Effexor 150mg and Heart Palpitations?

[xMama2Fourx]

Hi there.

I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder 4 weeks ago today. What started it all was when I Had what the doctors are calling a "panic attack" in early September-my body had numbing sensations from head to toe, although I wasn't paralyzed. I really did think I was going to die right then...but when it passed, I was so relieved. When I began to speak about it to my husband, it came on, AGAIN. And this happened ALL day for the rest of the day. This lead us to believe that it wasn't a serious medical condition such as a stroke but a bonafide nervous breakdown, panic attack.

The Dr. prescribed Paxil because that's what worked when I had postpartum depression the last two pregnancies, and by my own admonition I had had a really rotten year this year between 3 family deaths and some more internal stuff that really knocked the wind out of me. So I go on Paxil 50 mg for 2 weeks, and I'm still in a state of constant panic, fear, crying, etc. They switch me over to Effexor 75 mg for a month. This is when I went to a psychiatrist and asked her what's going on, and what we can do to fix this. She recommended upping the dose to 150 mg and using the XR. I'm also on Ambien for sleep, and xanax when needed-but the last time I took that was 4 weeks ago.

So I noticed RIGHT AWAY when I upped my dose of the Effexor, I began to have heart palpitations. From everything I know, I am a healthy 29 year old non smoker non drinking no illegal drug taking mom. This has never happened before now and now This happens several times a day, and freaks me out. I've never had an irregular heart before-so I'm certain it was the medication increase. I told my new GP doctor about this, and he says it's "stress induced". I doubt it. Then I told my psychiatrist today, but played it down because it really seems to be getting better the last couple of days. So she didn't think it was a big deal....

However, I'm getting them frequently tonight. I'm trying not to panic, but what if I have a heart attack tonight? Might that happen because I'm doing nothing about it? I assume this will go away if I get off the Effexor but I've only been on it for 2 months, and only one of those months found it to be effective. I'm scared that she might want to switch me and that not going over well for me.

Has anyone had experience with this? What ended up happening?

I know alot of the anxiety I have experienced this year was due to some SERIOUS heartache, and me turning from the Lord. But I am asking, seeking, and knocking. And no response yet. I just want to be delivered from this debilitating affliction that's literally flipped my everyday life as a wife and mother upside down. Pray too, Please. THanks!

 

[RuthD]

I have experienced that. I think the best place to go right now would be the Emergency room for tests. That is what I did and got immedieate seriously taken attention. Best of luck to you with this. I am praying for you.

 

[BakoGuy]

Sorry to hear about the tough times you're having, I've been there and it's tough.

When my Doctor raised my dose of SSRI medication, I too had heart palpitations. I had them for about three weeks, and they tapered off and I no longer have them.

I'm not a Doctor or a medication expert, but I do know for a fact that SSRI's can cause heart palpitations for some people, or when you raise on dose. The first month on this medication is the toughest, and you may feel all sorts of side effects. You may want to give it a month or two before you change or think about changing meds. Your body might need some time to get used to it, and these palpitations may just go away or become less frequent. But make sure to go with whatever your Doctor says.

If you're concerned about it, talk to your Doctor it see what they say. If you feel it's life or death thing, go to the E.R. But my guess is that it's the medication and it's nothing you should worry about. You can always go in to see your regular Doctor and they can hook you up to a EKG machine. E.R. will cost you a lot of money!

Also, are you seeing a therapist at all? Might be a real good thing for you to see one every week or two. Get a chance to express what's been going on with you.

Anyways, I hope you can get through this as fast as possible.....Gob Bless!

 

[edwardfsmith]

I had the same experience where the side effects went away in about a month.
There is no doubt that effexor has side effects.

Usually you only up the does slowly.
Like half a pill more for a week
Then a whole pill more.

I could never tell if it was helping much.
Sometimes I felt a little better.
But that might just have been a natural emotional cycle.??

 

[xMama2Fourx]

Just an update from my pdoc:

She thinks we should take it back down to 75 mg to see how that goes, and if the palpitations go away. She said that it acts as an SSRI in under 150mg, and 150mg and up is when it is considered an SNRI. That surprised me. I responded well to it at 150mg, other than the heart palpitations.

She also wanted to reassure me that it's not doing damage to my heart, and that she wouldn't give me something that would damage my heart.

So I'm going to go back to 75 mg, and see if I have a problem. If it does become troublesome, I'll just switch to something else, maybe back to an SSRI.

I've had palpitations today, but i'm sure it's going to take longer than a day to go away...

Thanks for the input!

 

[edwardfsmith]

I am not sure what size the pills are?
so maybe what i am saying is not possible.
but it does seem like if you are switching from 150 to 75 or from 75 to 150 over night that is a big change.
If it is possible i would go in smaller steps.
especially if you are sensitive to it, which you seem to be.
sometimes the time of day you take the pills makes a differnece too?
it is never simple
good luck with going back down to 75!
Ipray that you feel better

 

[janny108]

what SSRI's are you referring to?