bipolar, ocd, I think panic attacks, please help?
I am bipolar and have ocd. I don’t know what this could possible be, so I need your help.
My heart starts to race, then it slows down, then it feels like it is going to jump out of my chest. It is like heart palpatations. My breathing is gets very slow, then I will end up taking a deep breath. Almost like a deep sigh. I feel this a lot. I do get dizzy, and sometimes light headed from time to time. Even when I am up doing things. It almost feels like I am going down a hill and my stomach goes up into my chest. Kinda like a roller coaster I guess. I am on Lamictal 400mg and Zoloft 200mg. I was supposed to take remron, but it didn’t click with me. I have been taking them for about a year now. Can someone give me some kind of idea on what this may be. I keep trying to tell my doctor, but I don’t know how to explain it to him.
Just to be on the safe side, you need to go to your primary care physician so that s/he can check you out. I am assuming that the MD prescribing your psych meds is a psych MD, but your PCP should also know about your psych meds and whether these symptoms could possibly be side effects of these medications. In my experience, these meds do not usually produce side effects such as the conditions that you are describing. Your PCP can determine whether you have a physical condition that is causing the symptoms that you are describing. The part about the racing heart sounds like anxiety d/o, but the slowed breathing is not typical of panic attacks. Even if a psychologist were seeing you in person, s/he would refer you to your PCP to rule out physical disorders first. So start with your PCP to find out if you have a medical problem first.
Comments
Comment from starseed003
Time September 9, 2009 at 9:50 am
it sounds to me as if you are having panic attacks. you need to check with your doctor to see if you can get on a different anti depressant/ anti anxiety medication. apparently the zoloft is not working properly for you if you are still having these problems. you may need to be on an antipsychotic medication or an antianxiety medication along with an antidepressant. you may want to ask your doctor about adavan or something else like it.
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Comment from akablueeye
Time September 9, 2009 at 10:15 am
Tell your doctor exactly what you wrote here…
it could be side effects from those medications, side effects are common; is just that some people react differently to different meds…I would never consider taking anything that makes me feel that bad.
If its not side effects from those meds, which your doctor should decide, if he is a good doctor, he will determine this and give you something different.
or
Google search Zolofot and Lamictal and read up on the side effects for each and see for yourself if you could very well be experiencing them..
If you get those panicky feelings, try breathing into a paper lunch bag to help prevent hyperventilating..it does help until you find out whats going on from your doctor. If it is anxiety and not side effects from your meds, anxiety can cause physical symptoms and there are meds that help that like valium, ativan or xanax for example.
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Comment from Megumi D
Time September 9, 2009 at 10:21 am
Just to be on the safe side, you need to go to your primary care physician so that s/he can check you out. I am assuming that the MD prescribing your psych meds is a psych MD, but your PCP should also know about your psych meds and whether these symptoms could possibly be side effects of these medications. In my experience, these meds do not usually produce side effects such as the conditions that you are describing. Your PCP can determine whether you have a physical condition that is causing the symptoms that you are describing. The part about the racing heart sounds like anxiety d/o, but the slowed breathing is not typical of panic attacks. Even if a psychologist were seeing you in person, s/he would refer you to your PCP to rule out physical disorders first. So start with your PCP to find out if you have a medical problem first.
References :
PsyD in clinical psych; several years clinical practice as clinical psych
Comment from shadkira
Time September 9, 2009 at 10:48 am
Which doctor are you asking, your family docor or your psych doctor? If it is your Psych doctor, go to a different doctor, it could be anxiety and it could be a problem with your heart. My sister had this same thing, and she has to take medication for it. When you have a mental disorder, heart palpatations can mimic anxiety when really it may be something unrelated. I know from experience. I also have bipolar and depression along with many others and the symptoms all seem to run together. Find a doctor that is willing to dig for the truth of what’s going on with your body! Hard to find, but I found one and it’s been very helpful!
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Comment from ssunnaa
Time September 9, 2009 at 11:15 am
Greetings, I used to have same symptoms but at work. i checked out this site http://www.innerpeace-consultants.com
References :
http://www.innerpeace-consultants.com
Comment from overtime59
Time September 9, 2009 at 12:04 pm
talk to your pharmacist…I think they know about reactions to medication than most doctors…I have had panic attacks most of my adult life…yours does not sound like the classic panic attack…I’m not saying that what is happening to you is not a panic attack but generally you will have feelings of fear or anxiety just before these come on and you said nothing about that…check with your pharmacist some of your meds could be the cause….
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Comment from Vivian
Time September 9, 2009 at 9:19 am
Its definitely a form of anxiety i know from experience myself, your heart starts racing for no reason and it gets harder to breath just talking about it reminds me, i mean it truly is all in the head you should consider hypnosis realize that it is all in your head, or try anxiety meds!
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