Questions for all

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Questions for all
9
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 4:56pm

I was just curious about everyone and why/when their panic attacks started, ill go first:

1.Where were you when you had your first attack? (my bed)

2.What triggered it? (absolutely nothing, it came out of nowhere, I wasnt even stressed)

3.Did you go to ER? (heck yes, i thought i was dying)

4.How long did it last? (an hour)

5.What did you feel? (hot flashes, shortness of breath, couldn't catch my breath, racing heart, numb and tingly)

6.How often do you have them now? (i live in constant fear of a full blown one all of the time, but an actual attack, like twice a week)

What about all of you?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2005
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 5:05pm
My panic attack occurred at home during dinner. I had felt quite stressed all day with heart palpitations and then it went into a full blown panic attack. Yes, went to the ER. They put me on Ativan first, couldn't take it, went on Xanax. It was a year ago, the 1st 6 months I was afraid I was going to have another one. Now I have more anxiety than panic attacks.....afraid that I am going to have one I guess. I thought I was having a heart attack, it was awful. I think it is better this summer than last year. Somedays I think I am back to normal, and then I will have a couple of bad days. Jan
Jan
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2005
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 5:32pm

I was just curious about everyone and why/when their panic attacks started, ill go first:

1.Where were you when you had your first attack? driving in my car

2.What triggered it? I was thinking about all the things I had to do that day, heading to work.

3.Did you go to ER? No, I pulled into a convenience store, and asked them to call an ambulance. By the time it came, it was all over.

4.How long did it last? About 15 minutes.

5.What did you feel? Heart palpitations, my vision whited out - felt like I was going to pass out, I don't remember what else - it was 12 years ago.

6.How often do you have them now? Bad ones, like that? Maybe once a year. I gets lots of little ones that start, but I know the signs now, and take my xanax right away. It works really fast. Plus, I take the Lexapro.

Renee

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 9:43pm
Question for Renee--Does lexapro work for panic attacks? I am just starting on it, and some say it makes them worse... When I was on it for only 3 days i had the worst panic attack ever and i had to go to ER. Now its day 9, and i feel anxious, but better. When will I notice a complete difference?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 11:27pm

I am also on lexapro, I have been for 6 weeks. I started on 5mg and then 10mg and I have been on 20mg for almost 4 weeks.


For me it did initallly make the anxiety worse. It was temporary and thats where the klonopin helped. They say that you will feel better initially and then you may plateau for a bit.


They say that it takes 4-6 weeks to feel the full effect from every increase, since I have been on 20mg for almost 4 weeks I should be feeling a big difference.


I saw my pdoc today and he wants me to stay at the 20mg and come back in 2 weeks. He thinks that it is a great drug.


How many mg's are you on? Are you taking anything else? Have you had any side effects?


Talk soon,

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 11:46pm

1.Where were you when you had your first attack?school auditorium while watching a play


2.What triggered it? I had a a coughing spell & became nervous that others were watching me


3.Did you go to ER? Not that time, but have many times since


4.How long did it last? 10 minutes


5.What did you feel? chest pain, racing pulse, trouble catching my breath, tingly hands, felt like I would pass out


6.How often do you have them now? Maybe 6 to 8 times a year. I have some fear in places or situations where I have had an attack before, but not like it used to be. I don't avoid the places or situations like I used too.



 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Thu, 06-02-2005 - 12:14am
Hey there. I am also talking xanax and resperdal just to make it going onto to the lexapro easier. I take ambien at night for sleep. The Lexapro is 10 mgs, and I am supposed to get up to 20, but Im scared itll get worse. My side effects are, more anxiety, hot flashes, dissociations, etc. I have confidence in this drug but I am always uneasy when pumping up a dose. My biggest fear is that i will become suicidal (I am totally not now) because I heard that can happen.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 06-02-2005 - 7:30am
Hi, Katie! We are all concerned about side effects of our meds. Some are possible, alot are not probable. Try to keep that in perspective. The hot flashes & disassociations are probably the anxiety & not the lexapro @ all. As for thoughts of suicide, with all the media attention & the new warning labels, I bet it does scare you. I understand that. Once again, the drug companies had to report their findings even though it was a very rare ocurrence. To ease your mind a bit, why don't you write out a plan of what you would do, if you had thoughts of harming yourself. Such as, I will call the doctor immediately. Or, I will go to my mom & tell her to take me to the hospital. You have power over the thoughts, so take action now. Good luck! We hope you will post here often & talk out any concerns you might have. (((hugs))) jan



 

 


 



Avatar for cassia7
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2003
Thu, 06-02-2005 - 9:05am

1. I was at work

2. I think my triggers were that I just had my second child, bought our first house and my mother became very sick all in the matter of a couple months.

3. Yes, I did go the ER....I thought I was dying.

4. It seemed like it lasted forever, but I would say about 1/2 hour.

5. I felt numbness in my hands, arms, dizziness, heart beating fast, nausous, hot flashes

6. I haven't had a full blown panic attack in quite a while, I would say a year. I do get anxious though and talk myself out of the feeling.

Take Care!!! ~ Cassia

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 06-03-2005 - 12:41am

1.Where were you when you had your first attack?

Blessings, Suz   Posts in this Community