I am 40 and four months ago my doctor gave me Xanax as needed for anxiety. Each and every peri symptom stinks but anxiety is just horrible for me. Makes me feel like I have no control over my body and mind.
I am glad I have something to take the edge off. I take about 1/2 a pill (0.25mg) about 8 times a month on average. I always try to space it out so there is a few days inbetween if I can help it. I am scared that I am getting to dependant on these pills. But they really help.
Like right now I have PMS and am a mess physically and emotionally. I have high blood pressure (am on medication) and started feeling pressure on the back of my neck, so I automatically think it's my pressure rising and am scared. I have felt this before when my pressure was high 160/100 so my mind is in panic mode now.
I don't want to check my pressure because I will freak more. What I do when this happens is I usually take 1/2 a pill and my pressure drops quickly.
Could perimenopause be causing all of this, especially right before my period.
Anyone out there like me?
Full Version: Xanax/PMS Anxiety/High Blood Pressure rising....
Okay, I finally took my pressure because I know if it was normal I would calm my nerves a bit. Here are my readings within seconds of each other...
140/96, pulse 97
121/82, pulse 86
114/78, pulse 84
113/83, pulse 87
111/76, pulse 84
...so my anxiety does cause spikes of HBP. And Xanax helps. So why beat myself over the head for taking a Benzo when needed? I guess it's because I feel so out of control. And am scared of this feeling.
Thanks for listening and advanced thanks for any posts.
140/96, pulse 97
121/82, pulse 86
114/78, pulse 84
113/83, pulse 87
111/76, pulse 84
...so my anxiety does cause spikes of HBP. And Xanax helps. So why beat myself over the head for taking a Benzo when needed? I guess it's because I feel so out of control. And am scared of this feeling.
Thanks for listening and advanced thanks for any posts.
Hi Live to Love,
I too had your symptoms. I had bad PMS and high blood pressure. It was 160/100 at my worse however, I ended up very depressed, I worried about my blood pressure, and my health. I finally found I could not cope and my mother came and stayed to help with the kids as my husband works away.
I ended up on on xanax like you and also an anti depressant and withing a few weeks I was a lot better.
I only took the xanax at night to help me sleep and I only took 1/2 at night. I certainly didn't get hooked on them as the anti depressant kicked in. Taking the anti depressant I have found my PMS nowhere near as bad but it you can avoid it do. I am going to try and go off in a couple of months. At least I know that all the symptoms of peri was what was causing me to feel so horrible.
I am now taking a small tablet for my blood pressure and it is now 130/70 so my dr is very happy.
Pisces 6
I too had your symptoms. I had bad PMS and high blood pressure. It was 160/100 at my worse however, I ended up very depressed, I worried about my blood pressure, and my health. I finally found I could not cope and my mother came and stayed to help with the kids as my husband works away.
I ended up on on xanax like you and also an anti depressant and withing a few weeks I was a lot better.
I only took the xanax at night to help me sleep and I only took 1/2 at night. I certainly didn't get hooked on them as the anti depressant kicked in. Taking the anti depressant I have found my PMS nowhere near as bad but it you can avoid it do. I am going to try and go off in a couple of months. At least I know that all the symptoms of peri was what was causing me to feel so horrible.
I am now taking a small tablet for my blood pressure and it is now 130/70 so my dr is very happy.
Pisces 6
Hi - I'm 39 and although I don't have the b/p problems, I too take a 1/2 xanax as needed. I can be fine for days then totally out of the blue start panicking. And it's often related to some weird physical symptom I'm having - like numbness or tingling etc. About a year into this peri business, things are getting better though. I'm feeling less anxious as I know these symptoms are related to my changing hormones.
And yes, everything is much worse the week before my period!
Hang in there! You're not alone in this!
And yes, everything is much worse the week before my period!
Hang in there! You're not alone in this!
Hi LivetoLove,
Your post is something I could have written about a year ago. The blood pressure readings you were quoting were very similar to mine, and I worried myself over them too. For years now, I've had a prescription for .5 lorazpam (Ativan), very similar to Xanax. I too would only take a half a tablet, finding that dosage worked. Like you, I would take maybe 8 tablets a month. I didn't really worry about getting addicted to them though, and it didn't happen. I still have a bottle in the cabinet, and I haven't taken any for several months, as my anxiety has lessened quite a bit. Now if I get anxious, I can usually control with it with relaxing breaths that I found on Dr. Andrew Weil's website and in his books, or by taking a quick walk. Have you tried meditation? If you are willing to try it, it works -- really!
About the hbp, I read all I could about it, and since my mom and sister are on medication, I was quite scared. I lost 10 lbs. and increased my exercise by walking 1/2 hour most days of the week and take an exercise class twice a week. I bought a home monitor (sounds like you have one too), and found that when monitoring at home, it was nearly always lower than at a doctor's office or at the drug store (like Walmart's prescription department). With these small changes, my blood pressure is very close to normal, many times below 120/80.
Don't worry -- just keep doing all you can do to keep your anxiety at bay -- I know it's impossible at times. Just hang in there, make sure you get enough exercise and moderate your weight. I bet all will be better soon!
Hugs,
RedFox
Your post is something I could have written about a year ago. The blood pressure readings you were quoting were very similar to mine, and I worried myself over them too. For years now, I've had a prescription for .5 lorazpam (Ativan), very similar to Xanax. I too would only take a half a tablet, finding that dosage worked. Like you, I would take maybe 8 tablets a month. I didn't really worry about getting addicted to them though, and it didn't happen. I still have a bottle in the cabinet, and I haven't taken any for several months, as my anxiety has lessened quite a bit. Now if I get anxious, I can usually control with it with relaxing breaths that I found on Dr. Andrew Weil's website and in his books, or by taking a quick walk. Have you tried meditation? If you are willing to try it, it works -- really!
About the hbp, I read all I could about it, and since my mom and sister are on medication, I was quite scared. I lost 10 lbs. and increased my exercise by walking 1/2 hour most days of the week and take an exercise class twice a week. I bought a home monitor (sounds like you have one too), and found that when monitoring at home, it was nearly always lower than at a doctor's office or at the drug store (like Walmart's prescription department). With these small changes, my blood pressure is very close to normal, many times below 120/80.
Don't worry -- just keep doing all you can do to keep your anxiety at bay -- I know it's impossible at times. Just hang in there, make sure you get enough exercise and moderate your weight. I bet all will be better soon!
Hugs,
RedFox
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Hugs,
RedFox
[/quote]
Ditto to that..I actually found that really I whacked myself out BY checking my BP all the time..I would almost get obsessive about it, if that makes sense?! Anyway, I still do check it from time to time. Like you, my mom is on BP meds too, and coupled with all the other symptoms of anxiety and stuff, really just wanted to be better for myself. So, I have started eating a lot better and exercising some (not enough yet..but getting there) and also got a yoga DVD I like, I've lost about 10 pounds in the past few months.
As a matter of fact, 2 nights ago, I checked my BP and it was LOW..it was 117/60-70..which is good..but, since having higher BP, I was surprised about that and then was like "how low is too low?"..I had a doctor's appt the next morning and it was the same..117/77..I was so excited! So..hang in there and it will change after a few months since you are already headed in the right direction!
Hugs,
RedFox
[/quote]
Ditto to that..I actually found that really I whacked myself out BY checking my BP all the time..I would almost get obsessive about it, if that makes sense?! Anyway, I still do check it from time to time. Like you, my mom is on BP meds too, and coupled with all the other symptoms of anxiety and stuff, really just wanted to be better for myself. So, I have started eating a lot better and exercising some (not enough yet..but getting there) and also got a yoga DVD I like, I've lost about 10 pounds in the past few months.
As a matter of fact, 2 nights ago, I checked my BP and it was LOW..it was 117/60-70..which is good..but, since having higher BP, I was surprised about that and then was like "how low is too low?"
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