Techniques To Slow Down Heart Rate - Panic Disorders Message Board

11-02-2003, 12:59 PM

Geez, I mean just about every drug out there or anything increases heart rate.... grrrrrrrrr.. I've had a few anxiety attacks in the past, I've also had to quit smoking weed because I had a panic attack so bad that I thought I was seriously going to die any second, I swear my heart rate must have been 220 BPM or higher. I can't relax anymore, I can feel my heart rate pounding just sitting down, the only thing that helps a bit is If I go for a run like 2k, or 3km run, then after my heart rate is usually a lot lower. I used to be a really good runner, and run lots.. long distance and sprints.. Its harder now, because my resting heart rate is higher than it was years ago. I am 17 years old and I have been to a Cardiologist about a year and a half ago, he said everything was normal, and it is either anxiety, sensitive to caffeine or stress, but caffeine never bothered me before.

I have a question, does anyone know if Alcohol slows heart rate, or speeds it up? If I drink or something, it feels as though it speeds it up sometimes, but other times it feels as if it slows it down.. so i don't know. I know that marijuana increases heart of up to 55% with some people.

I don't know, ever since I went into Grade 10, I've found Canada REALLY depressing to live in. Its so bloody cold here in the Winter, its not even funny... I don't know what kind of idiot rates Canada a " High Standard Of Living " thats bullsh*t in my opinion. I love Sun, and I find the Sun as a seratonin supplement and a relaxant. 10 months of winter here, and 2 months of Summer... grrr

anyway, that's my rant..

any suggestions?

DawnMarie1978 · 11-03-2003, 08:50 AM

You are sooo funny, I like you.

Same story hear I tried evrything, Zoloft, Paxil, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Trazodone etc.

I am tolerating prozac 20 mg with klonopin .5 in the morning .5 in the evening.

Same thing average heart rate WAS 98 bpm and that was not in panic. How are you doing otherwise.?

DawnMarie1978 · 11-03-2003, 01:28 PM

Alcohol in short acts kind of like a benzo, in that it at first relaxes you...

But then you pay for it, it releases non adrenalines and cortisol into your system which speeds up your heart rate.

So an occasional drink is ok, but DEFINETELY not the answer for stress, its kind of like a quick fix, and then you pay three fold afterwards.

And yes pot can speed up most peoples heart rate dramatically.

My first panic attack in ER I hit 220 for quite a while, but it was also a bad medicine clash.

Don't worry things will get better.

Did anyone bother telling you that initially on almost all antis that your heart rate increases for one to three weeks AND then lowers?

Some people endure a heart rate of 120 in the beginning but then their heart rate normalizes and goes lower as the meds kick in. Thats why its so common for doctors to prescribe benzos or something to calm you down in the beginning of treatment. So you will chill about the beginning symptoms that will go away.

And thats all it really takes anyways one or two tries and your heart rate goes up, and then its naturally going to go up when you try one anyways because your body is on alert because you are scared of heart rate.

If you want to talk about heart rate tell me and I will send you lots of info to comfort you. Really you will be ok

slyJohn · 11-03-2003, 09:16 PM

I am 20 years old. I used to be a runner and an athlete too till one day i somehow drained myself in the weight room and my resting pulse became too high and scary for me to even consider doing anything stenuous again. Are you skinny or have you changed your eating habits before this happened? When my anxiety first began I started losing my appetite and I believe this caused my heart palpitations and heart rate to increase. My heart rate started to climb to about 100bpm resting during the day and this lasted several months. Now I have it back down to 60bpm from eating better. I wore a holter monitor a while ago, and my heart rate is 48bpm when sleeping... guess I still have some of that endurance left in me from my former activities.