Hey all, been really struggling with stress and anxiety since being diagnosed with afib 1 year ago. I'm dizzy and lightheaded every day, crying all the time, thinking about my children losing there father. So I am tempted to try medication for it. I am currently on perindopril (hypertension) and apixaban. Just wondering if any of you have taken escitalopram (Lexapro/cipralex). Just wondering if it has made your afib worse. I am scared to take it incase it sets off more afib
Thank you
Hopefully someone will come along who may have used Lexapro or similaar. Meanwhile, here's a link to the Afib Association Helpline where you can speak to someone if you want.
Jim
I haven't had a problem with it in the past year I've been taking it. I would double-check your medicines and verify with your doctor, though.
My own experience is perhaps unhelpful as I reacted badly to these drugs but I would have a full conversation with your GP before commencing an SSRI. Recent studies on them have cast doubt on their mechanism of action (i.e. the serotonin uptake that they block is now not considered relevant to depression and anxiety). Also, their effect is hardly spectacular, especially for anxiety (1 in 3 might benefit and, if I recall, not much different from placebo). In a small population of people (of which I seem to have been one and who seem perhaps to have a slightly different yet quite normal genetic make up), they cause most unpleasant side effects, including increased levels of anxiety, severe insomnia and a range of other odd effects such as twitching, itching and yawning. They can deepen depressive and suicidal thoughts, too, in a few.
That all said, many people seem to benefit from them and they do seem generally safe, overall. They are, however, probably heavily over-prescribed as patients put doctors under great pressure to give "something that will help". I would, though, take care and seek other avenues of help first. There are better ways to treat anxiety, hard as it is to do so. Not least is to recognise that your AF might well make you feel like awful health problems are around every corner, when, in reality, they absolutely are not.
AF and anxiety go hand in hand, sadly, but the condition. really isn't, for the vast majority of sufferers, anything to be overly concerned about even in the long term and even if it becomes persistent or permanent. My elderly friend, for example, is 90 and his heart is always in AF and yet he is well for his age. Again, your GP needs to be your guide.
Steve
I agree with everything you are saying. I really dont want to start taking an antidepressant due to the potential side effects. I just need to learn how to come to the sense that it's just a heart arrhythmia and that it is not going to kill me. Just hard to rewire the brain to think that way.
Thank you for your response
It’s impossible to get rid of the awful anxiety fully but time, in this case, really does bring recognition that the condition is not going to do what it - at present - brings you to fear it will.
Don’t be fully put off SSRI tablets. If the anxiety causes a kind of depression, as it so easily can, then I would (gingerly) try them. I did so twice to my great regret but I know others who seem to find relief.
For short term relief from disabling anxiety, the only true drugs, and not even these are always especially effective and never fully safe for long term use, are the benzodiazepines such as diazepam (“Valium”). Doctors are reluctant to give them as they cause various levels of dependence in about 30% of users it seems. But… now and again, I’d say they are very useful.
Steve
I also had stress/anxiety/borderline depression on first diagnosis, this is quite understandable. My AF episodes were x2 per week and were stopped by a medium dose of Flecainide nb there are many different drugs and combinations for AF.
I started improving by consulting a cardiologist on my wavelength (book private now, £250 but really essential), also an experienced Naturopath and Nutritionist. Encouraged that I had Lone PAF, I resolved to making many lifestyle changes.
Gradually, my position got better and I have now had 11 years virtually AF free.
You will gather from this Forum that every case is individual so it is important to accept you have to find 'your solution' to a better QOL rather than relying on personal opinions here or just one medic.
Best wishes and well done for making the first step by finding this invaluable Forum 👍.
I agree with Steve's advice. Another problem with SSRI s is they provoke sexual dysfunction in more than half of users. But the most serious problem can be withdrawal when you want to stop using them. My sister has taken them for years and has had 2 unsuccessful attempts to stop. Your problems are being caused by a physical complaint and your so far inability to resolve it or come to terms with it . It is normal to be upset about having a chronic medical problem and you need to develop a coping strategy .Apart from the stroke preventative Apixaban you do not seem to have a specific afib treatment. Are you in permanent afib or do your episodes come and go ? Have you seen a cardiologist or an EP ? Could the Perindropil be contributing to the dizziness? I have found taking a magnesium supplement very helpful with anxiety . Afib makes you wee a lot and dehydration can cause dizziness and lightheadedness. The heart puts out a hormone to encourage the body to dump sodium which it does by sending you to the toilet. But low sodium caused by dehydration can make you feel dizzy and weak. If you follow a low salt diet because of your blood pressure this could compound the problem.
Thank you for the reply. I am not in permanent afib. I have only had the 1 episode, maybe a 2nd (not sure if it was afib or panic attack). I have an EP I see.
My afib plan is that I have the Pill in Pocket if it happens again. I have completely changed my lifestyle since it happened a year ago. Changed the way I eat, lost 45lbs
I have been on the perindopril for a couple years and was never lightheaded/dizzy prior. I tend to think I am very hydrated as I do drink plenty of water every day but maybe I should try and drink more because of the more frequent urinating.
Do you have a suggestion on the magnesium supplement?
Thank you
You only urinate loads during an episode. When in NSR you should urinate normally for the amount you drink. I take magnesium biglycinate and taurine. This combo is cheaper than magnesium taurate and you can control the amount of taurine better. I take it in 3 doses spread out 400mg a day. You should check your vit D levels as well. Vit D deficiency can cause depression.
Hi Noordy,
Sorry you are experiencing this. I too am Paroysmal and have had what I would term as moderate anxiety.
In your last post you mentioned losing a lot of weight. Honestly huge lifestyle changes, plus medication, plus the weight of the diagnosis is a lot to bear for anyone.
Conventional wisdom says change only one thing at a time. That much change can really throw your chemical balance off in your body/brain. There are a lot of hormones etc tied to your eating, etc.
Having said that I talked with my GP about going on a daily anti-anxiety drug. She prescribed Xanax for me 10 years ago when my dad died and I still have some left, so she knows I am being careful about becoming dependent.
I had her renew my Xanax prescription and....
1. I take a 1/2 tab anytime I am in AF and then will take another 1/2 tab when I revert.
2. I take a 1/2 tab when things are just too much. And then if I still can't relax by other means (i.e. reading a book, lying down and watching tv, taking a long hot shower, eating chocolate, yoga, tai chi) then I will take another 1/2 tab.
3. 1 or 2 AF visits (as someone just quoted, which I like) is no big deal. I am on my 9th or 10th in 2 years. Lots of folks with weekly or persistent AF. My big solace is I am schedule for a Mini-Maze in August.
I chose not to go on a daily med. But ultimately you need to get the anxiety out of your life, if you need to go on the drug for a week try it, see if you can take the edge off of it. Good fortune on this Journey.
Goood Day Noordy, I've been on Apixaban for about 5mths, plus on Hypertension drugs, having no side effects at present.
Stress test and Afib 
AFib and Stroke 
Seasonal Afib
Afib, inflammation and NSAIDs
Endurance sport and Afib
