Tips on Panic

[Fearful_Kitty]

Hello friends, I am new to the group. Just joined moments ago. I’ve had anxiety most of my life with occasional panic attacks induced by stressful life events (and only lasted about a minute). The last few months my anxiety has gotten worse and I started having more and more frequent panic attacks randomly. It would be talking to people or reading to my daughter, driving, etc. It was disrupting my every day life and my therapist really recommended I start medication for anxiety. I set up a virtual call with a pcp and got prescribed Cymbalta. I was hesitant to take it because lately I have become increasingly afraid to invest pills (I psych myself out and think I am getting dizzy, etc). But after a bad panic attack I decided I needed to start and took the pill Thursday 4/13 around 11pm. The following morning, severely increased anxiety woke me up and with it sensation of cold and tingling and I knew it was side effects of the medication and I started to panic. I called the health line and they told me it should be out of my system in a few hours. But since 5am yesterday morning I’ve been having nonstop panic attacks. It has taken all I have to keep it at bay at times. I’ve been mediating, taking baths, going on walks, using essential oils but even when the worse of the attack is gone I have this lingering shaking anxiety. I have also grown increasingly fearful of having another attacks which makes them come on instantly. And I’m afraid to take anything to relax me because it might make it worse too. I am afraid that I’ve triggered a Panic Disorder and I am not sure where to go from here. Should I go to the ER? Is it helpful? Is Urgent Care an option? Thank you in advance!

[Butterfat]

Sorry to hear about the attacks.

Is there a chance you can identify what’s triggering these panic attacks? If it helps try listening to music, classical would be my choice. If you run to the ER they will teach you how to relax it will be helpful and give you anti-anxiety medication. It’s definitely going to be relieving but there are no magical pills that’ll take your panic attacks/anxiety away, they come witht their own set of side effects. So factor that when taking them.

[Sapgirl]

I have severe health anxiety and panic attacks frequently too but I also have anxiety around taking medication or anything really. I don't even have alcohol anymore incase it did something bad to me. Silly I know but I can't help it I don't really have horrible thoughts with my anxiety. It's all mainly symptoms like trembling ectopic beats feeling faint and constant dizzy spells and feeling like my throat is tight. Unfortunately I have no suggestions but wanted you to know your not struggling alone 🥰

[Hidden]

Cymbalta is an antidepressant and would take 4-6 weeks for any real results. Can you call your doctor and ask them to give you something in the interim? Many doctors due this for anxiety when starting an antidepressant. Most definitely you can go to an ER, urgent care etc. They will give you something to calm you but will want you to follow up with your own doctor for further care.

[Fallin77]

Hello Fearful_Kitty, what you describe sounds horrible and I have had nights like that too. I was fearful about taking an antibiotic and after I took it I spent all night awake with panic attacks, scared, unable to breathe, cold rushes going down my neck and burning sensations all over my body, heart palpitations... I sniffed alcohol pads to keep from passing out. Technically, there is no way that the Levaquin could have caused this but I stopped right away. I have since continued with panic attacks at night but thank God not to that degree. I think it is your anxiety about taking medication that is causing you to have these attacks. I don't believe SSRIs can do much once your anxiety has escalated to the point you have described. I started taking Prozac 3 weeks ago for panic disorder and yes, my anxiety has increased even though I need to hold on for probably 3 more weeks to see if it will help me in the end. There are many people in your situation, who feel the way that you do so don't feel like you are the only one. I've tried different doctors and many medications, but everyone tells me Prozac is the magic drug. I hope you are able to find help and get this figured out. I know what you are going through is a nightmare.

[Murphy120]

I’ve been suffering with anxiety, panic disorder for over 20 years. For me I developed panic disorder and it affected my job. So I was put on an antidepressant and Kolonopin to manage my life. They both worked well. But Benzos cause memory loss , so my doctor wanted me off of them because my sister has dementia. She took anti anxiety meds as well. It took me 8 months to wean myself off of Kolonopin, very hard but I did it.My advice is use least amount necessary to keep it at bay. Learn coping strategies to work through attacks or to prevent them. Good Luck

[Toula223]

hello. I too had a similar experience. Have had anxiety and very fearful of meds. Been on same dose of Zoloft for years managed by my pcp. Recently they told me to up the dose and it made me feel nuts. I stopped the increase dose but it took a good 2 weeks to get out of my system. It is getting better but I feel anxious that I’m going to panic again and thus end up panicking. I just want you to know you’re not alone.