Does Cartia XT(Cardizem CD) Cause Anxiety??? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

WannaBeDrugFree · 03-04-2008, 07:19 PM

I have been having a huge amount of anxiety in my life since my Dad passed in Sept. last year...the story is long and there is a lot that has happened to me since...and I have had my Cartia XT updosed 2 times since Oct. last year, as my BP was surging with the stress I have been under.

I am now on 300 mgs. and I feel awful on it. I am having panic everyday since about a week of being on it. I also got a panic attack the first night at 240, but then I was okay on it...and now I am thinking I may have gotten worse on the 300 mgs??? Has anyone experienced panic attacks and buzzing/vibrating in their chest when taking Cartia XT(Cardizem CD)??? What about higher dizziness that makes your eyes feel heavy and about to cross when the bp rises??? I also have some mild swelling in my foot arches...esp my right side. A little in my hands, too...but I already had that when I was on the 180 mgs.

Could it be the higher dose or just the state of mind I have been in lately??? Is 300 mgs considered a high dose??? When my anxiety is up...so is my bp...even at this higher dose. When my body calms down...my bp is pretty good...esp when lying down.

Can anyone please help??? I am not sure what to do.

Lisa

flowergirl2day · 03-05-2008, 08:26 AM

Hi Lisa,

Quote:

I have had my Cartia XT updosed 2 times since Oct. last year, as my BP was surging with the stress I have been under

This might not have been the best way to go. While Cartia will indirectly relax your blood vessels through its action, it will not do much for your anxiety, which, I think, is the real problem.
Higher doses of this drug result in more severe side effects and add to your anxiety and depression. All of the symptoms you described correspond to the known side effects of calcium channel blockers. The side effects of CCBs are dose-dependent. They get worse with higher doses.
I have been taking my CCB at maximum recommended dose for over a year. I wanted to discontinue it mostly because of its side effects on a couple of occassions but was unable to do so. I find it impossible to manage on even a reduced dose. So watch for that.
The swelling is one of its known and expected side effects and it can get much worse than you experienced. The higher the dose, the more severe the side effects and the worse they will get.

Instead of increasing your dose of the CCB, your doctor should have added another a low dose of another antihypertensive drug, a diuretic. Together they would have worked well in keeping your blood pressure right on target and the side effects would have been minimal.

You should ask your doctor to a/ reduce your dose of the CCB and b/add a low dose of another antihypertensive. See what he thinks about that. I wonder why he hasn't done that to date. Are there any compelling indications for a high dose of the CCB?l

You have to do something about your anxiety and panic attacks. I would greatly recommend getting off this drug if you have a reason to suspect it contributes to your anxiety and affects your moods. (Depression, confusion etc. are possible side effects of this drug)

Good luck!
flowergirl

WannaBeDrugFree · 03-05-2008, 08:51 AM

I was jerked awake in my sleep several times last night and couldn't sleep very long at a time. This has happened a few times since updosing to 300 mgs. 12 days ago. My heart was pounding and I felt a lot of anxiety in my chest and couldn't comfortably rest. My Bp at the worst of it was 143 over 84 while lying down with a pulse of 89. It gradually went down from there, but I was still too filled with anxiety to rest. I am seeing the Dr. for a 1pm appt. today...I am so afraid of what to do here. I am afraid these pills are killing me. Can I ever get off them safely???

Don't the symptoms usually get a little better with time??? I have been on the higher dose 12 days now.

flowergirl2day · 03-05-2008, 09:03 AM

Hi again,

I have problems with heart rhythm and other irregularities I didn't have prior to the CCB. This drug can really affect your heart rate and rhythm. However, the irregularities get worse without the CCB.
You should mention your concerns to the doctor. There are other drugs for you to try. Ask about an ACE inhibitor and a diuretic. You should not have to be on a drug that's not right for you. Good luck. Please let us know what happens.

FG

WannaBeDrugFree · 03-05-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowergirl2day

Hi again,

I have problems with heart rhythm and other irregularities I didn't have prior to the CCB. This drug can really affect your heart rate and rhythm. However, the irregularities get worse without the CCB.
You should mention your concerns to the doctor. There are other drugs for you to try. Ask about an ACE inhibitor and a diuretic. You should not have to be on a drug that's not right for you. Good luck. Please let us know what happens.

FG

Are the irregularities permanent??? I am afraid to switch for fear I will have a stroke or heart attack. How do they switch you over without risking that??? If I get off the CCB's will I have more heart problems??? Is that what happened to you when you tried to get off??? You are unable to get off them now??? I have been on them for almost 5 years...was able to drop from my initial dose of 180 to 120 for a month or so till I gained back more weight again. Then I had to go back up. It wasn't until 10/07 that I was updosed to 240 and then updosed again 12 days ago.

Also, were the heart rhythms, etc. your only bad side effects??? I wish I knew how much of this anxiety is life from losing my Dad and all the stressors with that or the higher dose.

I need to know I can be off these somehow...that I can be drug-free one day. I am sick of being sick, you know??? My Mom was able to get off her beta-blocker when she dropped weight and I hope to do that, too.