Posted by Babysnakes on May 17, 2003, at 13:39:42
In reply to Re: Mitral Valve Prolapse and ADs, posted by mattdds on May 17, 2003, at 11:46:44
> Hello,
>
> I have mitral valve prolapse, and also happen to have panic disorder. I can't say that I'm a fellow "sufferer" because I don't really suffer from it. I was diagnosed when I was 17 and have no symptoms related to it, as far as I know.
>
> In my second year of dental school, we had a cardiologist from Columbia University medical school give a lecture on valvular diseases in my pathology class. His opinion (and I believe that the majority of cardiologists) was that MVP is benign and unrelated to psychiatric problems.
>
> There was some equivocal research showing a possible correlation between MVP and panic disorder, but I think later follow up studies did not show much correlation.
>
> Either way, I am guessing your symptoms are something like panic disorder? Or what are your symptoms? Do you have a psych diagnosis? If you have panic disorder or generalized anxiety (I think you called it dysautonomia - referring to symptoms of autonomic arousal?), the treatment is the same whether you have MVP or not.
>
> I wouldn't worry about MVP at all. In the vast majority of the cases, no treatment is needed for it.
>
> It sounds like your problem is anxiety! So I would find out about getting a psychiatric diagnosis.
>
> As far as SSRI's, they were terrible for me, but are helpful for some. I tried all of them, except Luvox. They significantly worsened my symptoms.
>
> Benzodiazepines are my treatment of choice, namely Klonopin. I used to be sensitive to caffeine and stimulants, and they made me feel light-headed and dizzy. Now I can down 2 double espressos back to back, with no problem. This is nice because I enjoy coffee and it helps me study.
>
> So don't sweat the MVP, there is usually no treatment needed, it really is just a benign condition in general. See if the Prozac helps, and if it does, great! If that doesn't help, I would go directly after some Klonopin or similar medication from the benzodiazepine family.I've known I've had MVP since my early twenties. I'm not terribly concerned about it since my case is fairly mild. My only significant sympton however is the periodic anxiety attacks. I mostly have these under control with regular exercise and avoidance of stimulants. I also occasionally resort to a benzo (xanax) but usually only to stop a downward spiral into full blown panic. Not for general anxiety.
I'm taking prozac for unrelated depression (I assume it's unrelated), not to treat the anxiety attacks which like i said, I have pretty well under control. My problem is finding an AD that works without aggravating my apparently over sensitive nervous system. Right now, I'm having to take Xanax nightly because of the prozac and I guess I'm wondering will i adjust to the prozac or is this just never going to work with my dysautonomia.
poster:Babysnakes
thread:227225
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030514/msgs/227258.html