Since my attacks have flared up again, I have been waking up from a sound sleep in the morning having them. I have no idea why, as I dont remember having this in my previous bout with panic disorder.
This morning is especially horrible. I woke up at 6:30-didn't go to bed til after 3am, and its now 8am, and I dont see any relief in sight. I've been trying to breathe deep and all, but its not working....
Sweetie hang in there. It WILL pass, it always does. I also wake up with panic attacks pretty often. They're usually the most frightening because in addition to panicking, I'm also disoriented from sleep.
You could be experiencing a hypoglycemia panic attack.
If you have not consumed enough of the right kind of protein or have eaten sweets before going off to sleep your sugar could be dropping and affecting your adrenalin.
If you are under a lot of stress and anxiety it can have a very detrimental affect on your blood sugar level. Stress will send mine plumeting quicker then anything. Then straight into a full blown panic attack..
Just had complete bloodwork done in ER on Monday. Glucose level was at 96, supposed to be between 70-110, so it's well within its proper range. I dont know if it would drop that much to affect me like that over 3 days. I guess it could. I'll try an eat something sugary before I go to bed tonight and see what happens in the A.M.
Have you ever had this happen to you??? I originally thought I may be diabetic and went to GP 2 weeks ago b/c I was suffering from numbness/tingling in fingers/toes, vertigo etc. But, like I said, have had bloodwork done 2x and it comes back fine both times. The last time I had panic attacks, I completely cut all sugar out of my diet, b/c it would get me hyper, and never had this problem that I can recall. But, I've also dropped 14lbs the past 2 weeks...
I have had abrupt attacks out of dead sleep for 10 years. 3 sleep studies revealed no apnea, but stopping and starting quickly all nite especially going into stages 3 or 4. There are stage disorders, that I think I have. I keep Ginger Ale and a relaxation tape next to my bed, as well as a bag to blow into.
Now that I've started Lexapro, I have to endure really bad tremors and attacks all day, but I'm told in a few weeks it will pass. Just came back from the grocery store had an attack in there, and felt like my eyes were going to explode, couldn't talk, and my ears were full. By the time I got home, the pulse was down but the Lexapro tremors continue. Grrr.
Were you taking anything when you were having the attacks out of your sleep, or is this the first time you're trying something to subdue them?
I tried drinking some juice before I went to bed last night to up my blood sugar, but didn't work either. Still was anxious and nausious all night and this A.M. Finally feel asleep at like 9am, and woke up all morning/afternoon. Can't wait for this to kick in, so I can sleep normally again...I like sleep and now dread doing it everynight
It happens whether I take anything or not. I started Lexapro a week ago--took it at bedtime the first day, had panic and palpitations all nite. So I waited a day then took it first thing in the AM--had dizziness, dissociation and dilated pupils all day (I usually have pinpoint pupils most of the time prior to this).
Last nite I jolted awake 5 times--completely out of control of myself for a few minutes. When I finally woke the last time, 7:30AM, I was so groggy I didn't know what was up--so fatigued from days of insomnia. I have been taking Provigil for daytime narcolepsy for several years, and my doc says there may be an interaction there.
But I can hardly drive if I don't take it. Yesterday I was at the store and the panic was so bad I couldn't talk to anyone. The only book that helps me with this is Dr. Claire Weekes' Hope and Help for Your Nerves--an OLD book but is very commonsense and reassuring.
Keep me posted, and I sure could use some suggestions myself, T
Last night, I took day 5 of lex,a dn day 2 at 10mg. Finally went to bed around 6:15a.m., work up at 7:15 with a horrible attack. These morning attacks are lasting well into the afternoon and I just want to scream. The ironic thing is once I get past this daytime attack, I am normally fine the rest of the day. I may get anxious at points, but I am not having uncontrollable attacks after like 2:30pm.
I have xanax, but have held off on using it, because I have never taken the Lex and it together, and am scared of how I am going to feel. I already feel like garbage, and dont want to feel even worse. When I do get to sleep, I generally sleep in 15min-1 hour segments before I wake up flipping out. I think I may try it tonight though, cuz I really just want a good night's sleep. I can't even imagine how it must suck for you trucky. I've only been dealing with this type of an attack for like 2 weeks and I am at my wit's end!!!
That's horrible--I feel for you! I used to have it like that with Prozac--~2 hrs sleep a nite for 8 mos. Then when I took Xanax and I twitched all nite. I found a website that talks about jolting awake nightly in stages 3 and 4--called smothering reflex, but it's not apnea. It's a sensitized nervous system that when you sleep normally you have more CO2 in your system but the brain doesn't accept it and jolts you awake.
Last nite I woke 4 times--twice I was so out of it I couldn't say words--but I tried breathing so quietly I couldn't hear it, and it was ok--that tells me it's probably my brain, plus the fact that a lot of docs ask if you have this during the day--and if not they think it's the startle reflex that you can control during the day but not while sleeping. But I think SSRIs REALLY sharpen that reflex--just my opinion. I live alone, which makes it scarier.
The last time I woke, around 6:30 AM, my heart was VERY loud and SLOW, then sped up to 120 beats and very soft, then settled down to around 70.
That's the part that scares me, but a year ago I had a holter monitor on for 24-hours, because Zoloft at the time was causing tachycardia--but there was no problem, so I guess the docs aren't worried. Never saw a cardiologist, though. Keep me posted on how the day went, T
Well, slept from 5:15 to 6:15ish and then 8ish to a little before 10. This is driving me nuts. I am so tired-cant even keep my eyes open, and the anxiety is ridiculous today. I'm sure the fact that I gaven't slept in like a week is adding to it too and making things worse. I am just at a loss here. Called the neurologist yesterday, but didn't get a call back yet. Can't work or function like this.
Here's an idea--My doc Rxed Sinequan for sleep, and it has no respiratory depressant effects, but I've been too tired to go to the store with the RX!
I do believe, for myself--that SSRIs can fry the nerves, as they are vasoconstrictors, so If I'm going to stay on the Lexapro, I have to find ways to offset that.
When I was on Elavil, a tricyclic, I slept very well, but was sleepy the next day. Some people take Elavil every other day, around suppertime, so they can get up without being drowsy, in time to go to work. It might take some time on the earlier schedule, but it works for some people.
Just talked to the neurologist. he said instead of taking with dinner, I should try and take earlier in the day. Don't know what that's supposed to achieve since I am not going to bed until like 6am anyways. But, we'll try it.
waking up with panic attacks 
