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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jessers11581 on March 13, 2005, at 11:39:12
Lately, I've noticed that my resting heart rate is especially high (upwards of 90 beats per minute). It's odd to me because I'm in good shape and am not overweight. Along with this pulse increase, I've noticed the development of a ravenous appetite (often leading to binges), a lack of energy, the lack of will to do anything productive, trouble sleeping, and basically just a feeling of being completely out of control and disconnected from reality. I talk about all of this further in an above post labeled "Celexa". Is serotonin connected to heart rate, metabolism, etc.? Also, I still can't understand why this is happening to me when it totally seems that I am on a high enough dose of my medication to counteract it. 20 mgs. of Celexa used to make me feel great, and now 40 isn't enough? Is there some other outside factor that could be causing my serotonin levels to decrease? What on earth is going on here! I had a nervous breakdown last night and told my boyfriend that I'd been thinking a lot about suicide lately (which is true), and it turned into a terribly emotional, dramatic, and upsetting evening. I know that I have to do something--the question is, what? Do I need to increase the meds? Do I need to switch drugs? Do I need to change my diet? Aaaaggghhhh! It's like, I KNOW things have to change, but I have absolutely NO initiative to change them. It's like I just want to...stop. To give up. This really scares me. I almost feel like there is something non-psychological wrong with me, like candidiasis or cancer. What is causing this to happen? Why can't I get a grip?!
Posted by bart on March 13, 2005, at 12:04:51
In reply to heart rate, apathy, suicide, etc., posted by jessers11581 on March 13, 2005, at 11:39:12
how long have you been on the celexa? the reason I ask is that from my personal experience, I had to same pattern over time and I personally believe that I like many other people became sensitized to medication so over time, every time the initial 20mg. dose would wear off, I developed very subtle acute withdrawal symptoms even within 24 hours. So I then thought I needed to up the dose. That worked for a few months but then I started having the same problem. I find that good exercise works the best for me when trying to deal with side effects. Maybe a switch of med might be a good idea.
No matter what the media and pharm company say, most meds are not 100% fail safe and/or effective as if they were trying to market freakin' cooking oil or something like that.
Posted by xjs7 on March 13, 2005, at 13:27:17
In reply to heart rate, apathy, suicide, etc., posted by jessers11581 on March 13, 2005, at 11:39:12
First of all I do not think you have cancer. I think there may well be a physical cause of your symptoms. What came to my mind when I read your post was hyperthyroidism.
-Tachycardia
-Increased appetite
-Weakness/fatigue
-Insomnia
-AnxietyAre all symptoms of hyperthyroidism. See your GP soon, and have this investigated. Are you hot a lot? Have you lost any weight?
XJS7
Posted by jessers11581 on March 13, 2005, at 14:08:40
In reply to Re: heart rate, apathy, suicide, etc., posted by xjs7 on March 13, 2005, at 13:27:17
Actually, I'm constantly freezing. I CANNOT seem to get warm (granted, I DO live in a very cold area). I have not lost any weight, but I don't seem to be gaining too much either (maybe a pound or two since the binging started). My thyroid was checked last year and the results came back normal. Should I get checked again? I've toyed with the possibility of candidasis (because of the sugar cravings, indigestion, fatigue, etc.). I just don't know. I wish it would just stop! Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try to look into it. :)
> First of all I do not think you have cancer. I think there may well be a physical cause of your symptoms. What came to my mind when I read your post was hyperthyroidism.
>
> -Tachycardia
> -Increased appetite
> -Weakness/fatigue
> -Insomnia
> -Anxiety
>
> Are all symptoms of hyperthyroidism. See your GP soon, and have this investigated. Are you hot a lot? Have you lost any weight?
>
> XJS7
Posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2005, at 17:47:32
In reply to Re: heart rate, apathy, suicide, etc., posted by jessers11581 on March 13, 2005, at 14:08:40
I'd have my thyroid checked again. It also could be anxiety. Do you take anything specifically for that? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Bill LL on March 14, 2005, at 9:59:21
In reply to heart rate, apathy, suicide, etc., posted by jessers11581 on March 13, 2005, at 11:39:12
All of your symptoms are very typical of depression. I'm not sure about the cause of your tachycardia, but it might be because of anxiety.
Right now, I think that you need to immediately increase the Celexa to 60 mg. That is not a high dose. I was on 60 mg Celexa for a long time and my doc said that he would eventually increase it to 80 mg if needed.
If and when the 60 mg becomes less effective, you might want to switch to Cymbalta, or stay with Celexa and add a stimulant such as Ritalin.
I think that you need something that affects norepinephrine as well as serotonin. Both of the above strategies would accomplish that.
> Lately, I've noticed that my resting heart rate is especially high (upwards of 90 beats per minute). It's odd to me because I'm in good shape and am not overweight. Along with this pulse increase, I've noticed the development of a ravenous appetite (often leading to binges), a lack of energy, the lack of will to do anything productive, trouble sleeping, and basically just a feeling of being completely out of control and disconnected from reality. I talk about all of this further in an above post labeled "Celexa". Is serotonin connected to heart rate, metabolism, etc.? Also, I still can't understand why this is happening to me when it totally seems that I am on a high enough dose of my medication to counteract it. 20 mgs. of Celexa used to make me feel great, and now 40 isn't enough? Is there some other outside factor that could be causing my serotonin levels to decrease? What on earth is going on here! I had a nervous breakdown last night and told my boyfriend that I'd been thinking a lot about suicide lately (which is true), and it turned into a terribly emotional, dramatic, and upsetting evening. I know that I have to do something--the question is, what? Do I need to increase the meds? Do I need to switch drugs? Do I need to change my diet? Aaaaggghhhh! It's like, I KNOW things have to change, but I have absolutely NO initiative to change them. It's like I just want to...stop. To give up. This really scares me. I almost feel like there is something non-psychological wrong with me, like candidiasis or cancer. What is causing this to happen? Why can't I get a grip?!
Posted by stargazer on March 15, 2005, at 0:30:09
In reply to Re: heart rate, apathy, suicide, etc., posted by Bill LL on March 14, 2005, at 9:59:21
OK, a few things you need to know.
A heart rate of 90 although it may be higher than your normal resting heart rate is still within the range of normal. It is not tachycardia until it goes above 100. So rest assured you do not have tachycardia. It is probably from anxiety from your depression not responding to medication.
Some docs will put you on an benzo, like Ativan for a short time, to get you through this period until the antidepressant situation is improved.
The suicidal feelings should be brought to your doc's attention IMMEDIATELY. Have suidcidal thoughts been part of your depression before? Ever try to kill yourself? If this is new to you it could be a side effect of the AD so increasing the dose would not be a good thing to do. So DO NOT increase your dosage without speaking to your doc.
I was on either Zoloft or Effexor and became suicidal on the med. I was not suicidal before statring the med. My doc said to increase the dosage and I refused because I knew it was causing the suicial thoughts. Luckily I was able to make this judgement,despite my despair,since I was one step away from doing myself in.
I never related suicidal thoughts as being a side effect of antidepressants. Today it is known but still requires an astute doc to say the suicidal thoughts are a side effect not a symptom of depression.
Please use this advice in this forum for information, support, not medical advice, per se, especially if you are not as well informed as many of the people on this forum, who cound be doctors/pharmacists/PhD's.sorry to be long winded but your posting made me very concerned.
Posted by denise1904 on March 15, 2005, at 9:12:11
In reply to heart rate, apathy, suicide, etc., posted by jessers11581 on March 13, 2005, at 11:39:12
Hi,
Just wanted to say that your note struck a chord, it sounds like your going through pretty much what I'm going through right now.
40mg of Seroxat has been helping me over the last 2 years but the last few months or so I've started to feel down again, heart keeps pounding against my chest, lost appetite, apathy, lethargy, constantly feeling cold and like a previous poster (Bill I think or Bart) these are classic symptoms of depression. So it does sound like you need to either increase your meds or add something to it.
I am now thinking of having ECT in the hope that it will make the Seroxat work again like it did years ago.
All the best, keep us updated on how you're getting on.
Posted by jessers11581 on March 15, 2005, at 16:26:43
In reply to Re: heart rate, apathy, suicide, etc., posted by stargazer on March 15, 2005, at 0:30:09
I would just like to thank everyone for responding to this post. And stargazer--I think you're right about suicidal thoughts being induced by an AD. When one becomes this apathetic (in general), suicide doesn't seem to be as large of a leap anymore, you know? But I'm not going to commit suicide--I've been in this place before and I always got out of it. So I know that everything will be okay. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and am going to see if we can do some tweaking. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks again for your support!!
This is the end of the thread.
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