Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 15

Shown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

heart palpitations

Posted by Patricia on June 14, 1998, at 19:20:03

I tried lots of antidepressants over the years. Long story
short, the side F/X far outweight what I found to be only
negligible benefits of the drugs. Worse than that, the
withdrawal from these drugs was to me a protracted agony
of WORSE depression, horrible shocky feelings, a continued
death of my gonads and insomnia which all lasted about a
month. Obviously, most of the drugs I tried were the "wonder"
SSRIs. (never again!)

Now I take (not on doctor's advice) St. John's Wort 600 to
900 mg), Kava Kava (450mg), Valerian (1060mg), Melatonin
(6mg), DHEA (25mg) and a "super B complex". I've only taken
this stuff for two weeks, and am starting to notice frequent
heart palpitations. They are worrisome.

Is it any one of these "herbs" or a combo of them that could
be causing heart palpitations? Anyone have any similar
experience? Are heart palpitations dangerous?

The "herbs" are helping a great deal with the depression
(better than the pharmaceuticals) and also helping with
regulating my sleep, so I'd hate to give them up.

 

Re: heart palpitations

Posted by Dr. Bob on June 15, 1998, at 8:38:39

In reply to heart palpitations, posted by Patricia on June 14, 1998, at 19:20:03

> Now I take (not on doctor's advice) St. John's Wort 600 to
> 900 mg), Kava Kava (450mg), Valerian (1060mg), Melatonin
> (6mg), DHEA (25mg) and a "super B complex". I've only taken
> this stuff for two weeks, and am starting to notice frequent
> heart palpitations. They are worrisome.

> Is it any one of these "herbs" or a combo of them that could
> be causing heart palpitations? Anyone have any similar
> experience? Are heart palpitations dangerous?

> The "herbs" are helping a great deal with the depression
> (better than the pharmaceuticals) and also helping with
> regulating my sleep, so I'd hate to give them up.

Palpitations are sometimes serious, sometimes not.
What about asking your primary care physician to
check them out?

I'm not very familiar myself with the "alternative"
treatments, sorry. It's great that you're feeling
better, though!

Bob

 

Re: heart palpitations

Posted by Stephanie on June 18, 1998, at 11:02:21

In reply to Re: heart palpitations, posted by Dr. Bob on June 15, 1998, at 8:38:39

I have read quite a bit about the substances you
mentioned, and my guess would be that the palpitations
are due to the DHEA. My advice would be to take a
much lower dose of DHEA (5-10 mg.) and see if you
feel a difference. DHEA can be pretty stimulating
so you should try to take the lowest dose possible.
Also, do you drink a lot of caffeine? That can add
to the DHEA effects.
From what I've read about the herbs, 900 mg/day of
St. John's Wort is a good target dose. The Kava Kava
seems pretty safe, as does the valerian. Have you
tried Gingko Biloba or Gotu Kola?
Check out Dr. Andrew Weil's regimen on his web site
(www.drweil.com) He recommends taking DL-phenylalanine
with B-vitamins and C. I have tried this with pretty
good results.
I've also had good results with DMAE, a form of B-
vitamin.
Please post and tell me how you're doing.
-Stephanie

> > Now I take (not on doctor's advice) St. John's Wort 600 to
> > 900 mg), Kava Kava (450mg), Valerian (1060mg), Melatonin
> > (6mg), DHEA (25mg) and a "super B complex". I've only taken
> > this stuff for two weeks, and am starting to notice frequent
> > heart palpitations. They are worrisome.

> > Is it any one of these "herbs" or a combo of them that could
> > be causing heart palpitations? Anyone have any similar
> > experience? Are heart palpitations dangerous?

> > The "herbs" are helping a great deal with the depression
> > (better than the pharmaceuticals) and also helping with
> > regulating my sleep, so I'd hate to give them up.

> Palpitations are sometimes serious, sometimes not.
> What about asking your primary care physician to
> check them out?

> I'm not very familiar myself with the "alternative"
> treatments, sorry. It's great that you're feeling
> better, though!

> Bob

 

Re: heart palpitations

Posted by ptsd on July 5, 1998, at 18:43:05

In reply to Re: heart palpitations, posted by Stephanie on June 18, 1998, at 11:02:21

> I have read quite a bit about the substances you
> mentioned, and my guess would be that the palpitations
> are due to the DHEA. My advice would be to take a
> much lower dose of DHEA (5-10 mg.) and see if you
> feel a difference. DHEA can be pretty stimulating
> so you should try to take the lowest dose possible.
> Also, do you drink a lot of caffeine? That can add
> to the DHEA effects.
> From what I've read about the herbs, 900 mg/day of
> St. John's Wort is a good target dose. The Kava Kava
> seems pretty safe, as does the valerian. Have you
> tried Gingko Biloba or Gotu Kola?
> Check out Dr. Andrew Weil's regimen on his web site
> (www.drweil.com) He recommends taking DL-phenylalanine
> with B-vitamins and C. I have tried this with pretty
> good results.
> I've also had good results with DMAE, a form of B-
> vitamin.
> Please post and tell me how you're doing.
> -Stephanie
>

> > > Now I take (not on doctor's advice) St. John's Wort 600 to
> > > 900 mg), Kava Kava (450mg), Valerian (1060mg), Melatonin
> > > (6mg), DHEA (25mg) and a "super B complex". I've only taken
> > > this stuff for two weeks, and am starting to notice frequent
> > > heart palpitations. They are worrisome.

> > > Is it any one of these "herbs" or a combo of them that could
> > > be causing heart palpitations? Anyone have any similar
> > > experience? Are heart palpitations dangerous?

> > > The "herbs" are helping a great deal with the depression
> > > (better than the pharmaceuticals) and also helping with
> > > regulating my sleep, so I'd hate to give them up.

> > Palpitations are sometimes serious, sometimes not.
> > What about asking your primary care physician to
> > check them out?

> > I'm not very familiar myself with the "alternative"
> > treatments, sorry. It's great that you're feeling
> > better, though!

> > Bob

why not contact your primary care doctor and schedule relaxation treatment of breathing ??
I am not sure if American doctor's can provide the service and bill the HMO ?

 

Re: heart palpitations

Posted by sandy on August 31, 1998, at 13:34:07

In reply to heart palpitations, posted by Patricia on June 14, 1998, at 19:20:03

I was also on SSRI (luvox) for 4 1/2 months and felt great. After about a month of being off the medication I started waking up in the middle of the night with heart palpitation and rapid heart beat. I am continually having palpitatoins throughout the day. Maybe it is the medication withdrawal itself. I am scheduled to see a cardiologist this week. My primary care thinks I need to continue the medication thinking it might be due to stress.

 

Re: heart palpitations

Posted by Jeff on September 1, 1998, at 20:26:25

In reply to Re: heart palpitations, posted by sandy on August 31, 1998, at 13:34:07

The same thing happened to me when I stopped taking Luvox. Shortly thereafter, I started taking Luvox again and have not had it happen since. What other side effects and withdrawl effects did you experience from the Luvox??


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