I was recently dx'd BP and am in the learning process. I have been having really bad anxiety and panic attacks almost daily for about the past month or so. They are really debilitating. I have gone to the ER once and yesterday called 911. I just wanted the guy to stay on the phone with me until I was sure I would be okay. When my heart quit racing I told him I was okay and not to send anybody. He said he had to, that he had no choice at that point. It was really embarrassing and when the ambulance got here I had to sign some papers refusing treatment. A big ordeal.

My p-doc rx's valium for me which seems to help. I keep thinking that I will manage and don't get them refilled. Then I don't manage. . How do anxiety and panic fit into the BP realm? I can go for long periods of time not having to use the valium and then long periods of time were I am a mess w/o them.

Can anybody relate and what do you do to keep them at bay? It's a horrible feeling.

Dear Hamster,
I am sorry that you had to go thru whole er/911 challenge.
So glad that you recovered and did not have to go the hospital again.
IMO, I wonder if you are experiencing mixed state of mania and if this is what your reoccuring anxiety is...I know that i have at times experienced extreme anxiousness when I have been hypomanic.
It is not fun. I get panicy on the roads and feel that I am going to get in a car accident.
I don't know...they say that we experience things differently and maybe your mood swings are just going to be with coming and going of these panic attacks.
I am so glad that you have vallium to help with this.
Don't be afraid to take them when you are experiencing these panics...that is what you have them for in emergencies.
What does your pdoc or therapist say?
((((HUGS)))
bizi

I can relate. My p-doc has me on Klonapin for that 3x a day and at night, she also upped my Lamictal to 250 which is supposed to help with the anxiety.

The Klonapin has helped, since my dosage of Lamictal was just upped the other day, we will see if it helps.

My body seems to fight meds, when I am really anxious, I can say I don't have full blown panic attacks anymore. Just tears.

Hugs, Nikko

Good Luck. Take Deep breath's and soothing music, warm bath's........think of a place that is beautiful and you are there, like a tropical warm beach with pretty palm tree's and all. Or whatever your choice is.

Oh yeah. I get panic attacks.

Anxiety I can deal with. Panic attacks are another monster.

Keep a valium in one of those teeny pretty little pill boxes in your pocket or purse at all times. I break them into little 4ths and that way I can just take a little and see if it helps. Usually, if I can head it off just as it starts, it just stays at anxiety level and I don't have to run around high as a kite. (I hate that.)

And just keep the rx filled. Even if you have a good month. Just put them in the cabinet so they are there for the next time.

Lots of people have panic and anxiety with or without bipolar. But having bipolar and panic are not even close to fun and you need more support from your pdoc. Like bizi said.

There are other benxo's if you don't like the valium.

And now that I have the B12 in my body again, I haven't had a single panic attack and I had been having them all day, every day for almost a month now. We all have different reasons why our bodies flip out on us, but mine seems to be vitamin related.

I am sorry. I know how it feels and I wish I could hold your hand and talk you through them. It's a scary feeling.

I'm taking Klonopin 3 times a day too. I've been getting a lot of panic attacks lately, especially after being diagnosed. It seems to happen the most when I'm around people or in my car. When it happens I try to just take deep breaths. I know easier said that done.

I'm glad the Valium is helping. Just try to take extra care of yourself and keep those Valium close by.

Hi,
Here is a description on mixed moods that might help you.
Mari

http://www.bipolar.ucsd.edu/general_information.htm

Dear Hamster,
I am sorry that you are having these panic attacks...that must just be awful.
I wonder what meds your pdoc put you on....
private message me if you don't feel comfortable posting that here.
Are you taking any mood stabilizers or other meds for your bipolar treatment? some folks take seroquel for obcessing or racing thoughts...
I only take geodon when I feel my "motor" is going too fast.
Lamictal is my mood stabilizer and I take a sleeping pill....cause I can't sleep otherwise.
Valiium has the longest half life of the benzos family so it stays in your system a long time. you can also take smaller doses to see what dose works best for you.
Having a therapist who is willing to work with you and a pdoc who listens is really important. I hope you feel good about the people on "your team".
Hang in there...I am sure you are overwhelmed and let us know how we can help you...we will try.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

I haven't checked in for a while. I want to thank all of you for your caring and helpful comments.

I have a good pdoc and therapist that I trust and are working with me on finding the right combinations of meds. I am taking lamictal and seroquel was recently added. It seems like when the dose went up to 300 mg was when the panic set in. I did call my pdoc who was out on an emergency. His receptionist called me and told me that he would get in touch with me and to call 911 again if I had more problems. The medic did an ECG which showed that I had low ST pressure. I have mitral valve prolapse, so maybe the larger dose of seroquel caused it to act up. I didn't talk to my pdoc but don't answer "private" calls, so he probably did call.

With very little sleep for 3 days I decided to take 1/2 of a seroquel which really did the trick and no reaction. I was so happy!

I also take valium, high blood pressure meds, kadian & hydrocodone (pain),
nausea meds and plaquenil (lupus). I think maybe the BP diagnosis hasn't helped w/anxiety since it seemed to come out of nowhere for me. I did know that I was dealing w/a horrible depression and have been in therapy for over a year.

Thank you for listening and for including me in the group!

Hamster