I have been dealing with anxiety and depression for years but I was put on a higher dose of blood pressure meds and all of a sudden my anxiety seems to have went into overdrive. I feel like I can’t breath most of the time especially when trying to walk anywhere. I went to the ER and got stress test done and they say my heart is fine but I still can not even walk outside without feeeling like I am not breathing. I decided the other day to put a oxygen thing on my finger while trying to walk on the treadmill and about 6 minutes into being on it I felt completely winded and looked at the monitor and it was only at 90 well that really sent me into a panic. This is the way I have felt since they increased my blood pressure meds. Anyone else have this happen to them?
Sever Anxiety: I have been dealing with... - Anxiety and Depre...
Sever Anxiety
Walking inside your house you are breathing fine, but when you go outside for exercise or inside on the treadmill for exercise you feel like you’re not breathing? Is this shortness of breath from over exertion? Are you on anxiety and/or depression meds as well?
Have they told you you have lack of oxygen in your blood, this is usually related to having lung issues.
Grasping for straws, but if you were fine before the increase, I’d go back ASAP to see if you need a dose change.
Yes I my blood pressure was elevated so my primary doctor put me on a higher dose and I went back to see her but she didn’t really change anything. She said for me to see my physichiatirst. I tried explaining to her I thought it was from the increase in BP meds because I didn’t have chest pain and feeling like I can’t get air until it was increased. Even when I am walking around in the house I get lightheaded and winded at times but climbing the stairs is almost impossible. My husband said for me to decrease my meds too until I see the cardiologist that I have to see now. I feel like my anxiety is so bad because of feeling like I can’t breathe. Thank you for your comments. I do not take any meds for anxiety right now. I use to be on an antidepressant years ago and the other thing I noticed is I have been feeling very depressed on this higher dose.
I think your blood pressure is too low, you can get an automated unit on amazon for less than $20, I think, or any drug store or walmart. Anyway too low B/P would explain all of your symptoms.
Thank you. I have a machine I check my blood pressure and my blood pressure is fine but there is times my heart rate is dropping to like 54. I decided to go back to my regular dose of BP meds and I see the cardiologist on Tuesday to go over my results from the hospital. I just don’t understand how increasing the BP meds caused so many side affects. Like I have been feeling very depressed too and anxious ever since it was increased.
I'm just glad to hear you are checking your B/P and seeing your Cardiologist.
Just for kicks what was your old med, and what are you on now?
Some people take beta blockers to help with stage fright, so it might not be too unusual.
I'm not a doctor, but I am a registered nurse, As long as you are asymptomatic ( headache etc) short term B/P increase above normal is not generally a big deal.
What was your pressure before and after the dose change?
So before i could run around 145 over 95 and now i am like anywhere between 110 or 135 over like 80 to 90 at times
Well that sounds good. I doubt that that would be a problem
Do you mean my blood pressure numbers?
Yes, sorry. I guess you know that the feeling of shortness of breath isn't a sign that you are in trouble. It's really just an annoyance
Thanks for that because it really feels like I am trouble when I can’t seem to breath and do things but that is reassuring to hear.
I guess the other thing I keep thinking is it possible for this to just be anxiety? I mean I have dealt with anxiety for years but like I told my husband this feels so different. Like I can’t do anything physical without feeling tightness in my chest and shortness of breath. That is why i ended up in the ER. Where they did stress test etc. I did have to take a xanax to get through all the testing and then when I was realeased I was able to walk through the store with my husband. So that is why I am not sure if it’s the meds or my anxiety but I do know since it was increased, my anxiety and depression has gotten so much worse.
Well I have been on Diovan for years at 160 mg but the funny thing is I remember when they first put me on it, I got shortness of breath, acid reflux. So the dr put me on singular and also a acid reflux medication and then a few years back my blood pressure went down to 90 over 60 consistently. So my dr I have now dropped my diovan to 120 mg per day and now because it is staying around 140 over 90 to 95 she increased it back to 160mg and now i have all the same side affects as the first time I went on it. I think the only reason I was able to tolerate at all before is because I was also on Prozac at the time. I am not on any anxiety or depression meds now but the strange thing is like i told my doctors the other thing about a week into the 160 mg i started feeling very depressed. So i tried to take two of the 80 mg pills and the depression got better but this constant short of breath is causing me so much anxiety and depression.
What bp med are you on? Mayb it needs to be changed.
Good you have an appointment coming up to discuss.
Are you asthmatic? Just curious.
No I don’t have asthma but i do need to see a pulmonogist now because of shortness of breath but I have had two X-rays recently and three different doctors listen to my lungs and they are clear. So I don’t know. I am on Diovan
Have you looked at the list of side effects of diovan?
I just read short of breath is a side effect
Yes I see that too. There is a list of side affects and I think I am getting them all because the dose got increased. Not sure. I did have a stress test etc and they say my heart if fine but it is so scary trying to walk anywhere and feeling like I can’t get my breath
Mayb you need a Med change.
Maybe but I also deal with being so afraid of trying new medications due to reactions I have had with many medications
Of your blood pressure is not controlled on a low dose and you have a side effect on the higher dose, something has to be changed.
I hope it gets all figured out for you. Best of luck
Heck it all sounds like panic attacks. Never allow BP over 120/80. I did that and got a TIA from stress, anxiety, and panic attacks while outside. Learn to watch my “numbers” and to unstressed. It all has “clam” down with a change of heart and some “wake up”fears of not allowing my mind go into “overdrive “. BP meds is my only med and rest is up to me to change my thoughts and actions.
Thanks
I also noticed that the shortness of breath is actually a serious side affect. I am not sure why the doctor I had years ago kept me on this when I told her I am very winded when I went in for a follow up on how the medicine was doing. She just put me on singulair.
It's a little odd since there are so many blood pressure meds out there.
I would bring it to the md attention.
Yes I plan to with the cardiologist
Thank you
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Anxiety Depression and IBS
Anxiety
Crippling anxiety
Bad Anxiety during Covid
Anxiety depression and meds
Related Posts
Anxiety is up :(
What’s the best medication for PTSD and anxiety? 
Seratonin sydrome
Anxiety for years 
Anxiety Moderation team
