Hello I am new and have just found this very good site.

I am 49 years old and at Christmas starting to have panic attacks, had to go to A and E on Xmas Eve. Was told to breathe into a bag, did no good I just had more panic attacks and got very anxious and then depressed as I had a feeling of not being able to cope with the panic attacks. Doctor prescribed beta blockers - took for 2 weeks, still felt anxious, panicky etc. So GP put me on Prozac 20mg, once a day. ABout the same time as starting these, started to wake in the early hours of the morning, to open bowels and then followed by nausea feeling until I ate something. Told my GP this is affects of the tablets and to perserve. Took the tablets for another 2 weeks, still feeling nauseas, upset stomach etc, lost half a stone, quite skinny anyway and lost appetite completely. Went back again to see GP and she gave me some sedative to take at night. Which has worked quite well for a couple of weeks. Now my period started 3 days ago and all the morning nausea has started again after going to the loo. Is this connected to the tablets or the period? I am very confused. I am helping myself by doing Yoga and quite a lot of deep breathing to try and calm myself and also have reduced tea and coffee intake. Any ideas please.

The prozac could be causing the vomiting and loose bowels. The side effects usually subside after about 30 days. It sounds like you could have peri symptoms. You should have blood work done to test the hormone levels, thyroid, glucose etc. Keep reading here on the site and know you aren't alone. There is a wealth of information on PS.

Hi Dawnwev:

Welcome to this wonderful board. I'm pretty new to all this also. I read your message and thought I would share my prosac journey. I took it for about 6 days, on the seventh day I could not eat at all, I was loosing weight very quickly, I went into full depression by the 9th day, I could not sleep and the panick continued. I finally called the doc and said I wanted to kill myself, she told me to stop the meds and never take anything like this again. I believe that yes for some people anti-depressants work, but when your don't need them they cause other problems. Also the panic feeling for me was because the pills where making me feel worse, hence the anxiety and panic persued. Maybe thats whats happening with you, you not feeling so much better on the pills and thats causing worry for you and panic. I hope you feel better soon and like the rest of can find peace during this time in our lives.

Hugs, Patty

Welcome Dawn,
The good news is I've not heard of ANYONE who developed panic disorder at 49. Most of us have a long history of panic or even a family history. So rest assured your not going crazy. As you have no doubt learned from the boards there is however a lot of bright powerful women who find themselves ripped apart with anxiety or panic as we enter our peri years. Knowing this alone sometimes can take the edge off of the symptoms and help us seek the right care for our particular circumstances.
If you like the yoga and deep breathing then go for it, the effects can only help your body / mind on this passage. Similarly lots of women do really well on different meds. It's not an all or nothing deal, you can try anything that your heart tells you is right for your unique body/mind.
One of the most helpful things I read on the boards is how our adrenal glands kick in during menapause to make some of the estrogen our ovaries use to be making in abundance. Problem is they often package up a little adrenaline with the estrogen when they release it. Knowing this can sometimes help us ride out a wave when we feel it coming on.
To know that the feelings are normal and they will pass is some of the best news I've heard in a long time.
Good luck on your healing journey.
~EM

Hi Dawn!
Welcome to PowerSurge!
I've had bad anxiety and was given a tranquillizer to take for 2 weeks (morning and evening) and then when needed.
It really helped. And now I know I've got my wee pills at hand I feel much more confident and don't need them any longer.
I've had no ill effects and it was no problem stopping after 2 weeks.
You might have to change your medication again. Beta blockers made me feel very ill!
Don't despair, this will pass with time.
Perhaps you've heard of Claire Weekes' books, they are very practical and helpful.
Good luck to you on this journey!
Jonie

Dawn,

You're lucky to get to 49 and only just experience these things....I started getting panic attacks from about 36 and they subsided after I had my daughter at 40, although I do still get them, I know what they are and try to distract myself and they go quickly.

As for anti-depressants...I had post natal depression at 40 which carried on for a few years....I took Lustral (Zoloft in the U.S.) which made me feel so much worse...felt like a zombie, couldn't eat, thought I was going loopy, lost weight (and I'm only 7 and a half stone = 107lbs)...I took it on 3 occasions anyway and each time the feelings were different.

I feel bad now at 48...haven't had a period since August...went for a pap smear yesterday and the doc said I was in menopause and he could give me HRT...of course I said NO!...but I will find an alternative way to help the night sweats/anxiety/bowel issues!

Don't worry, you're in the right place for help and advice!

good luck!

Caz

Welcome to Power surge. This is a wonderful site with so many helpful women on here.

I too have to be careful and not take any anti depressents or anxiety meds. I tried them too and they gave me much worse side effects. Like you I lost so much weight, got more depressed, felt like a caged animal etc. I think our brains are all different and some people can bennift on these meds and some can not.

I found yoga is great and I love to exercise. I walk 30 minutes a day everyday and do a fast walk too. One that makes me really sweat. Sometimes I go down on the treadmill feeling shakey and anxious but by the time I get done, I am feeling really good and feel good the rest of the day. I do think exercise helps.

I think a blood work up is in order too. That is good advice from davini817.

Take care and read on this site as it is a wealth of information.

Hugs
Mopsy