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How Can Health Anxiety And Panic Attacks Be Treated?
Question: Hi Doctor,
Brief on the history:
Iam suffering from health anxiety and taking medication for the same from 2009 because of constant thoughts of health issues and panic attacks.
- I used to take Venlafaxine 150mg daily till July 2012.
- On July 2012 It was changed to Escitalopram 10mg.
- Then changed to Escitalopram 10mg and Amisulpride 100mg after 3-4 months.
- On Improvement It was changes to Escitalopram 10mg and Amisulpride 50mg on 2015.
- It was then changed to Escitalopram 5mg and Amisulpride 50mg on March 2017, and finally to only Escitalopram 5mg on 8th July 2017.
Current Issue:
On 17th of July 2017, I have joined a Ayurvedic resort for a 21 day treatment to reduce my obesity . For the 21-day period Iam not allowed to get outside the premises of the hospital. The night I joined I has severe panic attacks and constant thought that Iam stuck in the premises and will not be able to get out. I also had negative thoughts after changing the environment from home to hospital. Since I has these panic attacks and lost interest in daily activities, doctor advised me Escitalopram 10mg and Clonazepam 0.5mg to clam down. After 2 days taking the tablet there is good improvement, but I feel very sleepy and dizzy all the time, which makes me more anxious thinking I will not be able to come out of this situation. Iam also very scared about the safety of these medications as to if it will have irreversible effects on the brain. Iam also sad that Iam into these situation and taking all these medications. Is this normal ? Will I be a normal person ever again?
Brief on the history:
Iam suffering from health anxiety and taking medication for the same from 2009 because of constant thoughts of health issues and panic attacks.
- I used to take Venlafaxine 150mg daily till July 2012.
- On July 2012 It was changed to Escitalopram 10mg.
- Then changed to Escitalopram 10mg and Amisulpride 100mg after 3-4 months.
- On Improvement It was changes to Escitalopram 10mg and Amisulpride 50mg on 2015.
- It was then changed to Escitalopram 5mg and Amisulpride 50mg on March 2017, and finally to only Escitalopram 5mg on 8th July 2017.
Current Issue:
On 17th of July 2017, I have joined a Ayurvedic resort for a 21 day treatment to reduce my obesity . For the 21-day period Iam not allowed to get outside the premises of the hospital. The night I joined I has severe panic attacks and constant thought that Iam stuck in the premises and will not be able to get out. I also had negative thoughts after changing the environment from home to hospital. Since I has these panic attacks and lost interest in daily activities, doctor advised me Escitalopram 10mg and Clonazepam 0.5mg to clam down. After 2 days taking the tablet there is good improvement, but I feel very sleepy and dizzy all the time, which makes me more anxious thinking I will not be able to come out of this situation. Iam also very scared about the safety of these medications as to if it will have irreversible effects on the brain. Iam also sad that Iam into these situation and taking all these medications. Is this normal ? Will I be a normal person ever again?
Brief Answer:
Yes you will be normal again.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I can understand your concern. You have anxiety and panic disorder and it is normal in anxiety disorder to develop such thoughts. So stop worrying for that. The thoughts will go with treatment. So you will be normal again. Just don't stop the medicinal treatment.
Stop thinking that you are in this situation. A lot of individuals have anxiety and this is a disorder like any other medicinal disease. So don't feel bad about yourself.
The medicines will not cause permanent effects on brain. The drugs are safe to use at therapeutic doses and don't cause permanent effects on brain. So continue to take drugs as advised and you will be a normal person again.
Thanks and Take care
Yes you will be normal again.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I can understand your concern. You have anxiety and panic disorder and it is normal in anxiety disorder to develop such thoughts. So stop worrying for that. The thoughts will go with treatment. So you will be normal again. Just don't stop the medicinal treatment.
Stop thinking that you are in this situation. A lot of individuals have anxiety and this is a disorder like any other medicinal disease. So don't feel bad about yourself.
The medicines will not cause permanent effects on brain. The drugs are safe to use at therapeutic doses and don't cause permanent effects on brain. So continue to take drugs as advised and you will be a normal person again.
Thanks and Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for that wonderful answer.
One more issue, Today morning after getting up and trying to sleep, Iam getting a feeling like my body has just been jolted or electrified when I try to sleep. This happens every time I try to sleep and it keeps me awake all the time even if Iam sleepy. When this happens, my heart beat increases and make me more stressed like a continuous cycle.
Do you think this symptoms is because I stopped Amisulpride 50mg on 8th July 2017 or changing Escitalopram 10mg to Escitalopram 5mg 4 months back ? Iam thinking since Iam taking Escitalopram 10mg and Clonazepam 0.5mg since 4 days, all the symptoms should have gone. Is this symptom normal ?
One more issue, Today morning after getting up and trying to sleep, Iam getting a feeling like my body has just been jolted or electrified when I try to sleep. This happens every time I try to sleep and it keeps me awake all the time even if Iam sleepy. When this happens, my heart beat increases and make me more stressed like a continuous cycle.
Do you think this symptoms is because I stopped Amisulpride 50mg on 8th July 2017 or changing Escitalopram 10mg to Escitalopram 5mg 4 months back ? Iam thinking since Iam taking Escitalopram 10mg and Clonazepam 0.5mg since 4 days, all the symptoms should have gone. Is this symptom normal ?
Brief Answer:
The symptoms are due to relapse of anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
The symptoms which you're having after waking up from sleep are occurring due to anxiety only. You have health anxiety and most of individuals with health anxiety have non-specific underlying anxiety too. This is causing symptoms electric like sensation, palpitations, increased stress etc. This stress in turn further increases anxiety and a vicious cycle is formed.
The symptoms are probably due to reduction of dose of Escitalopram and are relapse of anxiety. Since you've again started taking the drug in 10 mg dose wait for some more days and you will be alright again.
No need to get stressed due to these symptoms. You will be alright again in few days.
Thanks and Take care
The symptoms are due to relapse of anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
The symptoms which you're having after waking up from sleep are occurring due to anxiety only. You have health anxiety and most of individuals with health anxiety have non-specific underlying anxiety too. This is causing symptoms electric like sensation, palpitations, increased stress etc. This stress in turn further increases anxiety and a vicious cycle is formed.
The symptoms are probably due to reduction of dose of Escitalopram and are relapse of anxiety. Since you've again started taking the drug in 10 mg dose wait for some more days and you will be alright again.
No need to get stressed due to these symptoms. You will be alright again in few days.
Thanks and Take care
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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