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Suggest Medication And Dosage For Anxiety

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Posted on Thu, 18 Dec 2014
Question: Im currently on 25mg of atenolol and this was prescribed to me to help with my anxiety. Every now and then im starting to get PVC'S (pre ventricular contractions. I've had several echocardiograms,EKG and holt monitor put on and all came back normal. The pvcs feel weird though. I just feel like a weird sensation in my throat like a quick drop. It lasts about a second thats it. Its just getting really annoying. My cardiologist says not to worry as there is nothing wrong with my heart and since i know what they feel like im always waiting for them to happen. He says my anxiety of expecting them makes it worst. I dont know what to think of them. I get them like once a day and not everyday. I am now taking 400 mg of magnesium because i read this helps. Please let me know what should i do?Should i be worried?Thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (7 days later)
Brief Answer:
Brief Answer:
Need to take effective anti anxiety drugs

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your query.
You are having PVCs [premature ventricular contractions]. So I think this must be diagnosed by a cardiologist and your EKG must be abnormal. Have you been informed by a doctor that you are having PVCs? Because all your investigations are normal, so this looks odd.

The weird sensation must be associated with other symptoms like increasing heart beat, sweating, giddiness, nausea, tremors in body, feeling of going crazy, dizziness, fainting, feeling of impending doom etc. Whether these symptoms last longer than 10 to 15 minutes?

Yeah, expectation of anxiety [panic] attacks also trigger another attack, this is classic symptom of panic disorder. If you have been suffering these disabling symptoms for more than 2 to 3 months then you must visit a psychiatrist and ask for help. If it is a full blown panic disorder then atenolol and mexazolam will not help you. You need to take SSRI antidepressant drugs which are approved for the treatment of anxiety disorders like Paxil, zoloft, lexapro, prozac etc.
These drugs will control your anxiety from neurochemical level in your brain. Atenolol and mexazolam will relieve anxiety on temporary basis only.

As such anxiety disorders are not very disabling but when they are untreated then person should worry.

Visit a psychiatrist and discuss all these issues and suggestions with him. He will guide you through proper treatment.

Meanwhile continue taking the drugs you are taking currently.

Give answers to questions asked by me in this response. I am waiting for your reply.

Hope I have answered your query.

Wish you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ravi Soni (52 minutes later)
All my EKG and heart tests arw normal. Again my cardio doctors tell me they are benign PVCS. They are being caused by my anxiety. I am now on clonazepam for the panic attacks and anxiety
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You need antidepressant for better control

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for writing again.

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine drug which controls your anxiety on temporary basis but does not resolve it completely. Your anxiety will be resolved till you continue taking clonazepam, the day you stop it your anxiety will come again with more severity.

You need to resolve it completely by taking antidepressant drugs which act on the neurotransmitters in the brain, imbalance of which is responsible for developing anxiety. I have mentioned the drugs previously. Once started, drugs will show their effects only after 15 to 20 days because it will take time to restore the imbalance of neurotransmitters in brain. You have to continue it for at least 6 to 8 months as per advice form your psychiatrist. Do not stop it suddenly and without the advice from your doctor.

In my patient at your age, I usually give paroxetine 12.5 mg SR preparation at night and gradually increase the dose. Take drugs as per prescription from your psychiatrist.

Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have any further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.

Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ravi Soni (6 hours later)
Mu doctor prescribed be aside from the clonazepam .25 mg twice daily sertraline 50mg once a day. Will i benefit from taking the sertraline
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You will be benefited by this drugs

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.

Now you are on right track. Sertraline is a good drug and it will resolve the issues. effects will start after 15 to 20 days.

Initial dosage would be 50 mg at night, after 15 days the dose can be increased to 100 mg and up to 200 mg depending upon the improvement in symptoms.

So, you will surely benefit from it. Do visit your doctor regularly.

Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.

Wish you good health.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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Answered by
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Dr. Ravi Soni

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 538 Questions

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Suggest Medication And Dosage For Anxiety

Brief Answer: Brief Answer: Need to take effective anti anxiety drugs Detailed Answer: Hi, thanks for your query. You are having PVCs [premature ventricular contractions]. So I think this must be diagnosed by a cardiologist and your EKG must be abnormal. Have you been informed by a doctor that you are having PVCs? Because all your investigations are normal, so this looks odd. The weird sensation must be associated with other symptoms like increasing heart beat, sweating, giddiness, nausea, tremors in body, feeling of going crazy, dizziness, fainting, feeling of impending doom etc. Whether these symptoms last longer than 10 to 15 minutes? Yeah, expectation of anxiety [panic] attacks also trigger another attack, this is classic symptom of panic disorder. If you have been suffering these disabling symptoms for more than 2 to 3 months then you must visit a psychiatrist and ask for help. If it is a full blown panic disorder then atenolol and mexazolam will not help you. You need to take SSRI antidepressant drugs which are approved for the treatment of anxiety disorders like Paxil, zoloft, lexapro, prozac etc. These drugs will control your anxiety from neurochemical level in your brain. Atenolol and mexazolam will relieve anxiety on temporary basis only. As such anxiety disorders are not very disabling but when they are untreated then person should worry. Visit a psychiatrist and discuss all these issues and suggestions with him. He will guide you through proper treatment. Meanwhile continue taking the drugs you are taking currently. Give answers to questions asked by me in this response. I am waiting for your reply. Hope I have answered your query. Wish you good health.