Question about Adrenaline "Dumps"

[Amaya's Nana]

While I'm feeling better today, I am continuing to have a physical symptom that is bothering the crap outta me. I feel adrenaline dumps into my body on a regular basis. They don't seem to be attached to thoughts or any kind of negative thought process. I'll just be sitting and reading or typing something at work and BAM............I suppose its like what Alto calls "pseudo panic attacks." It is not anxiety nor a full blown panic attack. What seems to initiate these dumps is a skipped or missed beat in my heart. I have had this now going on for about a week. I have had skipped beats since I was about 21 and I'm now 47 so its nothing new. I've been checked out by a very good cardiologist and I've had lots of tests run. Have been told by more than one doctor they are benign and absolutely nothing to worry about. As a matter of fact, its what led me to being put on Paxil in the first place......I'd have the skipped beats, then panic would ensue and it was a vicious, vicious cycle. Once Paxil stopped the panic, the skipped beats were very, very rare. The only thing that seems to be breaking this cycle of adrenaline dumping is taking a Klonopin. While I don't want to rely on the Klonopin for all the reasons we know why, its like my body is producing TOO much adrenaline. I had a doctor tell me once that some people's adrenal glands are over-productive and we know what can happen in Paxil withdrawal.

So, I said all that to say this.........do ya'll think this is a physiological response in my body from Paxil withdrawal (the adrenaline dumping) or is it nothing but "fear" when my heart skips beats. My preference is to definitely not fear the skipped beats but the adrenaline dumping happens before I can even THINK about my heart skipping a beat. The more adrenaline that dumps, the more the skipped beats happen. Does that make sense?

Anybody else experience this feeling of adrenaline dumping in their body?

[elisa]

Lisa, I'm not sure what it is, adrenaline, overproduction of cortisol or a magnesium deficiency.
Meanwhile I found a link about this: http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...ght=adrenaline

You're not alone in this. Had 2 cortisol tests done while tapering and both results were exactly the opposite as they were supposed to be. Cortisol is supposed to peak in the AM and s/b lower in the PM.

I've read that taking AD's depletes magnesium from the body.

[Amaya's Nana]

Thanks Elisa -- after reading Lady of the Lake's responses, Mag Glycinate is the one I've used since last October. The last bottle of it though was a different brand that was cheaper (ugh!!). I don't recall having ANY palps on the Mag Glycinate that was a little more expense. Maybe the cheaper brand didn't have the right amount of the mag in it or my body wasn't absorbing it as well as the capsule that was more expensive. The only store I can find the brand I was taking is 35 miles from me and I HATE to have to drive all that way but that could very well be what's happening.............I didn't absorb the cheaper Mag very well or it just wasn't a good quality of magnesium. Plus, I'm now on day three of no magnesium.........hmmmmmmm.

[elisa]

The type of Magnesium and brand you take can definitely influence in how you feel. It's trial and error. Sounds familiar huh? Glycinate is a good choice. Perhaps you could order the one you want online or call in to have it delivered? Good luck!!

[Amaya's Nana]

Originally Posted by elisa

The type of Magnesium and brand you take can definitely influence in how you feel. It's trial and error. Sounds familiar huh? Glycinate is a good choice. Perhaps you could order the one you want online or call in to have it delivered? Good luck!!

Thanks Elisa..........looks like I'll be taking a little drive tomorrow. Maybe I oughta get TWO bottles of it so when the second one gets low, I can get two more and not run out again. I'll also ask them if they'll ship it to me if I give them credit card information on file and that way I don't have to drive. And you're right, trial and error is exactly how we muddle our way through this.

[elisa]

Originally Posted by Amaya's Nana

Thanks Elisa..........looks like I'll be taking a little drive tomorrow. Maybe I oughta get TWO bottles of it so when the second one gets low, I can get two more and not run out again. I'll also ask them if they'll ship it to me if I give them credit card information on file and that way I don't have to drive. And you're right, trial and error is exactly how we muddle our way through this.

Getting 2 bottles sounds excellent! Hope that the switch back to the previous magnesium will work.

[summer bee]

i'm familiar with the "adrenaline dump" feeling, although it's been awhile. when my anxiety/panic was at its worst, back in 2003-2004, i remember riding in the back of a car with a few friends. i think we were coming back from the mall. then, without ANY warning, for TEN MINUTES STRAIGHT, a huge controlled-release adrenaline rush flooded my bloodstream. it didn't cause panic, but i couldn't do a damn thing to stop it. it's one of the main reasons why i immediately "bought" the idea of a chemical imbalance; i figured nothing NORMAL could possibly cause such a thing. of course, now i know that's not the case. if, even unconsciously, there was something about that backseat situation that felt like a threat, then the adrenaline rush would be explained. it WAS dark out, and i've never liked being in a car at night. AND i was in the middle back seat between two people. so, that was sort of claustrophobic. even though those things didn't affect me consciously, that scenario could have triggered the feeling of "threat", & thus, adrenaline...without me being able to pinpoint a reason why.

but seriously, it lasted ten minutes. all the way home. it was very scary.

[altostrata]

Adrenaline dumps is as good a description as any.

This is something many of us are experiencing in discontinuation syndrome.

After doing tons of reading, I now believe this is caused by a noradrenaline (or cortisol) rebound that unbalances our hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous systems (dysautonomia).

Amaya's, my guess it that the noradrenaline surge precedes your missed heartbeat.

Getting scared when this happens only makes it worse because it makes more anxiety hormones. Take deep, slow, deliberate breaths to calm your system down. Study and practice anti-stress strategies. Learn to recognize the warning signs when one of these attacks is coming on and take a little magnesium to calm the heart down. A baby aspirin can help, too, but don't get in the habit of taking them all the time.

It is neurologists who treat dysautonomia.

[elisa]

Originally Posted by altostrata

It is neurologists who treat dysautonomia.

Personally, I don't believe in the "chemical imbalance" theory to begin with and yes I do believe that our hormonal system has been unbalanced by these AD's. If there ever was one to begin with, it should be be treated by a neurologist or endocrinologist and NOT by a FP or Pdoc.

[altostrata]

Absolutely, elisa.

I now believe, after 2 years of this stuff, that if a person suffers severe discontinuation syndrome that person's doctor should take action to stabilize the autonomic nervous system or HPA axis, not bombard the nerves with antidepressants, which only cause further destabilization (dysautonomia).

Neurologists or endocrinologists are the ones to talk to, although I haven't yet found an endocrinologist who can see beyond diabetes or thyroid disease, although they do get the cortisol connection.

Dysautonomia is commonly suffered by people withdrawing from hard drugs or alcoholism. An addiction medicine doctor may have some insight into discontinuation syndrome.

[elisa]

Absolutely Alto. IMO, these AD's may artificially light a fire behind their users to continue leading their lives (while their adrenal system gets depleted during the process) while most probably the opposite would be needed.

Additionally, it may be that I didn't explain myself clearly enough in the previous post. Psychiatrists and FP's should not be prescribing drugs for a theoretical "chemical imbalance" when patients come to see them for mental distress. They should be referred to a neurologist or endocrinologist. They should be the ones who should prescribe these drugs only as a last resort and after a thorough examination/tests only to see whether their patients DO have a chemical imbalance. The name Psychiatry is derived from the word "psyche" (soul), so IMO they have no business in prescribing these meds for a presumed "physical" condition. I'd like to see if the "chemical imbalance" theory would hold up in that case. Oh well.... keeping on dreaming...

[Amaya's Nana]

Originally Posted by altostrata

Adrenaline dumps is as good a description as any.

This is something many of us are experiencing in discontinuation syndrome.

After doing tons of reading, I now believe this is caused by a noradrenaline (or cortisol) rebound that unbalances our hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous systems (dysautonomia).

Amaya's, my guess it that the noradrenaline surge precedes your missed heartbeat.

Getting scared when this happens only makes it worse because it makes more anxiety hormones. Take deep, slow, deliberate breaths to calm your system down. Study and practice anti-stress strategies. Learn to recognize the warning signs when one of these attacks is coming on and take a little magnesium to calm the heart down. A baby aspirin can help, too, but don't get in the habit of taking them all the time.

It is neurologists who treat dysautonomia.

Alto -- thank you so much for your insight. My instinct told me the "dump" happens first, then the crazy heart beat, albeit it feels like its just about simultaneous. The mag glycinate really did help so I've gone to get some today of the brand I've been using since C/T last October. I feel for those who are too sensitive to mag to take it because it truly is a miracle.

Thanks again for your answer. I KNEW you would know what I was talking about.

Lisa

[texgirl]

Lisa, will you PM me with the brand of magnesium you mentioned and where you bought it? Thanks.

[akaenew]

Originally Posted by Amaya's Nana

The mag glycinate really did help so I've gone to get some today of the brand I've been using since C/T last October.

Yes, please would you post the brand and where you bought the mag glycinate?? Thank-you, akaenew

[scotty]

You can get magnesium glycinate from the Vitamin Shoppe.

[altostrata]

Originally Posted by elisa

...Psychiatrists and FP's should not be prescribing drugs for a theoretical "chemical imbalance" when patients come to see them for mental distress. They should be referred to a neurologist or endocrinologist. They should be the ones who should prescribe these drugs only as a last resort and after a thorough examination/tests only to see whether their patients DO have a chemical imbalance....

I absolutely agree. Psychiatry is following a red herring, bludgeoning the brain into submission and harming patients in the process.

I believe we will see this era of psychiatry to be discredited for its inaccuracy and insensitivity.

[elisa]

Originally Posted by altostrata

I absolutely agree. Psychiatry is following a red herring, bludgeoning the brain into submission and harming patients in the process.

I believe we will see this era of psychiatry to be discredited for its inaccuracy and insensitivity.

And psychiatry to believe that "adrenaline dumps" (due to AD withdrawal) is due to a return of the 'original' symptoms is absolutely hogwash.