HomeAnswersCardiologypanic attackI am suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. Please help.

Can antidepressants help manage panic attacks?

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At April 15, 2024
Reviewed AtApril 15, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 33-year-old female, a mother of two children. I am healthy with no underlying health conditions, and there is no history of heart disease in my family except for my grandfather, who developed it due to smoking. I have been dealing with anxiety and experiencing panic attacks for years, although currently, I am not facing high levels of anxiety. Recently, I have observed that after engaging in activities like cleaning or playing with my children, if I sit or lay down, my heart rate, which is normally around 65 bpm, suddenly increases to approximately 125 to 130 bpm. I am currently taking Escitalopram 10 mg.

I typically feel this acceleration in my throat, causing a flutter sensation, and I tend to cough. As soon as I cough or clear my throat, my heart rate instantly returns to normal without any lingering fast pace. After researching online, I am concerned about non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), but I am unsure how to determine which it might be. If a Holter monitor does not capture the episode, I am uncertain about how to find out. These episodes occur a few times a month at most, lasting approximately two to three seconds each time. Should I be concerned and discuss this with my general practitioner, or could it be something hormonal and normal, given the quick resolution of the episodes? I am quite frightened at the prospect of undiagnosed VT or SVT, especially since I have never had any heart issues before in my life.

Please help.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I am very sorry to hear about your medical condition. Do not worry; I am here to take care of you. I believe you may have brief sinus tachycardia triggered by your anxiety or panic attack. I do not think it is either non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), as these rhythms are life-threatening and require emergency room attention. However, to rule out any heart disease, please undergo an ECG (electrocardiogram) test and reply to me with the results. You can take Escitalopram 10 mg orally once daily for the anxiety attack.

I hope this helps. Schedule another appointment for follow-up via chat, phone, or video consultation.

Thanks for using iCliniq, and have a nice day.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Chibitam Hope Obia
Dr. Chibitam Hope Obia

General Practitioner

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Cardiology

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy