Anxiety and Stress Forum - Panick Attack?: fast heart beat, breathing rate, and jitters

Mental Health > Anxiety and Stress Forum > Panick Attack?: fast heart beat, breathing rate, and jitters

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Q: Panick Attack?: fast heart beat, breathing rate, and jitters

asked by: DoctorQuestion on September 8th, 2006

I don't know if it is panic attacks or what!! I can lie down in bed and sometimes it feels like my heart thinks I have run a race and I am all jittery inside. It just feels like I am shaking inside all over, but esp. in my stomach. It seems to beat real fast and my breathing is fast. Also, at times when I just walk up or down a flight of stairs I get all out of breath and again feel jittery and scared. At other times I can do exactly the same thing and it doesn't bother me. Lately at night I have been waking up in the middle of the night shaking and breathing fast. I have been under a great deal of stress due to some medical problems of a family member, but I have had these things happen to me for years. At least I know it's not going to kill me immediately or I would already be dead. When it first started happening I had a stress test and wore the 24 hr. monitor. But, now it seems like it has come back fast & furious. I take Klonopin for panic attacks and have been on them for 13 years. Think it may be time for a change? I took Paxil for about a year and felt good but I do not like to take any medicine. In fact I don't take anything, even OTC, except the Klonopin. Please help.

Replies(1)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on September 19th, 2006

Anxiety & Stress Answer A1495

According to the symptoms you report (feeling a fast heart beat or fast breathing, “shaking inside”…) you are probably experiencing panic attacks. A panic attack is a neurotic disorder with an etiology that can be difficult to explain. But before establishing the diagnosis of " panic disorder", several organic diseases with the same symptoms have to be excluded: cardio-vascular disorders (angina pectoris, arrhythmias…), disorders of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), hypoglycemic conditions, etc. Routine examinations from your general practitioner can rule out all those conditions. Panic disorders can be treated with a combination of both medicines and psychotherapy. Medical therapy includes anxiolitics and antidepressants. Klonopin (clonazepam) is both anxiolitics and antiepileptic drug that is used for treating panic disorders. Paxil (paroxetine) is a new generation antidepressant (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) that is also used for treating panic disorders. Psychotherapy includes cognitive-behavioral therapy. You can consult a psychiatrist for expert opinion and treatment.

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