Newcomer

[freakin@40]

Hi. I am new to this forum and new to anxiety. I am a 40 yr old male. I am happily married with 2 great step-sons.

About 3 wks ago I was put on HCTZ for high blood pressure. After about 4 days on it I started feeling a little strange. I guess it was flashes of dizziness or lightheadedness. I am not sure-never really experience either before. We were at the beach for the weekend and I also notice some mild pain in my chest. I figured it was just the way I was sitting on the beach.

Driving home on Sunday, I was thinking about my chest hurting. I also noticed that my left hand felt a little numb. As I worried about those things the dizzy flashes came around. Then my heart started racing etc. I thought i was having a heart attack and was going yo die in rural SC.

My wife found an emergency room in about 20 minutes. EKG and blood work should no signs of a heart attack. Since then I have been struggling daily with numbness and tingling and pains that move around my body- hands, feet, face, upper arm. I have been to the doctor 3 times, back to the ER again, had a stress echocardiogram, chest x-ray. All show that I am fine. Yet I still think something is seriously wrong with my health.

My doctor says it is likely anxiety. I have had 3 panic attacks. He gave me Xanax 25 mg to take if I felt it coming on and sent me on my way telling me I was fine. I did see another doctor and he agreed that it was likely anxiety. I did just have an executive physical and all my labs were good execpt for the elevated BP (140/90).

The new doctor gave me Zoloft to take every day. I started on Tuesday night at 25 mg. About 2 hours after taking it I took my BP. That was okay but my pulse was 46. That scared the crap out of me. I barely slept all night. I called the doctor and told the nurse. She called me back and said to monitor it and get back to her. Well, ever since then I a, taking my pulse every 15-20 minutes.

Now the anxiety seems to always be extremely high. I am restless, have tinglings and numbness, dizziness, nausea, dry mouth. I am tired and listless. I seem afraid all the time and I don't know why. I don't like to be alone thinking that I will pass out or even die when no one is around to help me.

I am freaking out and don't know what to do.

[troy294]

Anxiety is a hard thing . Once u notice something your body is doing that it didn't do before bang u notice it all the time . You have to convince your body nothing is wrong I personally always do breathing exercises and I just tell my self " troy anxiety hasn't hurt you before and it won't now " I say that over and over when I don't feel right and within 10-15 min I'm slowly getting back to normal . Anxiety is hard we ALL know that

[Enduronman]

What is HCTZ??..Yes, your BP is jacked up..Also, did ALL this just start this week after starting the Zoloft????..What is your experience with AD's??.. thx

E-Man..

[Enduronman]

Ok,..read up on the HCTZ. I don't like what I read either.. I prefer the drugs in the (beta-blocker) class for folks with high anxiety over any other BP med. The article reads "slower blood return to the heart" therefore decreasing BP. That's why yer HR was 46. Get off this trainwreck BP med and demand a beta block. They also "slow" the heart but they do not use the same route or mechanism of action that this one does...Just some free suggestions friend, take em or leave em..

E-Man..

[lisadu]

I agree that it is probably your BP pill that is the problem. Try another one and I also recommend a beta blocker. I have been on every BP med you can think of but beta blockers work the best for me and the others tend to make me more anxious than I normally am. Be proactive though, most doctors don't believe you when you report side effects such as anxious feelings..Good luck to you.

[Enduronman]

Agreed,.beta's are anxiety sufferers weaponry and are way more useful then these others that involve a degree of psychoactivity and such. Beta's are very safe overall too, way more safer then any previous attempts. Glad they work for you friend..

E-Man..

[freakin@40]

I only took the HCtZ for 4 days about three weeks ago. Not since the first panic attack. Been trying to control BP with diet (low sodium/no caffeine). The anxiety started right after the first panic attack those three weeks ago. I kept thinking I had a heart problem and was going to die of a heart attack at any moment. I only had 2 more panic attacks since then. One while driving to me doctors office and one while out jogging. But anxiety creeps in throughout the day until I just can't stand it. Then I take a xanax. I just recently started on the Zoloft - Tuesday nite. I am only taking 25 mg (breaking the pill in half). My anxiety is still pretty high and is worse now that I am worrying about my pulse. I ran quite a bit before this started. I ran a half marathon in June. Now I feel I can barely do anything.

Was doing okay tonight. Family is over. We cooked out. But after dinner I just got very nauseous and a little lightheaded. Now the anxiety is back up and I am feeling scared and crappy again.

[Enduronman]

Freakin bruh, I'm 44, male, and know whats going on man. May I ask, why did your Dr. prescribe you the Zoloft..reason, purpose, idea??...Thats my last question then we take it from there, REAL FAST CUZ THAT'S HOW I LIKE TO ROLL BRO!!..

Enduronman..

[freakin@40]

He said I needed time for my brain to get unwired after the heart attack scare. Said it would take about six months.

[freakin@40]

The xanax gets me through when the anxiety gets to much. He said the Zoloft daily would ease the anxiety until my brain came back to reality and realized I wasnt about to die for no reason. (I am paraphrasing liberally).

[Enduronman]

Ok..Got it. So, here's what my semi-retarded pea brain is telling me to type. The "heart attack" scare was induced and caused by the medications themselves. Your mind then received, processed, interpreted, this "ALARMING AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING EVENT" as a HUGE code red. It then ordered (your adrenal systems, the new commands, the mixture adjustment, the cortisol dump, then adrenaline, epinephrine, norepinephrine, DHEA, and dozens of other chemicals, hormones, steriods..yadda bla) which has left you in a near "constant panic state". Your brain has NOT downregulated, therefore your endocrine system will not downregulate either..My suggestions to you new member and friend:

1. Call the Dr, and REQUEST to be prescribed a beta-blocker. Start with atenolol. $4 a month..It WILL BLOCK the "holy s**t" mode..
2. Call the Dr, and request to change the Zoloft to generic lexapro (citalopram). $4 a month..10mg,1 time a day..
3. The Zoloft itself does not agree with many people and it HEIGHTENS anxiety very quickly. It does NOT stop raising the level of anxiety with you, in your particular case.
4. It will cause headaches, palpitations, brain zaps, increased tension, increased anxiety..
5. Stay on the xanax. Take it EVERYDAY at the same time, whether you "think" you need it or not..This medication does not work exactly as it is written.
6. I will send a PM and ask that you also get some "natural supplements" to compliment the needs at this time. Get them all please, not 1 er 2..all of them.

I would stop the Zoloft, speak to your Dr. on Monday..take a xanax and have a glass of red wine.. I am NOT a Dr but I sure have studied the s**t outta anxiety for over 40years and I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once too!!!..

Enduronman..

[freakin@40]

Thanks for the advice and support.