New Here...Heart Palpitations in withdrawal?

stefkay · 05-18-2012, 10:04 AM

Hi, I'm new here and this is my first post! I found this site while googling (yeah, not good for us anxiety folk) and have read quite a bit. It's hard to get to it all though, so I figured I'd just go ahead and post.

I was on Paxil for a relatively short time...basically started having panic attacks out of the blue about 9 months ago. Been a generally anxious person most of my life, but never had panic attacks or real physical symptoms until last September. Hadn't been on any meds since my college days (mid 90's) so I was hesitant but started on 10mg Paxil then went up to 20 quickly. It totally took care of the panic attacks and all was well until I just decided I don't want to depend on the meds and from my readings it seems most problems people have with Paxil is after being on it long term. My psychologist also mentioned that noone should really be on it past 9months to 1 year. SO, I started weaning--went down to 10mg a couple of months ago then down to 5mg about 3 weeks ago.

Felt a bit crappy, but nothing too bad. I decided I wanted to treat the anxiety with exercise, healthy eating, etc. so I started working out and drinking lots of water about the time I went down to 5mg. I think it's helped the withdrawal a LOT because I haven't had much but kind of cold type feeling lately. Biggest concern is that I started getting random heart palpitations about a week ago. They don't seem to coincide with stressful situations (then again, neither did the panic attacks), but these seem totally different than panic attacks. It's just a blip in my heartbeat that takes my breath away.It happens here and there throughout the day. I guess I just want to know if this could be a symptom of withdrawal even though it started 2 weeks or more after going down from 10mg to 5mg??? I am hoping so because I'd rather not think it is the anxiety returning. I'm less scared of the panic attacks now than I was before, but it's still hard not to have a bit of fear. Hardest part about dealing with panic disorder is knowing that my thoughts alone make it happen.

It makes me feel more in control and LESS in control at the same time if that makes sense. Any experiences shared are appreciated. Thanks!

Brassmonkey · 05-18-2012, 11:19 AM

Hi Stef-- Welcome to the group. I get those little heart blips every once in a while, it's just the drugs talking. The trick is to not let them grow into a panic attack, which you seen to be doing okay. There is plenty of good advise here, others should be chiming in soon.

((((((((((welcoming HUGS)))))))))))

stefkay · 05-18-2012, 03:15 PM

Thank you so much for your response! Hearing even one person has them makes me feel much better. It makes it easier to deal with if I just keep in mind there will be an end to it eventually. It is soooo easy to let the littlest things snowball into an all out attack and I refuse to go there again

Thanks!

Irishwill · 06-13-2012, 03:05 PM

Hey Stef,

I had those too. Mine started after a night of drinking and then working out. It got bad one night so I went into the hospital and turns out my heart was in atrial fibrillation or A FIB. It goes into A Fib every now and then and since I am only 26 it is very weird so I think it maybe has something to do with the withdrawal because I never had it before that. Then again maybe just being stressed out caused it who knows, can't blame everything on Paxil... If it just comes and goes I wouldn't worry about it but if it lasts for an hour like mine did I would get it checked out! Better safe than sorry right. Hope this helps.

Irish

tchrldy · 06-13-2012, 05:31 PM

My heart was both beating through my chest at random times daily I'd have the blips that take your breath away. I am 54 yrs old so my daughter who is a nurse ask me to go to the ER to check out my heart, she was scared. Although I had heart palpatations while under a monitor, all came out normal. This was over a month ago when paxil pooped out on me and I went into full wd. Then I read that others on PP experienced heart palps as well. So now my daughter can sleep better and I distract myself till the palps pass!
aka Katie

rangerNY · 06-14-2012, 05:55 AM

Very common, but not necessarily withdrawal related. When I'm over-stressed and over-tired I'm far more likely to experience PVCs and my last dose of Paxil was almost 7 years ago. Anxiety can also lead to palpitations. Get checked out to be sure they're benign (the odds are VERY high that they are), then just roll with it without being afraid of them.

05-18-2012, 10:04 AM	#1
stefkay Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 6	New Here...Heart Palpitations in withdrawal? Hi, I'm new here and this is my first post! I found this site while googling (yeah, not good for us anxiety folk) and have read quite a bit. It's hard to get to it all though, so I figured I'd just go ahead and post. I was on Paxil for a relatively short time...basically started having panic attacks out of the blue about 9 months ago. Been a generally anxious person most of my life, but never had panic attacks or real physical symptoms until last September. Hadn't been on any meds since my college days (mid 90's) so I was hesitant but started on 10mg Paxil then went up to 20 quickly. It totally took care of the panic attacks and all was well until I just decided I don't want to depend on the meds and from my readings it seems most problems people have with Paxil is after being on it long term. My psychologist also mentioned that noone should really be on it past 9months to 1 year. SO, I started weaning--went down to 10mg a couple of months ago then down to 5mg about 3 weeks ago. Felt a bit crappy, but nothing too bad. I decided I wanted to treat the anxiety with exercise, healthy eating, etc. so I started working out and drinking lots of water about the time I went down to 5mg. I think it's helped the withdrawal a LOT because I haven't had much but kind of cold type feeling lately. Biggest concern is that I started getting random heart palpitations about a week ago. They don't seem to coincide with stressful situations (then again, neither did the panic attacks), but these seem totally different than panic attacks. It's just a blip in my heartbeat that takes my breath away.It happens here and there throughout the day. I guess I just want to know if this could be a symptom of withdrawal even though it started 2 weeks or more after going down from 10mg to 5mg??? I am hoping so because I'd rather not think it is the anxiety returning. I'm less scared of the panic attacks now than I was before, but it's still hard not to have a bit of fear. Hardest part about dealing with panic disorder is knowing that my thoughts alone make it happen. It makes me feel more in control and LESS in control at the same time if that makes sense. Any experiences shared are appreciated. Thanks!

05-18-2012, 11:19 AM	#2
Brassmonkey Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: California Posts: 2,014	Re: New Here...Heart Palpitations in withdrawal? Hi Stef-- Welcome to the group. I get those little heart blips every once in a while, it's just the drugs talking. The trick is to not let them grow into a panic attack, which you seen to be doing okay. There is plenty of good advise here, others should be chiming in soon. ((((((((((welcoming HUGS))))))))))) __________________ AKA Tom 1994 started 20mg Paxil 1999 updosed to 30mg 2005 updosed to 40mg 2010 started not to work very well 09/2011 CTed from 15oz vodka a night 09/2011 dropped to 36mg 06/2012 dropped to 19mg (past halfway point) 08/2012 dropped to 17.1mg 09/2012 dropped to 15.2mg 11/2012 dropped to 13.8mg 12/2012 dropped to 12.4mg 01/2013 dropped to 11.1mg 03/2013 dropped to 10.0mg

05-18-2012, 03:15 PM	#3
stefkay Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 6	Re: New Here...Heart Palpitations in withdrawal? Thank you so much for your response! Hearing even one person has them makes me feel much better. It makes it easier to deal with if I just keep in mind there will be an end to it eventually. It is soooo easy to let the littlest things snowball into an all out attack and I refuse to go there again Thanks!

06-13-2012, 03:05 PM	#4
Irishwill Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 384	Re: New Here...Heart Palpitations in withdrawal? Hey Stef, I had those too. Mine started after a night of drinking and then working out. It got bad one night so I went into the hospital and turns out my heart was in atrial fibrillation or A FIB. It goes into A Fib every now and then and since I am only 26 it is very weird so I think it maybe has something to do with the withdrawal because I never had it before that. Then again maybe just being stressed out caused it who knows, can't blame everything on Paxil... If it just comes and goes I wouldn't worry about it but if it lasts for an hour like mine did I would get it checked out! Better safe than sorry right. Hope this helps. Irish __________________ Paxil-2001-2011 40 mg-30mg-20mg for Panic Attacks August 2011-poopout at 10 mg Tried other AD's for short periods never helped Failed Paxil R/I after 2 months at 10-20 mg Ativan for 10 months now off Paxil free April 2012

06-13-2012, 05:31 PM	#5
tchrldy Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: California Posts: 476	Re: New Here...Heart Palpitations in withdrawal? My heart was both beating through my chest at random times daily I'd have the blips that take your breath away. I am 54 yrs old so my daughter who is a nurse ask me to go to the ER to check out my heart, she was scared. Although I had heart palpatations while under a monitor, all came out normal. This was over a month ago when paxil pooped out on me and I went into full wd. Then I read that others on PP experienced heart palps as well. So now my daughter can sleep better and I distract myself till the palps pass! aka Katie __________________ 1998-now 20mg Paxil 2008 Dif generic - poop out 2008-2012 brain zaps persist-mild. Mar'12 dif gen bedridden Apr'12 name-brand No relief 5-18-12 18mg liq Pax10% 6-13-12 16.8 5% better 7-20-12 16 7-23-12 16.8 antibiotics 8-4-12 16.4-2.5% Brassmonkey Slide 1 8-10-12 16- 2 9-3-12 15.6- 3 9-12-12 15.2 - 4 9-26-12 14.8 -1 10-16-12 14.4 -2 11-3-12 14 -3 11-13-12 13.6 -4 1-7-13 13.4 -1 1-20-13 13 -2 1-28-13 12.8 -3 2-6-13 12.4 -4 3-18-13 12 -1

06-14-2012, 05:55 AM	#6
rangerNY Wax on. Wax off. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,051	Re: New Here...Heart Palpitations in withdrawal? Very common, but not necessarily withdrawal related. When I'm over-stressed and over-tired I'm far more likely to experience PVCs and my last dose of Paxil was almost 7 years ago. Anxiety can also lead to palpitations. Get checked out to be sure they're benign (the odds are VERY high that they are), then just roll with it without being afraid of them. __________________ - Drew Paxil free since September 2005.

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