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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by stewie on January 22, 2012, at 13:59:50
Hi,
I'm a treatment-resistant person, like so many here. I have either MDD or Bipolar II, depending on the doctor. No matter what, I have severe anxiety and I fee so depressed a lot of the time that I can't imagine how I ever did not feel this way.
This past year things got bad and I decided to try something that has worked and then stopped working over a ten year period - lamictal and celexa. My heart started racing within 3 days. My doc and I messed around...was it the lamictal? No. surely no. So we tried other SSRIs and even at the lowest doses, I had racing and pounding heart -- yet my blod pressure is pretty normal and an EKG was normal.
Anyone "been there"?
S
Posted by SLS on January 22, 2012, at 17:52:10
In reply to New SE from all SSRIs -- pounding heart, posted by stewie on January 22, 2012, at 13:59:50
> Anyone "been there"?
Depressive illness can itself cause palpitations. I have had some drugs make this worse before making it better.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2012, at 21:09:54
In reply to Re: New SE from all SSRIs -- pounding heart » stewie, posted by SLS on January 22, 2012, at 17:52:10
I didn't know this thanks Scott. Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 23, 2012, at 1:36:08
In reply to New SE from all SSRIs -- pounding heart, posted by stewie on January 22, 2012, at 13:59:50
I don't know what to tell you. When I combined AD+adderall, I got more cardiovascular sides than I got from just the (relatively high dose) adderall. Kinda scary. But I've never had it on just an AD that I recall, even at max doses. Now, SNRIs...different story.
Maybe you should try something else? Especially since you're treatment-resistant?
Posted by stewie on January 23, 2012, at 7:31:28
In reply to Re: New SE from all SSRIs -- pounding heart, posted by Christ_empowered on January 23, 2012, at 1:36:08
Thank you Christ Empowered,
I am dabbling again in Abilify, hoping that I can get a response from a low dose, without the unbearable/untreatable side-effects from even a moderate dose.SNRIs would have been great -- in theory, but have not been so far in practice.
That is very scary and wild -- what you mentioned about Adderall and AD!
Well, these boards should be jumping soon -- with all of the talk of depression on NPR which makes what so many of us already know from experience somehow "legitimate"
Thank you both for you input and time. It is very much appreciated.
Posted by papillon2 on January 25, 2012, at 8:09:23
In reply to New SE from all SSRIs -- pounding heart, posted by stewie on January 22, 2012, at 13:59:50
Hey Stewie,
I haven't experienced that with SSRIs but I get heart palpitations, tachycardia and chest pain with nortriptyline (TCAs are notorious for this).
I have noticed that:
- My heart gradually adapts to each increasing dose over time. I will still experience heart disturbances occasionally but the intensity and frequency is greatly diminished.
- Delaying medication by a few hours increases the likelihood of experiencing disturbances the following day(s), I guess because there's an overlap where I have more of the drug in my system than usual.
- Mini aspirin (100mg) and high-potency fish oil (3g) help reduce the intensity and frequency of disturbances. This was confirmed by forgetting to take one or both of them for a few days.Since you're treatment resistant, it might be worthwhile sticking with it to see if the heart problems become more bearable over time, provided you don't have some sort of heart abnormality which would make this tactic dangerous. This can be determined by a cardiologist through an echo, 24hr halter monitor and stress test.
Hope this helps.
Posted by stewie on January 25, 2012, at 9:17:13
In reply to Re: New SE from all SSRIs -- pounding heart, posted by papillon2 on January 25, 2012, at 8:09:23
Papillon, I really thank you for your input. They sound like good ideas.
Best to you,
S
This is the end of the thread.
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