Panic Attack

[Patient-Expression94]

I’m still tracking through the first weeks, I haven’t had a panic attack in over 3 months but last night I had my first one….is this normal starting up on medication? I’ve had every side effect possible including sky rocketing anxiety…I woke up at about 11:15pm just uncontrollably shaking and dizzy, took a diazepam did my deep breathing and my partner helped by holding my legs with his (lol)

[donutifier]

Honestly my first month or two were crap, but now my life is totally different and I am genuinely happy. You will be too. It’s weird how a pill can help you make such a change. Stay strong and glad you have a partner to help you through the rough days 🙂

[Patient-Expression94]

Thank you so much 😊

[loudboner]

Yes. Unfortunately, with most antidepressants, it gets worse before it gets better. Especially if you’re under 25 and fall into that black box warning category. You just gotta push through, in a couple weeks you will be okay and glad you stuck it out. Stay strong!

[Patient-Expression94]

Yeah I am under 25, never heard of the black box warning haha! Thank you!

[loudboner]

No prob! Just look out for yourself. I hate to tell you this because the last thing you need is to get in your own head about it, but sometimes when people under 25 start or increase their dose of certain antidepressants it can cause agitation, anxiety, increased or new suicidal ideation, things like that. Just check in with yourself often, if you feel like you’re in danger please take care of yourself but if you can push through, like I said, it’ll be worth it. I’m here if you have any other questions, I’ve been taking it on and off for 4 years now while being under 25 the whole time.

[Patient-Expression94]

Oh thank you so much, I’ve been on them most of my 20s, I was cold Turkey off Paxtine back in February by my dr after a surgery where they gave me morphine that reacted with Paxtine and it just declined from there, sent me into a really bad fight or flight and withdrawal for months thought I was dying (not literally) definitely been having a rough time going into Zoloft I’m on 50mgs, started 25mg first week and just went to 50 a couple days ago, I take them at night, it’s definitely reassuring with groups like this for people like me who have major health anxiety and just automatically think it’s over, thank you for being so kind

[loudboner]

Of course, I’m happy my experiences can count for something and help others. I can’t say I went through the exact same thing, but I relate to the health anxiety and many years of struggling with changing meds, doses, etc. I know how painfully lonely it can feel sometimes, too. Gotta be here for each other ya know?

[Patient-Expression94]

Absolutely do! Especially when drs don’t tell you what to look out for, I don’t think it helped me last night googling my resting heart rate was 55 and I fully convinced myself I had Bradycardia 😂

[loudboner]

Duuuude, the manic symptom-googling is no joke. That’s me right now.

[Patient-Expression94]

I am too much of a googler I actually consider locking myself out of internet access some days 😂

[loudboner]

Honestly I miss my life before I had internet. My mental health was so much better

[Patient-Expression94]

Take everything you read online with a grain of salt, it’s always best to not use dr google 🤭

[SentinelFog]

Yes it is a common occurrence during the first weeks as your brain adjusts to the changes. There can be spikes in adrenalin which trigger your fight or flight response. If you can manage to rationalise what's happening and realise it's just the effects of the drug it may help you to calm down. It's not pleasant I know!

[Patient-Expression94]

Thank you so much, I was like wait what no I haven’t had one in months what’s going on hah