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Prozac and Heart Racing
Hello. I am hoping someone can shed some light on this for me. I am 39 and have known I have very mild Mitral Valve Prolapse for years. It caused me NO problems whatsoever, then one day WHAM panic attacks and anxiety. Long story short, after several trips to the ER, cardiologists visits, Internal Medicine docs, psychiatrist. They all conclude Panic disorder/Anxiety. I have since learned that many times people with MVP are more prone to panic and anxiety. I have even read several books and studies on how this is all related and I understand what they are saying.
Before realizing all of this however, I was a paranoid nervous wreck thinking I was dying because my heart would just pound and race for no apparent reason, among other annoying symptoms. So, my cardio put me on 50mg of Metoprolol and gave me 1mg Ativan as needed. Well, the Metoprolol was hell getting past the side effects, but I did it just to not have my heart pound so hard and loud out of my chest. I used less and less Ativan as time went by. I still had some palpitations (rare) and some occasional "thuds" in my chest. I was told this may happen DUE to the Metoprolol. I was also told to by my psych to take 20mg of Prozac. Well I am pill squeemish and didnt want to take the Prozac until I was off the Metoprolol. Looking back maybe I should have not waited. Anyway, three weeks (and many tests later) I am finally feeling like ok I am not having heart trouble. I tell myself JUST RELAX and meditate more. So, I took the Metoprolol for 3 weeks and was weaned for 3 weeks. I was feeling really great and "normal".
Then my Internist said even though I feel great now, I should still take the Prozac because during my cycle serotonin drops and I may have attacks and so on again. So, I am just taking my last 12.5mg dose of Metoprolol the next day and beginning day 1 of Prozac.
I felt fine for 2 days then I noticed anxiety creeping in. It started the 3rd day with general discomfort and a little chest tightness. But, I had exercised earlier that day for 20mins and felt great. The next day I woke up with a little more anxiety and decided to try to exercise it away--big mistake- after 15 mins I had to get off the treadmill. I could feel my heart beating SO hard and fast and I was NOT working that hard that I became afraid. I walked around my house for awhile trying to calm down. 2 hrs later my heart is still elevated and yes I do think partly due to anxiety. So, I call my psych (she answers!) and I tell her about it. She tells me that Prozac can be "activating" and I should take an Ativan if I have any left and I wil be fine. It worked. After taking it only 6 days I had to stop.
The next morning I awoke with fast heartbeat. I know my resting heartbeat is normally 72 and was the first couple days I was off Metoprolol altogether. I immediately took .5mg of Ativan and felt better. Currenlty, I am wearing a heart monitor for 30days and i am glad this incident got recorded.
Anyway, my questions are:
1. Has anyone ever experienced a racing heart on Prozac?
2. How long can I expect these symptoms to last? I hear Prozac stays in your body a long time.
3. What is the fastest way to get this Prozac OUT of my body?
4. I read that all SSRIs have stimulating effects. I am in no way depressed and don't need stimulation as I am sensitive to sugar and caffeine. What can be done for my anxiety in this case? Ativan is short term ONLY.
5. Does anyone think it is NOT the Prozac and that somehow the Metoprolol just now wore off (after 3 days) and my heart is permanently revved up?
I am so afraid to exerise or do much of anything. Funny, both my cardio and psych prescribed exercise as my best weapon against anxiety! Go figure.
If anyone has anything to share, I sure would appreciate it. I am soooo tired of this merry-go-round...
Renee
Finally
Before realizing all of this however, I was a paranoid nervous wreck thinking I was dying because my heart would just pound and race for no apparent reason, among other annoying symptoms. So, my cardio put me on 50mg of Metoprolol and gave me 1mg Ativan as needed. Well, the Metoprolol was hell getting past the side effects, but I did it just to not have my heart pound so hard and loud out of my chest. I used less and less Ativan as time went by. I still had some palpitations (rare) and some occasional "thuds" in my chest. I was told this may happen DUE to the Metoprolol. I was also told to by my psych to take 20mg of Prozac. Well I am pill squeemish and didnt want to take the Prozac until I was off the Metoprolol. Looking back maybe I should have not waited. Anyway, three weeks (and many tests later) I am finally feeling like ok I am not having heart trouble. I tell myself JUST RELAX and meditate more. So, I took the Metoprolol for 3 weeks and was weaned for 3 weeks. I was feeling really great and "normal".
Then my Internist said even though I feel great now, I should still take the Prozac because during my cycle serotonin drops and I may have attacks and so on again. So, I am just taking my last 12.5mg dose of Metoprolol the next day and beginning day 1 of Prozac.
I felt fine for 2 days then I noticed anxiety creeping in. It started the 3rd day with general discomfort and a little chest tightness. But, I had exercised earlier that day for 20mins and felt great. The next day I woke up with a little more anxiety and decided to try to exercise it away--big mistake- after 15 mins I had to get off the treadmill. I could feel my heart beating SO hard and fast and I was NOT working that hard that I became afraid. I walked around my house for awhile trying to calm down. 2 hrs later my heart is still elevated and yes I do think partly due to anxiety. So, I call my psych (she answers!) and I tell her about it. She tells me that Prozac can be "activating" and I should take an Ativan if I have any left and I wil be fine. It worked. After taking it only 6 days I had to stop.
The next morning I awoke with fast heartbeat. I know my resting heartbeat is normally 72 and was the first couple days I was off Metoprolol altogether. I immediately took .5mg of Ativan and felt better. Currenlty, I am wearing a heart monitor for 30days and i am glad this incident got recorded.
Anyway, my questions are:
1. Has anyone ever experienced a racing heart on Prozac?
2. How long can I expect these symptoms to last? I hear Prozac stays in your body a long time.
3. What is the fastest way to get this Prozac OUT of my body?
4. I read that all SSRIs have stimulating effects. I am in no way depressed and don't need stimulation as I am sensitive to sugar and caffeine. What can be done for my anxiety in this case? Ativan is short term ONLY.
5. Does anyone think it is NOT the Prozac and that somehow the Metoprolol just now wore off (after 3 days) and my heart is permanently revved up?
I am so afraid to exerise or do much of anything. Funny, both my cardio and psych prescribed exercise as my best weapon against anxiety! Go figure.
If anyone has anything to share, I sure would appreciate it. I am soooo tired of this merry-go-round...
Renee
Finally
Thank you everyone who responded. I do think it was that Prozac!! The day after the heart racing incident I took it easy and rested most of the day. I had anxiety about it all a little bit, so I took .5mg of Ativan. I noticed my heart rate was still a little higher than normal all day though. No exercise that day!
The next day, which is today, I awoke and checked my pulse. Back to normal and no anxiety. So, I made sure I stretched and got brave enough to exercise. Even though I was nervous and checked my pulse constantly, I told myself I am ok. Well, after 20 mins of exercise my heart rate went back to normal without any undue racing. I truly believe it was the Prozac.
Anyone who has a sensitive system, should be warned about that side effect BEFORE they take the drug!
Renee
The next day, which is today, I awoke and checked my pulse. Back to normal and no anxiety. So, I made sure I stretched and got brave enough to exercise. Even though I was nervous and checked my pulse constantly, I told myself I am ok. Well, after 20 mins of exercise my heart rate went back to normal without any undue racing. I truly believe it was the Prozac.
Anyone who has a sensitive system, should be warned about that side effect BEFORE they take the drug!
Renee
Prozac can also cause Hypertension/High Blood Pressure "It did it to me" they say its a "rare" side effect....but Ive found quite allot of people that got it.
In the middle of it all I think my highest was like 220/90..AND IM 23!
Ive been of it for about..5 mths...And I still get spells and slight chest pain.
I think Yoga, or Tai Chi would do great for you.
I bet if you practiced for a few months..you would start to find yourself needing less, and less Meds for your heart as well.
In the middle of it all I think my highest was like 220/90..AND IM 23!
Ive been of it for about..5 mths...And I still get spells and slight chest pain.
I think Yoga, or Tai Chi would do great for you.
I bet if you practiced for a few months..you would start to find yourself needing less, and less Meds for your heart as well.
I never took Prozac, but, I did take Paxil for two days, and boy, what a reaction. I had a racing heart and I felt awful. I had to go to the ER and they recorded my heart rate to be 120 a minute. They could not get it to calm down. It was awful. The doctor looked up the side-effects in his PDR, and said that anxiety and racing heart were one of them, and, since I had a history of having trouble with any type of SSRI, for me not to take any at all and if I felt anxious to exercise. Well, I like to exercise, but, sometimes when I walk, I get scared because I will sometimes get those darn "extra heart beats" or "missed beats" It is a vicious circle I tell you.
For me, the racing heart lasted that night only, and by the next day, I was almost back to normal. However, I had only been on it less than 2 days, NEVER AGAIN!!
I honestly do not know the fastest way to get it out of your system, I guess it just has to run it course. I have heard doctors say that when you are on any drug for a length of time to give it a few weeks at least before starting new ones to get it out of the system, so, I really don't know.
I do not like Ativan, when mother was alive, the doc gave it to her, and it made her more nervous and anxious. I have reverse reactions to all types of drugs, especially the kind that are supposed to help nerves and such, they always make me more panicky, never calm. Even natural supplements that are for nerves don't work, not good, huh?
Yes, exercises is good, but, I can relate to what you say, it is difficult when you are afraid to go out due to the fear of having the symptoms you are afraid of starting again. I fight with it daily. I do make myself walk, but do I enjoy it? Nope, not much, some days are OK, but others, I struggle.
For me, the racing heart lasted that night only, and by the next day, I was almost back to normal. However, I had only been on it less than 2 days, NEVER AGAIN!!
I honestly do not know the fastest way to get it out of your system, I guess it just has to run it course. I have heard doctors say that when you are on any drug for a length of time to give it a few weeks at least before starting new ones to get it out of the system, so, I really don't know.
I do not like Ativan, when mother was alive, the doc gave it to her, and it made her more nervous and anxious. I have reverse reactions to all types of drugs, especially the kind that are supposed to help nerves and such, they always make me more panicky, never calm. Even natural supplements that are for nerves don't work, not good, huh?
Yes, exercises is good, but, I can relate to what you say, it is difficult when you are afraid to go out due to the fear of having the symptoms you are afraid of starting again. I fight with it daily. I do make myself walk, but do I enjoy it? Nope, not much, some days are OK, but others, I struggle.
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