[hopefaith]

I have been off of Cymbalta since the end of June 2010. However, by the beginning of November 2010, I had to start taking low dose Klonopin and 10 mg Celexa. My depression and anxiety just wouldn't go away. And, the anxiety, especially, has been particularly difficult.

I am currently taking 10 mg of Celexa (and a low dose of Klonopin as needed). However, I am still feeling some heart palpitations/adrenaline/anxiety. It is not pleasant.

Has anyone else experienced heart palpitations/adrenaline rushes (and/or pain in your heart)?? It seemes like it won't go away. The Celexa has helped somewhat, but I still experience pain in my heart/anxiety.

I don't want to keep increasing my med dosage (or see a cardiovascular doc). I have been on most meds. I don't think just increasing meds/switching meds is the answer. I have been on various/most meds for 11 years and I am sick of it. I would like to have a child med-free. But, even if I don't have a child, I would like to be med-free, regardless.

Do any of you have experience with any of these alternative treatments??? If so, please let me know. Thanks a lot - Hopefaith

http://www.nami.org/..._%28rTMS%29.htm Transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS, TMS)

http://www.eeginfo.com/ Neurofeedback

http://fisherwallace.com/ Fisher Wallace Cranial Stimulator

http://www.mayoclini...therapy/MY00129 ECT Electroconvulsive Therapy

[ScottC]

Well, you are not alone. I am wearing a heart monitor at the moment (very fun). I have had 3 angiograms in the last 4 years, a stent (that really was more put in place to ensure that a future blockage would not occur), more heart medications than I care to mention, it has financially (and otherwise) bankrupted me and with my second Cardiologist who I still cannot seem to discover the reason for; chronic angina, heart palpitations, heaviness, heart attack symptoms, blood pressure problems, etc. What I am saying is that this seems to fit nicely, time line wise that is, with when I began my time on Cymbalta. My Doctors (I use the plural because there are so many I have seen in 4 years) cannot seem to figure out what is causing these symptoms. Despite my protesting that it is my belief this drug has probably a lot to do with it I also cannot get anyone to try and make a connection. This is just one of many reasons I decided to get off this horrific drug. I think it is still way too early to tell but I am seeing a slight decrease in my cardiac symptoms and it is only confirming what I think is going on. It seems to me that all SSRI's having similar chemical compounds (such as dopamine) that could, in my (once again - uneducated) opinion, effect some of us with cardiac symptoms. Your story only serves to confirm my suspicion and I am also seeing others. The sad reality about my situation is that it seems every possible side effect of any drug becomes my reality (I must say, I get a kick out of the disclaimers on about every drug commercial because I know if I took whatever it was there I would be).

I am not sure if I am helping you at all here but perhaps sharing with you what I am going through may confirm something you may already be thinking. Or in the least, let you know, that you are not alone. I am not sure what I am going to do after the dust settles on my withdraws after quitting cold turkey 3 weeks ago but for me, that old nemesis, depression, seems like he is back knocking at my door. Perhaps not as much as before. But after all of this experience with the several pills I have tried, I am certainly gun shy about trying anything else that may come along.

Hang in there. Hopefully my rant will help.

[hopefaith]

Oh, Scott, I am so sorry. Thank you for your response. We are not alone, but I am sorry that you are also going through the heart issues.

I am with you about the SSRIs. The thing is that I have been on/tried most of the ADs. However, I was on Wellbutrin and Cymbalta the longest. I was on Wellbutrin for about 3 years and then was on Wellbutrin + Cymbalta for about 6 years. I think that I might've gotten too much norepinephrine (since they both contain norepinephrine). I started having severe anxiety/palpitations last year and wanted to stop both drugs. It was easy to stop the Wellbutrin, but not the Cymbalta (of course). I really think that any of these drugs have the capability of causing anything. Unfortunately, I have not been able to be without them for about 10 years (either they made me worse and I still need them or I got worse on my own?) But, your suspicion about the heart issues is most likely true.

However, my p-doc said that my anxiety increased. And, that my depression and anxiety feed off of each other (so my depression increased too). I asked him if ADs (any of them) could change your brain (in a bad way) and increase your anxiety/issues. I never felt such anxiety/palpitations. He said that would be "bizarre" if ADs changed your brain. He also thought that I could wean off of Cymbalta in a matter of a couple weeks by taking some Prozac --- HA!!! My anxiety went through the roof!!! Very scary. He's supposed to be the expert. Well, the thing is that they don't really know how any of these drugs work exactly -- which really scares me. I am so sick of all these drugs and their side effects --- and a medical community who don't really seem to know what they are doing. Also, I know what you mean about the side effects, I get most of them myself.

The $$$$$ is in the drugs, doctor visits, etc. It's not in finding a real cure for these issues. I realize that the brain is complex/complicated, but it is 2010 --- you mean to tell me you couldn't have made bigger strides by now?? The brain is only the most important organ we have (they are all important, but you know what I am getting at). Sorry, I am on a rant.

This is why I am researching alternative methods/procedures -- like in my post above. It scares the hell out of me to think of using anything to "shock" my brain (whether it is invasive or not, mild or not, but especially if it is invasive/strong). But, I am starting to get to the point that I want and need to know more about these other options. None of these ADs have helped me fully. And, they all have side effects that don't agree with me. 10 mg Celexa seems to have calmed my heart down, but not completely, and I don't want to just keep increasing. I also feel kind of "out of it" and "flat" on it, kind of like a zombie. Low-dose Klonopin seems to help my heart, but I don't want to keep taking/increasing that either. I am starting to feel willing to take the risk of one of these procedures, especially the rTMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation). However, my p-doc said that procedure hasn't been around long enough/they don't know enough about it. I am trying to find people who have had this done (or any of the procedures, really). Please let me know if you hear/know anything about these.

I wish you health and happiness - Hopefaith

[Pattie]

Hopefaith,

One of your comments really hit home with me. This is exactly how I've been feeling. How can the medical profession push these drugs on us but 'they don't really know how they work.' Let's mix up a bunch of chemicals, put it in pill form, and voila, maybe it will make someone feel better (but, duh, I don't know why)!

[hopefaith]

Pattie, on 29 December 2010 - 01:35 PM, said:

Hopefaith,

One of your comments really hit home with me. This is exactly how I've been feeling. How can the medical profession push these drugs on us but 'they don't really know how they work.' Let's mix up a bunch of chemicals, put it in pill form, and voila, maybe it will make someone feel better (but, duh, I don't know why)!

Pattie - I know!! My p-doc said as much to me -- that they don't know how these drugs work exactly. Who knows if they actually can change your brain (in a bad way)?? I mean really, I hope that they can't/don't, but who knows?? I've been on these drugs for years!! And, I guess, of course, they can't permanently change our brains in a *good* way!!

I think that whatever they did to my brain caused me to have more anxiety and then that caused me to have heart palpitations/adrenaline surges/pains. My cortisol just shoots up. Is this because the drugs made me more anxious?? Or because my anxiety was increasing on its own anyway?? My p-doc says it's me/my anxiety, but who knows?? I hate being a human guinea pig. I want them to help/fix my brain issues in the least harmful way possible!! I want to be myself again. I haven't been myself for the last 11 or so years!!

I wish you health and happiness - Hopefaith