Panic attacks and alcohol

[Chrisandgary]

You will be sick of me tonite! My excuse for posting all at once is my computer has been on the fritz (my mouse is still not working all the time!) and it is now kind of working - very frustrating!
Anyway those of us with MVP and panic attacks - we have discussed this before - getting increasingly worse as you get older - is it truly from mvp - is there a direct correlation between the two?
My attacks have gotten to be more frequent upon becoming pregnant with my 3 rd child - in 1999. This summer - when I find out about Gary needing his 3rd OHS I had a really BAD one and had to go on Xanax. Worked great. Now I cant drink 1 glass of wine without waking up the next morning with a full blown panic attack. What the heck is wrong with me. I dont believe they are brought on by me subconciously because I am barely awake or they waken me up from a dead sleep. I cant believe 1 drink can make this happen.
I always like to have a social drink now and then - I am far from a big drinker but it would be nice to have one especially on the holidays!
Has this happened to anyone?
Thanks
Christine

[Creed3]

I also suffer from panic attacks sometimes. I have for many years. I notice that if I am stressed out and worrying about something, that is when my panic attacks occur. For years I have had panic attacks wake me up at night. That is not unusual. I had my first full blown panic attack in years just a couple of weeks ago. I have also been quite anxious lately about other things going on in my life. I have noticed lately that I have been waking up anxious, not full blown panic attacks, just anxious. I have also noticed that alcohol can sometimes bring on panic attacks. Usually I am already anxious about something and then the alcohol will bring on the attack. The same with caffeine. Other times when I am not feeling anxious I can drink alcohol and caffeine and not have it effect me much. You just never know. I just wanted to let you know that what you are feeling is not unusual for panic attacks and anxiety.

Take Care!
Gail

[Blanche]

Christine:
It's possible that you are blaming yourself for something that is not within your control. Panic attacks are ugly things that can be brought on because of numerous things, including allergies, medications, herbs, and the like...and, yes, I guess alcohol too. I never had panic attacks until recently when I took Buprion (a/k/a Welbutrin) for help in stopping smoking. Now, I know so many people, including folks here and those on the stop smoking boards, who have been successful with this drug and have had no ill effects. My experience was different. When I had problems, I blamed them on everything from too much sugar (lost of sugar in alcohol) to an unbalanced diet. My doctor suggested numerous things, including B Vitamins. I would have continued to take the Buprion, but I started to get deadly nightmares...the ones that scare the living daylights out of you. I stopped the drug and the panic attacks and the nightmares stopped. I sincerely hope you find the cause of your attacks for I know how very debilitating they can be. Your problem may be related to the alcohol in your beverages. It also could be related to other elements contained in the alcoholic beverages you consume. You may want to check that out.
Kind regards,
Blanche

[Georgia]

I didn't have panic attacks while I had mvp over the years; however, when I was on Inderal (beta blocker) I was extremely intolerant of alcohol. I went from being able to drink quite handily to a cheap drunk overnite. I quit drinking mostly anything and probably averaged 1 drink per month for 23 years.

Given such a dramatic effect from a beta blocker (and of course it may have been in conjunction with the mvp - I never discussed it with my md), it certainly wouldn't surprise me if you're having issues with panic attacks after drinking while on toprol and your other meds.

[carista]

I don't have mvp, I have aortic stenosis, but I also have problems with anxiety and have also woken up while having an anxiety attack. A few months ago I took ativan for my anxiety (which is a lot like xanax, as far as I know) and whenever I drank and took my pills on the same day, didn't matter how much I had to drink or how far apart I took the pills and then drank, I ALWAYS had bad side effects. I even blacked out once after drinking just 2 beers quite a few hours after taking just 2mg's of ativan. Anxiety drugs always have warnings on the bottle to not drink alcohol with the drug and I always assumed it was just because it increased the effects of the anxiety drug, but I think it can cause a lot of other side effects as well. From now on, if I take any anxiety drugs, I DO NOT drink even one alcoholic drink. I also notice some drugs do make my anxiety worse. I was on Paxil for awhile and it got much worse instead of better. My anxiety is pretty touchy to what I put in my body. And of course stress is the major factor, I didn't start waking up having panic attacks until I found out about my heart condition, and I also have never been so stressed in my life either.

Either way I know how it feels to be woken up from a panic attack and I would definately recommend seeing your dr. about it as soon as you can, your dr. may not be able to make it disappear, but he/she should definately be able to help you manage it.

[Chrisandgary]

Thank you guys for the advice - and letting me know I am not alone. I have been extremely stressed since July when we found out Gary needed his third OHS. We did it, made it through awesome - yet still cant tolerate a drink. I do not take any medication - only the xanax - and havent taken too many - actually I only even take 1/2 !
A friend has suggested it could be the sulfites in wine. I am too afraid to try a different type of drink for the fear of provoking another attack. My hubby feels badly for me - because I am a type A neurotic overachiever - that a glass of wine does me good to take my mind off of things. I have no idea how to relax - never have and probably never will. Maybe I should just get over it!
Thanks again - will keep you posted if I figure this out. I hope it doesnt mean my MVP is getting worse? I just had a cardio check in Sept - full bloodwork - everything was normal.
Christine

[maka]

Christine
You said "I have no idea how to relax - never have and probably never will"

Have you tried doing some Yoga? If you get a really good teacher, you may find it helps.....I once felt so deeply into sleep right in the middle of some Yoga exercises that my friend thought I had had a heart attack!!!
Marta