Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Has anyone had a panic attack so bad that they went to the ER?

I suffer from anxiety lately and I'm familiar with panic attacks, but I never experienced something so frightening. I've been put on Effexor and I believe that this has made it much worse (going off it now in the next week or two by tapering).

I was on my way to work yesterday on the subway. I was feeling shaky when I got on public transport, but that's been happening since the medicine started. I get on the subway, sit down, and start feeling my heart race. At this point I put on some music to calm down. Then I start sweating a lot (it wasn't too hot). Then I passed out into some guy's crotch. It was horribly embarrassing.

Called my boss and she took me to the hospital. I really thought it was a heart attack. After 7 hours it was determined I was fine and it was just a panic attack.

It was the scariest thing I've been through. Has anyone done the same thing?

On a side note, thank god for socialized medicine

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

I actually had something similar to me happen on the LIRR when I was in college. It was the morning - I started to get heart palpitations then everything went fuzzy - I started pouring sweat even thou the AC was on full force. I was standing at the time and I had to actually squat down on the floor to not pass out. As an aside - not one person asked if I was okay! I have never had a panic attack and I don't think that this was a panic attack either but something that was caused from maybe low blood sugar. I also get heart palpitations regularly so I don't get anxiety related to them thinking it's a heart attack or it will never go away. I did not go to the ER and I felt better once I had some OJ. Are you sure it wasn't low blood sugar?

On another note my mom has gone to the ER about 500 times for panic attacks that she was convinced was something else. I think it's probably very common so if it was a panic attack that landed you in the ER I wouldn't worry about it. I think that they see it all the time.

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Once, a few years ago.

I was walking to work and started to get very sweaty and had a pain in my neck and shortness of breath. My boss took one look at me and had one of my coworkers drive me to the ER.

They gave me a nebulizer and ran tests and there was nothing wrong. They said anxiety/panic attack.

Scary shit!

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Yep just this past May. Felt like my throat was closing and very shaky. I too suffer from severe anxiety. Its fuc@ing awful and know how horrible it is. Im sorry your going thru this. Im on zoloft, ativan when needed, and see a therapist. Youll be okay

Hospital Panic Attack Visit

I have panic attacks just like you described, but I have never gone to the hospital for one. I have also been having them since I was 8 years old, so I am aware of what it is and what is happening to me. They are so scary. People have no idea unless they experience one for themselves. You really think you are going to die. I'm sorry you are going through this. You can manage with medication and therapy. It does suck though.

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

I'm pretty sure it wasn't low blood sugar. I've had that and it didn't feel like that. I think they tested for that as well.

I've lost a ton of weight on this medicine and i can't wait to get off it to gain some weight back. The medicine actually makes the panic worse.

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Hospital Panic Attack Visit

I am so happy to hear it wasn't more serious. In the meantime, explore some other options in addition to the medication. I had a family member hospitalized twice for these types of panic attacks. Meditation seems to help him a lot. So do cigarettes

Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Yes. I went for one years ago. It ended up being a combo of panic attack and potassium low enough to cause palpitations. They admitted me and ran a million cardiac tests. It was stress and the low potassium was from not eating due to stress. It was horrible and I was positive I was going to die.

I went a long time without them but they've been creeping up on me again lately. The only thing that ever helped me was xanax. I tried lexapro and Paxil and the lexapro made me violently ill and the Paxil did nothing.

I would try another drug for sure. Sorry you had to deal with that, it's so scary!

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Sent FM

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

My MIL went to the ER once for a panic attack. her lips and arm were going numb.

My DH was on Effexor for a few months and he had awful side effects. its a very hard medicine to get on and off of.

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Yes and it's frightening. I'm so sorry you had to experience that.

It took me a while, but I eventually found meds that worked (this was years and years ago) Paxil. Everything else made the panic attacks so much worse. But Paxil helped tremendously. I also started it and took Ativan 4x a day until my body adjusted to it. So that definitely took the edge off.

I hope you find something that helps you soon.

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Thank you everyone for your responses.

Effexor is an awful drug. It should be taken off the market, I think. The thing is I took it 15 years ago and it worked fine for me. My therapist explained that my body processed it differently and took up too much of an adrenaline substance. This is why I felt like I had drunk 20 cups of coffee. I had been taking Xanax sometimes to counter the effects, but I stopped two weeks ago because that's addictive.

I'm now being weaned off Effexor. I wasn't on it that long, so the doctor thinks it won't be so bad.

On a side note I lost 25 lbs in 3 1/2 months. However, my appetite came back fully a few days ago, thank God. Even had some ice cream for breakfast.

I'm feeling like myself again, despite what else is going on in my life.

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

I started suffering from anxiety about 9 years ago but I wasn't diagnosed until 3 years ago. I never had to go to the ER but it was scary not knowing why I'd start shaking, chills, vomiting...

My doctor put me on Lexapro daily and Xanax for attacks. The Lexapro took a LONG time to work, months actually and it got worse before it got better.

That being said, I now only get attacks once every 5-6 months. I have good days and bad days depending on what is going on in my life but many more good days than bad.

I hope you find a solution.

Message edited 7/15/2017 11:49:51 AM.

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Yes. I used to suffer from horrible anxiety a few years ago and one night I was sitting on my couch and my entire body went numb and my heart started to race. I really thought I was dying. I have an intense fear of ERs but it was so bad that I called DH and we went to the ER. After a few hours I felt better and they told me it was an anxiety attack and sent me home. After that horrible attack I learned the signs and although I had them after I was able to control them enough that they no longer warranted a visit to the ER. I was prescribed some anti anxiety fast acting meds which helped too. I don't remember the name off hand though.

It's really scary and unless you have had one no one really understands how they feel. You legit feel like you're dying. I hope you feel better.

Re: Hospital Panic Attack Visit

It happened to DH once. We were at the movies and all of a sudden he started profusely sweating and he had chest pain. We went to the ER and they did a bunch of tests and everything was fine. They said it was a panic attack. It has not happened since, though.

Hospital Panic Attack Visit

Yes. At least twice. I had a panic attack that was so bad once, that my xanax wasnt even helping. I thought I was having a heart attack or stroke. I made my husband (then boyfriend) take me to the hospital. Of course 25 minutes into being there I felt totally fine. They offered to hook me up to an IV for hydration, but I decided to go home.
Another time, my heart was racing, I had a pain in my head (which was just a headache)...and as anyone with anxiety does, I convinced myself something was severely wrong. I made my mom take me to the hospital because again, I thought I was having a stroke or I had a brain tumor. My poor mom stayed at the hospital with me until my husband got home from work. It was determined to be anxiety.

Both of these times I was off of my SSRI which probably explains the severity of the attacks. Anxiety/panic is awful. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. It's even worse when people in your life don't "get" it and tell you you're fine.