Racing heart, high blood pressure, desperate for answers

[UnashamedAndAshamed]

Hi guys! I've had this problem for weeks now and was wondering if anyone else has.

I've had depression and anxiety for years now. The doctors have me on a cocktail of Lamictal, Wellbutrin, and Latuda (a new one) for depression, and for anxiety and insomnia, I've been on Xanax, Ambien, and Trazodone. Up until about a month ago, the latter 3 have been pretty good about keeping many of the bad symptoms away. However, lately, my heart has been racing, which feels like a panic attack, and my blood pressure has apparently been high. The anti-anxiety meds don't work, and neither do the sleep aids. My doctor prescribed a low dosage of beta-blockers, which at higher doses have a bad impact on depression, but she felt this was okay. I'm to follow up with a sleep specialist, but that appointment isn't until next week.

Now it's nearly impossible to go to sleep. I find myself drifting off and then snap right back into awake-itude. When I tried increasing the dosage of sleep aids, my brain just rebelled worse: a couple weeks ago, I heard my alarm buzzing and sprang up to turn it off; only, it wasn't buzzing at all. It was my dream. Last night, after I got info that increasing the beta blocker wouldn't kill me, I increased that, drifted off, then dreamed I'd fallen and snapped my neck. There was no more drifting off.

Tonight I've got the same symptoms and have increased the beta blocker even further, and it's not even making a dent.

My only source of anxiety is the worry that I won't get any sleep. Otherwise I have no thoughts leading to a panic attack.

I'm really desperate here. Has anyone had a similar problem?

[Jitters]

I had a less severe problem than this. I found myself with anxiety, palpitations, and dizziness. My doctor did 12 lead and 24hr halter monitor. I was prescribed beta blockers as well. My doctor felt it was triggered by allergies and inner ear congestion. It resolved itself and I had normal blood pressure.

If you've only seen a general practitioner you might want to see a cardiologist. Your high blood pressure might be a symptom of your anxiety but physical causes should be checked out first. Age, family history, weight, and diet may put you at risk for high blood pressure.

Good luck to you. I know how frustrating it is dealing with healthcare when you're sick.

[Jitters]

Also talk to your doctor before increasing a beta blocker. You can take too much.

[UnashamedAndAshamed]

Thank you for the advice. I actually do have an allergy problem as well. I should let my doctor know.

Just saw the doctor today. She'd taken blood tests when this first came up and found elevated thyroid levels. She increased my beta blockers to 40mg a night, allowing 50mg if it's really bad. I'm to get a thyroid ultrasound and an echocardiogram as well. Heart doesn't seem to have any issues, but it can't hurt to have that done.

Thanks again for the response!

[Claddagh]

I'm curious to know if you have found any answers. I didn't sleep for 2 years before I finally gave up and started taking Ambien. I have major issues with anxiety and every time I would start to fall asleep I would get that feeling like I was falling and I would be jolted awake. I've discussed it with my doctor but we got nowhere. When this all started about 5 years ago, I also started getting severe tension headaches and migraines. I had my first panic attack and have had several since. I have tried every herb and several different anti-anxiety meds, beta blockers, meditation, etc. Nothing but Ambien works and sometimes that isn't enough. I'm tired of being on a cocktail of meds to feel "normal".

I have also had panic attacks just because I couldn't fall asleep. My heart starts racing, my mind goes 1,000 miles an hour, and I can't breathe. Xanax helps, but again, I'm so freaking tired of all the meds. Anyways, sorry for hijacking your post, I'm just desperate for answers too. I hope you are feeling better. Thanks for reading.

[yes74]

I have this same problem.I'm also on ambien and have had sleep problems my whole life. I'm sure it's tied to my anxiety.
Sometimes meditating helps sometimes nothing does and I just have to deal with it. hopefully things are better.

[Brooke]

I'm not a doctor, so I don't want to comment on the medication side, but I know that there are limitations to medications. With anxiety, the source comes from within...unless you have underlining medical conditions... I can't help but to feel like your heart is crying out for help that medications can't cover. I don't believe medications cure you, I think they are there to help you cope and deal with what is causing your depression and anxiety... I want to be gentle since I don't know you... You've mentioned that your source of anxiety is worrying about not getting any sleep. I feel as though that is the surface worry, and that there are deep reasons why you have depression and anxiety in the first place. I'm not judging you, I've had to peel the onion layers one by one myself. It's good that you are getting medical help, but in conjunction, I think it's important to deal with what's going on inside... I just don't want you to keep piling on more and more medications down the road if you don't have to... When we are not taking care of ourselves emotionally, our bodies act up to get our attention. I have sleep disorder along with depression and anxiety myself. And when I can't fall asleep naturally, I know it's because something is bothering me and is stressing me out. Even though I thought meditation was useless for many years, it really does help. I just put on relaxing music and lie down and try to focus my attention inward. Just observing why I can't sleep helps. And forgive myself for anything I'm feeling. We really do possess the power to heal ourselves. I get so much clarity just by knowing what is bothering me and telling myself I can take my time in dealing with them. I feel like your body is hurting because of your mental state that you are in. We all have negative thoughts that hurt ourselves. It's hard to be nice and gentle with ourselves. But trust me, when we are there for ourselves, our bodies relax. If you don't have any cardiac issues and this is coming from your mental state, I highly recommend looking inwards for answers. I'm sorry you are in such a state and I wish you the best.