For about two years, I've experienced panic attacks several times a week. The first time that I had one I went to the ER, because I thought I was having a heart attack. The main symptoms are a shortness of breath, a feeling of tightening in the chest, and an overall sense of weakness. I've had problems with depression and occasional anxiety ever since I was a kid, but nothing like this.
They're painful, debilitating, dispiriting, and make me think that suicide might not be such a bad option. I ask myself: Are these attacks going to gradually get worse or more frequent? Will I be able to function unaided and run errands? Wouldn't it be better to take some painless magic pills rather than suffer a heart attack or stroke due to all of the stress as well as the PD?"
Currently, I've been taking Gabapentin, Quetiapine, Valium, Ashwagandha, Melatonin, and Chamomile tea to lessen anxiety. They help, but I don't want to build up a tolerance for the prescription drugs (the first three) and then have to continually increase the dosages, so I try not to exceed the dosages that I'm taking now.
Today I went to Trader Joe's to shop, but sat in the car for about a half hour, then tried to leave the car and walk to the store, couldn't do so and returned to the car, sat in it for another half hour, and finally gave up and drove home.
Before I got this disease, I exercised daily, went to the gym five days per week, and was mostly vegetarian although I ate seafood. Now, there are times when I feel like I might die if I try to take a walk around the block.
Written by
Alock2020
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I'm so sorry to hear this. I will pray for you Alock2020. So... how are you between the panic attacks?
I suffer from depression also. Did you know there is a low dose lithium trial for treating PD going on in Buffalo. I take 15 mg of Lithium Orotate (that is the lowest dose in the trial.
The control of respiration is Ana l most guaranteed help for panic disorder. Nasal inhale only and exhale is ideal. Full diaphragm release and expansion will stop the adrenaline pump and help co trial the surge of energy and thoughts of imminent danger. There are lots of tools available for this that dont cost lots of money and are safe an effective. Quietmindfdn.org
It might be useful to test all non prescription options first to avoid some of the stronger side effects associated with prescriptions for panic attacks. It might also be worth trying the least invasive options in supplements first such as homeopathic remedies which generally have little if any side effects. Other possibilities to consider are potassium deficiency, as this may lead to anxiety, avoiding caffeine & alcohol, using EFT to try and eliminate causes of anxiety and panic attacks, adaptogens such as Rhodiola Extract or Korean Red Ginseng, vitamin D and high dose fish oil to name a few.
The above are a few non invasive approaches to dealing with panic attacks. There are others but these are all easy to get or use and a reasonable place to start along side the three you are already using. Regarding the melatonin you are currently using, the melt in your mouth ones are likely to have the fastest onset of action should you find yourself in a situation such as you mentioned where you couldn't get out of your car.
One last mention, out of the suggestions I listed above, I think EFT is the one to most likely have lasting benefit and it is free. Good luck!
Yes, it is tapping and has shown significant efficacy for anxiety disorders in a timely manner. CBT, EFT and EMDR are all psychology tools that are effective in treating anxiety disorders, PTSD and depressive disorders. EFT can be self taught by your psychologist, different practitioners and on various YouTube channels. It is something that I learned and use in my daily life to deal with different stressors that I have encountered in life. I find it very useful.
EFT and EMDR have shown synergy together in at least one study.
Hello Alock, I suggest you ask your doctor about the possibility of prescribing a beta blocker for those times you may encounter that situation that may lead to a panic attack. In addition to helping to cope with those stressful situations a beta blocker will also help ease any tremor you may have.
My husband has just been through a period of being suicidal and it was entirely drug induced caused by too high dose of levodopa, and quetiapine. He has reduced levodopa and come off the quetiapine and is taking a low dose of clonazapam 1/4, 1/4, 1/2 x 0.5 mg and has become serene and completely off the idea of death and has started initiating activities like going to the movies and library again, and today wanted to go inside the supermarket to wander around which he hasn’t been inside for at least a year due to struggling cope with it.
Just try and separate the awful anxiety you are feeling from yourself as a person in your mind. It is likely drug induced. Once you have found the right dose and drug you likely will feel good again.
If you can come off the quetiapine try clonazapam at a low dose and see if that helps. It works on the GABA pathway to soothe. Some of the others that work on the dopamine and seratonin pathways have always proved very bad for my husband causing extreme agitation and anxiety.
Yes my husband was only taking 1/4 before bed and he was totally confused in the night , trying to get out the door to try and throw himself under a truck. Couldn’t work out how to go to the toilet. Nasty stuff.
I take a very small dose of Quetiapine (25 mg). My psychiatrist says that this amount is very safe, and is mainly sleep-inducing. But I'm beginning to wonder because I've read and heard alot of negative things about it.
I have no faith in psychiatrists who say something is safe. They work in averages. On average most people do well and some it makes a big positive improvement. For others some drugs have a terrible effect. Most likely due to genetic differences. If you notice new symptoms after a new drug has started it is probably due to side effects of the new drugs. The doctor and psychiatrist told me it was the Parkinson’s worsening and dementia yet when the new drugs were stopped he came back to his PD normal.
Sounds familiar. I developed panic attacks in the late 80’s. I was put on an antidepressant and went through biofeedback. I went off the meds in 1992. I have occasional panic but no rolling attacks like I used to.
You just exactly descrribed what i go through througgh as well, yesterday in safeway i had one and had to leave in flop sweat and fear. My therapist dc'd my clonazepam and put me on propanolol hcl 10 mg 1 tab as needed twice a day to avoid the benzos. i get so panicked i start to throw up. so far the propanalol kind of maybe helps.hang tough ...message me if you ever neeed to talk. panic attacks are pure hell.
Hi Alock2020, I can totally emphasise with you as I too suffered with panic attacks from the age of 17 to 35. I avoided crowded places as this would trigger a panic attack, I felt too that I was dying I.e I was having problems breathing and my heart was racing. I suffered in silence for many years until my GP referred me to a counsellor which helped me face a traumatic time in my life, the loss of my dad when I was 17, and after 6 weeks of counselling I finally grieved for him. I cried buckets and after that the panic attacks stopped. I think that you would benefit from counselling as the cause of panic attacks is down to a traumatic episode in your life. I do hope that you get the appropriate help as I did. Take care.
I’m so sorry. I really picked up on your message because I used to have terrible panic attacks. Now it’s more generalized floating anxiety which isn’t very pleasant. Hypnosis helped. I did sessions with the person and she recorded them for me which was really really helpful.
Please don’t despair. This is part of your brain talking that may be agitated by medication. Or something else. The whole thing is very upsetting but you can feel better and you will feel better.
Another non-medication solution and I’m not recommending that you not take medications either in terms of helping this because sometimes you just need to break the cycle. And then you can progress from there. I’m not sure it will help you also but I sometimes use the Apollo neural device. I can’t right off the top of my head think of the exact name. You can wear it on your wrist and it bums away depending on the setting you use in the app.
I’m not positive it would work for you and it’s a possible add-on. Probably not the main solution.
Anyway I hope you can straighten it out and I know it’s very difficult. It looks like you have a lot of people here that care about you.❤️
Hi Alok. Very welcome. I think alot of great solutions have been already shared here.Its the nature of this disease to leave us overwhelmed and panicky. Its a blow to the ego...
I was also a vegan for more than 10 years before i got dx. I was doing my best. I had had therapy for a long ti.e...but nothing was working anymore.
My one solution when things get tough, apart from whatever drugs or supplements is to come here and listen to others. Many times by giving a little i calm down a lot. It may be just to open the page and allow myself to wonder...it can be the name of a friend, their situation, or something i identify with. It may be a new research or a new perspective.
I take a breath, two, three..and i realise that im not alone.
Medications can help wonders , but are usually a part of the solution. Physical things that you can do help also. Tell some people that you are around alot and you trust some of what is happening so that if they see you slipping into an anxious state they can help you calm down and relax.
Use a wheeled walker , (I know you can walk just fine) Its a hip saver if you start to fall , it is a place where you can stop and sit and rest. It makes people around you more careful ,they dont bump you or hurry you.
Have two happy places one in your mind and one real . (often the real one is also the place you think about) make a small garden, decorate a small room , make this special place the way you want it, photos,flowers, a chocolate hidden, a nice easy chair. some books, music.
Ask around if there is a local support group that meets near you.
PS: I stopped watching News , weather, sports on television and then stopped watching TV and then stopped reading newspapers and finally stopped reading any news item on the internet . I am totally oblivious to what is going on and it feels great. If something is about to happen you will have to do it with out me.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Diagnosis and Acupuncture
Slow release cardopa/levodopa 
DHA for dyskinesia also improving sleep?
Frightening Experience 
