LymeNet Flash: Anxiety Attacks Out of Control....Help!!!!

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Posted by Carols4given (Member # 6859) on :

I haven't been on in a while, not doing too good lately. I was dx'ed in late Dec. of last year with Lyme, and started on doxy 100 mg. 3 times daily. I was ok the first month, but after that I started getting anxiety attack, which I have never had before in my life!

I am on the waiting list for the LLMD suggested here on this site, there is a 6 month or more wait...I have been on it since Jan. In the meantime my doc is treating me for the lyme. He is an alternative type doc who has gone to many Lyme seminars, etc. and keeps in contact with the Lyme doc that I'm on the list for.

I had to go to prompt care last night (on my 39th wedding anniversary)my blood pressure was 201/97, I thought I wa dying or having a heart attack for sure. They did an EKG, which was good, so they gave me 4 xanex (sp?) and a script for more and told me to go to counseling for the anxiety.

I wondering...is this a herx reaction, or anxiety attacks, from the lyme attacking my nervous system like my doc told me? Any suggestions or help in this matter will be greatly appreciated...I feel really out of it and the attacks are getting more intense. Feeel like I'm ready to totally lose it!

My doc yesterday took me off the doxy for a month to give my boday a break and see how it goes, has anyone else tried to go off for a while...if so ...did it help?

Thanks in advance for the help. God Bless, Carol

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Carols4given:

I wondering...is this a herx reaction, or anxiety attacks, from the lyme attacking my nervous system like my doc told me? .......................
My doc yesterday took me off the doxy for a month to give my boday a break and see how it goes, has anyone else tried to go off for a while...if so ...did it help?

YES! this is likely a herx!
Going off meds BRIEFLY will probably help. I don't see any reason to go off for a month. Then you'd be letting the Bb get the upper hand.
Go off for a day or two and see how your anxiety is. Lyme causes anxiety...you are killing the right keets!

Hope you feel MUCH better soon!!

[I am not a dr! So do as your dr says, or call him back to ask for more info about stopping the meds.]

------------------
oops!
Lymetutu

[This message has been edited by Lymetoo (edited 06 May 2005).]

Posted by newdurham77 (Member # 7815) on :

Carols,

I had plenty of anxiety attacks that landed me in the ER. That was actually the very first symptom of lyme. What helped me was a combination of the reduction in symptoms (chest pain, numbness, etc) and antibiotics. Anxiety attacks are all but gone after three months of antibiotics.

Hang in there!

Posted by lla2 (Member # 2364) on :

if you don't mind me asking..how old are you? i thought my anxiety was lyme related, turns out it was perimenopause at 42...anxiety can be a killer in peri!! just a thought..treated differently...

Lisa

Posted by no2lyme (Member # 6978) on :

Anxiety/OCD have been a big problem for me during my 3 year treatment of Lyme and Bartonella. My lyme is mainly neuro. I really found that Xanax (low dose) three times a day has helped minimize these symptoms. Although when I herx it is much more acute. Everything that happens with lyme can cause anxiety and depression. Just try to stick with treatment so you don't get worse. A couple of days off of meds should help ease the intensity but a month could cost you a lot more months of treatment. Good luck and remember you are not alone.

Posted by Lymeblue (Member # 6897) on :

klonopin helped me with my attacks....once you feel confident regarding your lyme treatment with a good LLMD.. you will feel better

Posted by zuzuu (Member # 6826) on :

Lyme, actually while being treated with ABX, caused my anxiety attacks (which I never had before) and a real worsening of OCD (which I had had a very mild tendency to). Use all methods you can to treat the anxiety, this includes Lyme treatment, alternative therapy (acupuncture helped me tremedously but took time) as did essential oils (still use it at night), use breathing and imagery techniques because they really work (there are so many books on these techniques) and use medication but only on an as-needed basis. I have Xanax and it really helps but start with the absolutely smallest dose to see if it helps and then use it only when you really need it. It is very addicting and if you use it too often, you may have to take ever increasing amounts. Use it, but carefully. I don't know too much about Klonopin. Even when you think you'll never get over the anxiety, you need to know that you will. But you'll have to work at it and give it time.

Posted by Pocono Lyme (Member # 5939) on :

Carol,

You are definitely not alone. Anyone going through what we are all going through would experience extreme anxiety.

Did the Xanax help you? If so, take it as you need it. Xanax and Klonopin are in the same family of drugs (Benzodiazapenes). Xanax is short acting and Klonopin is long acting.

I agree with above posts regarding taking maybe two days off of meds. but don't lose valuable time with killing those buggers.
Hang in there.
You're getting your counseling here after taking a Xanax? Helps me. Outside counseling would give me an anxiety attack as there is so little knowledge/understanding of Lyme out there.

Posted by Lymester (Member # 5848) on :

You may herx after coming off the abx. I also would not discontinue use at this point, I may cut back and really conserve my energy.

The fact that the ER gave you xanax and told you to get counseling, I find insulting. Next time ask if they have a personal recommendation!

Please take it as ignorance in being able to understand your situation. I too, just recently had a very bad herx. It was horrible and I just had conserve energy, rest, and know there was a light at the end.

Feel better

Posted by Glassfish (Member # 5693) on :

Carol,

I had panic attacks sooo bad that the shakes

could get almost like convultions and I once

pretty much collapsed in a parking lot.

I guess you could say I became paralyzed and

homebound. I was dx'ed in '97 and am still

dealing with the squatters. ( heard the term

in "shrek" and decided that's what the Bb

were) Anyway, I was on xanax 'till I saw

my primary MD. She's my new hero! she put

me on Effexor XR in Dec. I'm like a new

person! It iook a while to get here, but

I'm doing so much better my husband had to

buy a 2nd car so I could start driving myself

again I still need the "X" from time to

time when things get bad, only 1/4 of a

.25 mg tab though. The best thing is, the

Effexor is non-habit forming and only has to

be taken once a day. This stuff really did

give me my life back.
Glassfish

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

Glassfish has a good point there. I had severe anxiety many years ago due to Lyme. [didn't know I had it then] I was finally put on Pamelor, a tricyclic anti-depressant.

In two days my anxiety was GONE, never to return. The problem was actually clinical depression, caused by Lyme. I wouldn't advise taking any SSRI's but now I'm on Trazodone and it works great for me.

------------------
oops!
Lymetutu

Posted by auntybiotic1499 (Member # 2998) on :

Hi,
EffexorXL is VERY habit forming and addictive, but the patients are told it is not. Just get on Google and look up Effexor withdrawal and you will read about the hundreds of patients trying to wean off of these horrible SSRI's.

I am currently going thru this ordeal with my daughter who was also put on a SSRI for anxiety and jaw clenching. It has been one of the worst experiences of our lives and I would give up every material possession I own if I could turn back time and not have had her take a SSRI, Lexapro.

My daughter was put on Lexapro, but all the SSRI's are addictive, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor. EffexorXL, Prozac. The unfortunate thing is that the patients are not told. I really wonder if the doctor's even knpw or go by only what drug representatives tell them.

Miss a day or two of your Effexor XL and you will notice an array of horrible symptoms.

Please look up Effexor withdrawal on your search engine to see what you may be in for down the road.Iam trying to warn you as I wish someone may have warned me.

Also please be careful taking any macrolide antibiotic with any SSRI because it causes serotonin syndrome due to a drug to drug reaction involving the P 450 Cytochrome system in the liver.

Don't be suprised if your prescribing physician knows nothing about the SSRI's being addictive, my daughter's didn't.

Unfortunately you have, like my daughter become another drug company victim. I am weaning my daughter off by 1MG a month a even at that small taper, there are serious side effects.

Please do not take my word, look it up on the internet, thousands of people will not make this up.

PLease, if you have lyme diesae, DO NOT USE a SSRI.
aunty

Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :

Is zanex a SSRI?

Posted by first free (Member # 7140) on :

quote:
Originally posted by HEATHERKISS:
Is zanex a SSRI?

Heatherkiss~ xanex is not a ssri. It's a benzodiazpam used for anxiety. I was one effexor (an ssri) used for depression and anxiety- before lyme disease kicked in on me. It worked well- but then after I became sick it didn't help anymore. I agree with with the person who said it is addictive. At least in the senmse the withdrawl side effects are not pleasant. ~jackie

Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :

Thank you first free,

Definately addictive. I purposely take breaks from zanex.

Heather

Posted by desiree (Member # 7226) on :

Carol,
I had anxiety attacks until I was treated for babesia WA1. I still test postive for it although that could just be my immune system acting as if it's still there by sending out antibodies. My symptoms of babs (head pressure,sweating,panic attacks,etc.) have gone away. Now I just have a bad case of lyme to deal with.

Anyway, Xanax is very addictive and the SSRI's can actually cause panic attacks. I do not believe in psyc. medicine but if you had to take something maybe Klonopin or Ativan (which is also addictive so don't go crazy with it)would be better.

A website that might be of help to you is www.drugawareness.org I strongly recommend this site to anyone taking or thinking of taking psyc. drugs.

Also, maybe babesia treatment might help. Not everyone who has it tests positive.

Desiree

Posted by burnbitter (Member # 7088) on :

quote:
Originally posted by lla2: i thought my anxiety was lyme related, turns out it was perimenopause at 42...anxiety can be a killer in peri!! just a thought..treated differently... [/B]

I'm 35 and possibly hitting perimenopause.. This period starts about 10 years before you actually hit menopause. The women in my family tend to hit menopause really early so it's about the right age for my family.
I use a little progesterone cream daily and this completely made the panic attacks stop. And the acne I suddenly had also went away. Also not drinking any caffeine seems to have helped PMS moodiness as well.
One thing it seems like lyme could be doing is causing hormonal levels to fluctuate. So I'm not sure if I'm perimenopausal or if it's caused by the lyme. I had a hysterectomy for endometriosis (one ovary left)...so I'm not sure what would be going on with the monthly cycles.

But it was certainly amazing how well a little progesterone cream helped. And also how this came on very suddenly. Whether it was lyme or perimenopause, it seemed to be caused by the low progesterone level.

hope you're feeling better

Posted by first free (Member # 7140) on :

Burnbitter~ My pms has always been out of whack. I get way too emotional and cramps that make a person double over. My friend suggested I take this vitamin called Optivite P.M.T. for premenstrual treatment. It works really well when I remember to take it. ~ jackie

quote:
Originally posted by burnbitter:
I'm 35 and possibly hitting perimenopause.. This period starts about 10 years before you actually hit menopause. The women in my family tend to hit menopause really early so it's about the right age for my family.
I use a little progesterone cream daily and this completely made the panic attacks stop. And the acne I suddenly had also went away. Also not drinking any caffeine seems to have helped PMS moodiness as well.
One thing it seems like lyme could be doing is causing hormonal levels to fluctuate. So I'm not sure if I'm perimenopausal or if it's caused by the lyme. I had a hysterectomy for endometriosis (one ovary left)...so I'm not sure what would be going on with the monthly cycles.
But it was certainly amazing how well a little progesterone cream helped. And also how this came on very suddenly. Whether it was lyme or perimenopause, it seemed to be caused by the low progesterone level.
hope you're feeling better

Posted by no2lyme (Member # 6978) on :

Glassfish - Effexor XR is a horrible drug, although at first you will feel great. But as an SSRI it is VERY VERY addictive and makes you feel horrible coming off of it. When I first presented with lyme symptoms naturally they thought I was depressed and just put me on Effexor, two years I took it, it took me a long time to get off of it (I was taking one little ball of it out of each capsule each day). Do a search on I hate Effexor and you will see what a terrible drug it is.