I’m dying and there’s something wrong with my heart reasons why my anxiety is insane how r u doing ? R u still on the medicine and has anything gone wrong ?

[anacyde]

Lexapro increased my hubby's PVCs *however* it wasn't much and he didn't care (anxiety reduction effect).  It helped with his low energy a bit, but it basically only took the edge off the anxiety overall.  He is on Buspar now, which (after several SSRI medications) is the one that actually has done the trick.

Good luck to you!  Big step, and I think it will give you some peace of mind.  Ativan (same as Xanax) didn't help me either.

[Abeybaby]

I took Lexapro for one week and although i felt the best i have ever felt in my life. Anxiety levels were low and i felt normal BUT i got more PVC's and the pauses were much longer which scared the daylights out of me so i stopped taking Lexapro. I have also taken Zoloft and did not have this problem but weight gain was crazy- I gained 25 lbs and looked like a blimp. As for Lexapro i would not take it.

[iAmEllen]

I started Lexapro about a month ago.  It has drastically reduced my PVCs and my anxiety.  I had the same experience when taking Celexa (a close cousin of Lexapro) a few years ago.

[Darwingirl]

I have suffered with severe health anxiety for about eight years and severe panic attacks the last few years. The panic disorder and axiety problems became much worse when I started to get PVC's and PAC's. I did not want to go on to any SSRI's due to the side effects - I once went on Zoloft but it made my panic attacks worse. I went and did a CBT (cognetive behavoural therapy) course and started on a complex B vitamin, a multivitam and Omega  suppliment. My panic attacks have just about stopped....have not had a full blown one for the last  months and my anxiety levels are reducing. The vitamins and suppliments take around six weeks to see the full benifit of them but that is usually how long it takes to see the full affects of prescribed medications. I still get anxiety but it is not the extreme I once had. With each week I feel I am progressing further. I still hate the pvc's and pac's but am not freaking out as much when I get them.

[Carrie41]

I am going to my doctor on Monday and asking for the same thing.  I live in Canada and I believe Ciprelex is the same as Lexapro so I am going to ask for that.  Same thing for me, I have to get my anxiety about these damn things under control because they say nothing is wrong with my heart.  Keep us posted as to what happens.  I have read that the new SSRI's don't make you gain weight so you will probably be alright.

[AussieLynnleigh]

just wondering, do you have any side affects from the xanax. i was on a benzo myself and when you reach tolerance it can cause heightened anxiety amoung other problems. am i allowed to give a link to anothet board on here?

[CollegeGirl143]

i had a similarf experience to fjohn on celexa

I was so incredibly depressed when in my midteens. The celexa didnt MAKE me happy, but it ALLOWED me to be happy, appreciate things more, and not sweat the small sstuff so much

i also did it without gaining any weight ;)