Hello Everyone, I was not sure where to post this, I could not find a medication forum unless I missed it. I recently started Zoloft 12.5 miligrams and then increased to 25, it seems to have helped the panic but a strange scary symptom has started, chest pain and pressure with some pain down my arm and a few missed heartbeats, this happened before with Zoloft, and I went off it.

I phoned the psychrisatrist and he said I should call my primary to get my heart checked out, which of course I dread doing. I have had some dizziness and nausea from the Zoloft but I expect that that will not kill me, but the chest pain is new and scary!! Especially since I have never had it before evne when having panic attacks, chest pain and shortness of breath and heart palps were not part of my symptoms, I just had shakiness, dizziness and sweating and fear, I hate this chest pressure and pain, I am so scared and the only thing I can think of is the Zoloft because it started right after increasing the med.

Has anyone ever had chest pain from Zoloft?? I really want this to work but I do not want to have a heart attack! Please help if you can and thank you so much, God bless, Ramella.

Ramella:

You didn't mention if you have any other risk factors for heart disease, like smoking, overweight, family history, etc. My ex-husband, the doctor, often told me "any medicine can do anything to anyone at anytime." Comforting, huh? Also, are the chest pains happening all the time, or do they go away? Is it worse when you exert yourself?

I'd call your doctor right away, and get your heart checked out. The SSRI's (Zoloft is one of them) can raise blood pressure, and that can increase your risk of cardiac problems. Look at it this way: either it's nothing, or you found out early about a problem which can be helped with medication, diet, exercise, etc.

Let me know what happens!!!!!

Peace,
R.

Dear Robin, THanks for writing me. I am going to go to the Doctor when my husband gets home, this will not thrill him of course, but the psychartirst said I should go just to be on the safe side. The chest pain is not terrible painful, more scary if you know what I mean, like "whats causing it " I hope its alright.

I will let you know what happens, I hope its OK. Thanks, Ramella.

Hi Ramella, yes, the smartest thing to do is to get checked out. I've never been on antidepressants, but my older sister used zoloft. She said when she first started it, she had HORRIBLE anxiety, and her doctor had told her to expect that in the beginning. Chest pain CAN be a symptom of anxiety. I'm sure you are fine, and it is quite possibly just a side effect of the drug itself. Try not to worry too much - it will just increase your anxiousness. Let us know what you find out!
HUGS!

Ramella:

Write when you get home, if you're up to it! I'm sure you're okay. I've been thinking about you all night...hang in there, little one. All will be well.

Peace and Hugs,
Robin

Often gastrointestinal disturbances (which antidepressants can cause) will be felt in the chest. I haven't heard of heart issues as a side effect of antidepressants, but if you're concerned about the chest pains, I would get them checked out.

Wildkitty

Hi Robin and Kitty, I did go to the urgent care med center last night, its just like a ER very modern state of the art, my son got stictches there and they are very nice and professional. They did an EKG which was normal and my blood pressure was normal, all my vital were alright, just a 99.2 temp which is not bad. He wants me to follow up with a Cardiologist! My question is if everything is alright why a heart Doctor?? I guess because of the constant chest pains all the time.

The bad thing is {well good and bad} is the Zoloft seems to be working a little, the depression is not a bad and the panic has decreased, which I am SO grateful for, but this constant left-sided chest pain is scaring me, and now I notice my heart races a bit and I have had "skipped missed heartbeats" This never ever happened till I began the Zoloft I know its related, I so want it to work but not at a risk of a heart attack. Of course the Doctor says it anxiety but I get it when I take a Klonopin, this is so scary I do not know what to do, if I stop the Zoloft the skipped heartbeats and chest pain will go away but will the depression/panic come back???

Did anyone ever get chest pain from their antidepressants?? DId anyone hear that Zoloft can cause heart attacks or chest pain?? I know every med has side effects but this one is not like dry mouth or headache which I expect, this one is very very scary, now I live in fear of a heart attack all the time. I am NOT going to go to 50, the psychatrist wants me too, but I am afraid that the chest pain will become worse like it did when I went from 12.5 to 25 miligrams.

I guess I have a choice to make discontinue the Zoloft and chance the depression and Panic getting worse or taking it and risking a heart attack!! I am so scared and confused, my common sense is telling me to stop taking it that panic and depression, as terrible as they are, is better than a massive heart attack. Sorry this is so long, any advice or information I would be so grateful for. Thank you, I am praying to God this stops, God bless you all, Ramella.

Ramella,
When you go to the ER with chest pain, they are seeing you only for a moment in time. Unless you have had a major event, like a heart attack, it's possible that there is something going on that they can't see. Remember, they are doing a limited evaluation only. They will almost always ask you to follow up with a cardiologist, especially in light of the fact that you are having still having chest pain. It will ease your mind to go and make sure that your heart is healthy. I truly believe that chest pain is not a symptom that you should question too much or put off seeing a doctor about. Heart issues are serious. So please take their advice and go get checked. There may be nothing to worry about, but don't you want to know that for sure? A cardiologist will also be able to evaluate whether or not he/she thinks the Zoloft can be causing your problems.

Ramella:

This is only my opinion, but I think you should go to the cardiologist. It will answer your questions once and for all, and if it isn't your heart, then you can take the Zoloft and not worry. I don't know a lot about EKG's, but I'm assuming that if the chest pains were because of a blocked coronary artery, then I don't think the EKG would have been normal.

Again, I don't know for sure, I'm not a doctor. I do have a degree in pharmacology, and I've never seen anything in the literature on SSRI's (Zoloft is one them) to suggest that they can cause a massive heart attack. The action of these drugs is still largely not understood. They raise serotonin levels in the brain by preventing the reabsorption of them. When you are depressed, you stop producing as much serotonin; so by increasing the levels, it is thought to alleviate the symptoms associated with depression.

Can you call your primary care doctor who prescribed the Zoloft and ask him/her if they think you should stop taking it until you get a cardiac workup? You don't have to wait for an appointment; most docs are available on-call for medication questions. Just call the normal office number and tell the answering service to page your doctor because you have a medication question. Tell him/her you're having bad chest pain since taking the Zoloft and you went to the ER, etc, etc. Try to be calm when you talk to the doctor...they have a tendency to dismiss everything as 'anxiety' when you sound freaked out.

Right now, hon, you are attempting to diagnose yourself, and that's generally not a good thing to do. Before you abruptly stop the Zoloft, I think you should tell your doctor what is going on and let him/her make the decision.

Can you safely take aspirin? If so, you might want to take one 325 mg pill. That's what my doctor told me to do if I have weird chest pains. That, and call him right away.

Good luck...let me know what you decide and how it turns out...

Peace and Big Hugs,
Robin