Hey, everybody…I experienced my first panic attack 2 days ago, where I got my heart rate up to 160 and thought I was dying. I called 911 and got an ambulance ride to the hospital and they basically told me my heart and labs were all normal. I was so scared.
I didn’t think that having schizoaffective disorder or borderline personality disorder meant that I could have a panic attack!
I’m sorry for all the times I thought people who had a panic attack just couldn’t handle a little anxiety…I was wrong.
My doctor said I could reduce my clozapine by 100 mg for 2 weeks to see if that helps my tachycardia and to increase the Vraylar to 6 mg…he also gave me Haldol to take as needed. The cause of my panic attack was using a pulse oximeter and seeing it spike, then freaking out and seeing it spike more…it was a feedback loop that I got caught up in. I’ve thrown that thing in the closet and disabled my smart watch pulse app.
Does anybody have experience with panic attacks and how to deal with them? My doc also gave me a special mask to use that sort of works like a paper bag when I start to get lightheaded. My doc was awesome when I saw him yesterday and burst into tears in front of first his nurse and then him…very respectful and empathetic. This was my physical doc, not my pdoc.
Panic attacks aren’t a simple thing. They’re a very vivid alarming experience. I agree you don’t really “get it” until you have some experience with having one, kind of like a migraine except people drink so they know what a hangover is like.
I haven’t had a panic attack since I started BuSpar. I used to get them all the time. Xanax or other benzos are good if you feel one starting but only if you take it when needed. I take a lot of meds so it’s hard to tell what helps what. I also take Cogentin, Hydroxyzine, Luvox, and Geodon. If that fails I take a Seroquel and it knocks me out. Some APs like Latuda, Abilify, and Haldol give me panic attacks after taking them. If I don’t take my meds I feel on edge all the time, so anything sedative helps. Cutting back on caffeine also helps.
Yes, I’ve given up the Diet Mountain Dews and even the cigarettes (but I still vape)…the psych clinic here won’t give out benzos but hopefully the Haldol will help knock me out if I need it. I’ve also been drinking water like crazy cuz they said I may have been dehydrated which contributed to the tachycardia.
That’s good you have Haldol to help you. Sleep is the best cure, sometimes your brain just needs to reboot. 
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.