[Arduos]

I don't know if this is normal, or if anyone else has had this happen, but i'm a mess right now. All day today I feel light headed, my throat feels constricted, I can't breath deep and I feel like i'm going to pass out. I know it's a panic attack but usually I can control them Today I CAN'T!!!!
I am in the full "flight or fight" and I have a history of passing out. Nothing I do is making this go away, why is this happening? I'm not stressed! I'm so tired of this, I don't understand why I can't just be normal I'm bipolar also, been taking my meds for over a month now, so i'm sure it's not them. Anyone else pass out from this? Thanks for any feed back

[bowhunt72]

It sounds similar to my panic attacks. I get so tired of people telling me "just breathe". No magic fixes that I know of. Hang in there. I hope it passes soon.

[Arduos]

Well I think it's the lithium is causing a lot of my problems. I'm done with it. My head, neck and throat hurts.... along with the anxiety

[ManicDad]

Yeah, this sounds a lot like my panic attacks as well. I don't have any magic cures. Just try to remove yourself from anything that is stressing you out. Try your best to relax. It may take a while, but it will pass. Hang in there.

[Confusedinomicon]

If you had a history of panic attacks BEFORE taking lithium, then the panic attack is probably not induced by the lithium. Anxiety is not one of the common side effects from lithium although a rapid heart rate would be.

You may be going through a stressful time in your life and it is definitively easier to blame medication for physical problems instead of the trigger in your life. I would talk to your doctor before quitting any medication if you have any concerns. A lot of the medications they prescribe have nasty side effects and can actually induce remission if not done with some prior knowledge of going off the medication. Usually your doctor can give you a plan that allows you to safely get off the medication to try something else, hopefully with minimal side effects.

[KeepGoing8]

I've passed out in public a couple of times, unexpectedly triggered by the smallest, most innocuous words, or images, or sounds...each time, the pass-out was due to me trying to "play it cool" and walk away to hide my sudden shortness of breath, nausea, and cold sweats; instead of doing what I should do When Panic Attacks: focus on calming breath and affirmative thoughts ("I am OK. I am NOT dying.") Lie down or sit with head between legs, allowing oxygen easy access to stressed-out Mr. Brain...and most important: don't worry about the Whys at this moment...the brain is in pure survival mode and you cant foist on more rumination and analysis during an attack. You just have to survive, and you will! As long as ur not dumb like me: making an embarrassed run for it and blacking out just as my hand reaches for the bathroom doorknob and taking a backwards header inTo the floor...ouch!
Trust me, it's far less embarrassing to excuse yourself for a breather (I just say I'm feeling ill; that gets people to back off right there at work, in class, or @ home; than it is to wake up on the floor looking up into a bunch of freaked-out stranger faces

[Arduos]

I do believe it's the Lithium that is pushing the anxiety, or the thought of me taking it. Last time I took it I turned into a zombie and I started failing all my classes. It seems like it's messing with my thyroid. I can't get warm and it's warm in my house, I even wear extra layers of clothes. There are other things going on but they are kind of personal
I have had more problems while taking it than not, it could be me overreacting but I know my body, and I know what's normal for me. I'll stay on the Seroquel for the depression, although I don't feel depressed i'm just not motivated to do anything and I don't like to do anything anymore either, (I have to force myself to just clean my house) so yeah, I know, i'm depressed...especially when I use to be a clean freak.
But back to the Lithium... it's doing more harm than good, my mood swings are more frequent and more severe. All mood stabilizers do this to me I've only been taking the lithium for about five to six weeks and i'm taking 600 mg so I can deal with the side effects of stopping it plus I called my doctors office and told them. They want to see me as soon as possible but i'm afraid to drive right now and I don't have anyone to take me....BAH! Gotta love the issues of trial and error....not

[Confusedinomicon]

You should get a bloodtest for the lithium and thyroid. (Which they should do every 4 to 6 months anywy) Honestly it sounds like you anxiety has done this. If it made you a zombie why did you agree to take it again? I cant take regular lithium without getting really sick but the extended release works. I also have thyroid problems that are med induced from 3 yrs of taking them. I take a pill for it now.

[KeepGoing8]

Definitely a good move to talk to your docs about the side effects and anxiety about L...treatment is this never-ending cycle of trial and error, and that can really suck the hope out of you, but for the trial and error to eventually succeed in finding the right meds, you have to be 100% open with your docs about how the medication is effecting you, and speak to them assertively about which meds you don't like, and which new ones you might want to try (I find it helps to get med input from other patients that I feel I am similar to: physically and emotionally, or family members who have a similar genetic makeup as me). Have you considered non-medication-based treatments for mood stabilization? Like acupuncture or meditation? Not saying to drop the meds entirely (never without doc guidance!) but if you've always had a bad response to MS meds, perhaps your system is too sensitive for straight chemical modification and you might benefit more from an integrated, lifestyle-based approach...even the foods you eat or how much caffiene you drink can have an enormous impact on your moods
Good luck! Make sure those doctors listen to you and do their job!
Oh! And can you call a cab to take you to your appt?

[Trippin2.0]

If you're hyperventilating your brain is od'ing on oxygen. When I had frequent panic attacks, I kept a tiny brown bag handy, it helped me ALOT.
Glad you spoke to your doc, and hope you get this sorted soon.

[Arduos]

I agreed to take the lithium again because i'm not in school right now so I thought the mind fuzziness wouldn't be much of a problem. The lithium made me feel worse, since I stop taking it my aggressiveness is gone. I'm able to think and process better, I just feel better all around. I *think* the lithium, (or the thought of me taking it) did push the panic/anxiety attacks. It could be my imagination, but now I associate the Lithium to panic attacks so it's a no go now
As far as the anxiety/panic attacks go, I've had them for about 10 years now. I have no idea what the trigger is....I actually got a call from my family doctor today and they said they did my referral and the psychologist I chose is calling me Monday to make an appointment Finally
I feel sorry for her cause i'm a mess and for her to figure out what is wrong with me and what my triggers are will be a miracle!
My childhood was..... to say the least, horrible. My mother was a drug addict. I lived with a couple different aunts, grandparents and my Father for awhile. I sat in the back seat of my mother's car while she screamed about not being able to find her next (whatever drug she needed). I was taken advantage of a few times when I was 9, I never got on the school bus without a red mark across my face from my mother hitting me, and I was picked on at school for being different...I saw my mother being beat....My Father died at the age of 42 from a heart attack, six months before he died we had an argument and we never talked since. I never told him he was going to be a grandpa before he died. Unfortunately, the list goes on
So..... anything could be a trigger, I'm surprised I haven't had a mental meltdown yet to be honest. I told you guys this so maybe you could better understand, or maybe I just needed to get some of it out....I don't know... Thanks for listening and for the reply's, it's helps and it makes me fell better