Stopping Carvedilol (Coreg): When will the effects wear off?

Posted by teatime @teatime, Apr 28, 2016

Hi everyone,

I am glad to be a part of this community. Please foregive the long post. I was wondering if anyone has had a hard time while being on and going off Carvedilol (Coreg).

I am an active 45 year old mom of a young child. I have always tried to eat healthily and keep in shape (I do yoga, pilates and, run about 5k 2x per week). My BP has always been pretty good, but since my 40´s it has gone up a bit (heredity factors play a role). My BP and heart rate also "spike" when I get stressed or anxious, but for the most part are pretty level during normal times. I do have anxious moments, but I would not say anxiety has been a major life problem. At my last check (Feb 2016), and after wearing a 24 hour BP monitor, my cardiologist suggested I start Carvedilol 6.25 1x per day (quite a low dose) for the spikes and to keep the heart from getting too excited. I agreed that maybe it was a good idea and started over two months ago. Other than stimulating rapid bowel movements, I did not notice any side effects at first. I would say about three to four weeks into taking the Carvedilol, I began not sleeping well. I also noticed my heart pounding, like a bass drum, slowly and steadily, at times. Then the heart pounding began to wake me up at night (it turns out my HR was down in the high 40s at night). Some nights I even felt my chest muscles vibrate, as if a phone on silence mode was on top of my chest. I started to notice this more and more and then I would have a few normal nights, so I figured I would just talk about this at my next cardio check (booked out in June). I also noticed I was getting more and more anxious. I wasn't too sure why little things were beginning to bother me. I thought it was hormones, PMS, whatever, and started looking for someone like a therapist to talk to.

The previous week was bad. I woke up from a few nightmares and I started to panic in bed, just woken up from sleep. I had three nights of waking up to panic attacks and body shakes. The experiences made me very nervous. At this point I started looking into the side effects of Carvedilol and I was seeing not only chest pounding, but in rare cases reported effects of nightmares, visual disturbances, tremors, anxiety. I also know one does not simply stop a beta blocker, so we talked about tapering down. I tapered down for four days, and then I got in to see another cardiologist on Monday and he said just stop immediately. The effects are rare, but they have been noted. Going off this medication has been frightening. I feel weak and shaky all the time, and I get sporadic periods of pounding and muscle tremors in my legs, anxiety and fuzzy vision. I frequently get so cold I begin to shake. Yesterday I went back to the clinic for an EKG (normal) and some blood tests (including thyroid) and everything was normal. I am just assuming this is my body reacting and readapting itself after being on beta blockers. It has only been five days, but I am wondering if anyone out there has had similar experiences. How long did it take you to feel normal again? I ran a 5k just two weekends ago and yesterday I could hardly take a walk. Thanks for listening.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

@myra

<p>I a new to this group. i hope I'm doing things right. I was put on Carvedilol on March 1 by a cardiologist for HBP. I had been on Metopolol for many years maybe 11 years. with no side effects. He told me to stop Metopolol immediately and to start on Carvedilol. Since that time I have been stumbling almost about to fall when I turn, nightmares and excessive urination. I go back to the doctor tomorrow. Should I have stopped the metoplol suddently?</p>

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Hello @myra,
I'd like to add my welcome to @predictable's who has given some great insight, and I would encourage you to read these discussions about Carvedilol, too:
1) Side effects of heart medicine carvedilol joint pain and stiffness: http://mayocl.in/2nTvsB6

2) Stopping Carvedilol (Coreg): When will the effects wear off? wear off? http://mayocl.in/28YeSeN (This discussion, (No. 2), includes a reply by a Mayo Clinic pharmacist).

I'd also like to introduce you to @murryone @neeci @sittingscribe1 @momma78 @constanceann @teatime @barnes123 @lola63 @auntdd @incrediblemulk98 @doug_58 @barneythe2nd, as I'm sure they will return to share their experiences with you.

@myra, you may also wish to see this discussion about Metoprolol:
New to Afib, warfarin and metoprolol (beta blocker): http://mayocl.in/2neURa8

@hopeful33250, @kdubois do you have any information to share about your experience with Metoprolol that would help Myra?

REPLY
@myra

<p>I a new to this group. i hope I'm doing things right. I was put on Carvedilol on March 1 by a cardiologist for HBP. I had been on Metopolol for many years maybe 11 years. with no side effects. He told me to stop Metopolol immediately and to start on Carvedilol. Since that time I have been stumbling almost about to fall when I turn, nightmares and excessive urination. I go back to the doctor tomorrow. Should I have stopped the metoplol suddently?</p>

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Hi @myra. Sorry to hear about your unfortunate symptoms after stopping Metoprolol abruptly and starting on Carvedilol. Your question is interesting -- asking about stopping Metoprolol, but not about starting Carvedilol. I have been on Carvedilol for more than a year, having started at 12.5mg per day (in two doses). I'm now taking 50mg per day in two doses. I can't identify any symptoms from starting Carvedilol.

I was advised from the beginning not to suddenly stop or sharply reduce Carvedilol, which is a beta blocker used to regulate heart rhythms and reduce blood pressure. Since then, I have read several articles by medical professionals giving the same advice on Metoprolol, which is also a beta blocker. Your long reliance (and perhaps dependence) on Metoprolol raises an important question about possible side effects from abrupt halt of the medication. It is so important that you should promptly tell your cardiologist about your symptoms and ask whether the abrupt shift from Metoprolol to Carvedilol could have caused your problems. Ask also whether the two drugs are equivalent in both purpose and effect or whether each is used for a different set of symptoms. If your cardiologist isn't clearly sympathetic and understanding, you should get second opinions from another cardiologist in answer to all of these questions. Your primary concern should be to get a good medical diagnosis of your instability, nightmare, and urination problems.

Good luck in getting this episode behind you. We'd also like to know more about why your cardiologist relied on Metoprolol to treat your hypertension for so long.

REPLY

<p>I a new to this group. i hope I'm doing things right. I was put on Carvedilol on March 1 by a cardiologist for HBP. I had been on Metopolol for many years maybe 11 years. with no side effects. He told me to stop Metopolol immediately and to start on Carvedilol. Since that time I have been stumbling almost about to fall when I turn, nightmares and excessive urination. I go back to the doctor tomorrow. Should I have stopped the metoplol suddently?</p>

REPLY
@doug_58

Interesting Thread. 58yo and I have CHF with a great prognosis from my cardiologist a few days ago. I've been on Carvedilol 25mg twice a day for two years - Never had a problem. He gave me my latest blood analysis as fantastic. The only reason why I went in to see him is because I started hyperventilating whenever I went into high speed, really heavy freeway traffic (70 mph+). This is no joke. So the last couple of days, I have stayed off the freeway.

But tonight broke the bank for me. Driving county roads and thorofares, (can't spell right now - I'm freaked) after dark, with traffic caused the hyperventilation incidents to re-occur. (What I think is, basically the pre-cursor to a full blown panic attack, yet not knowing what it really was).

The first time this happened (Wednesday) I pulled off at an exit and had my son pick me up and take me to my cardiologist, where he gave me my previous blood test results and had no explanation for the hyperventilation incidents. Blood work was perfect.

At first, I thought perhaps it was coffee doing me in, because the two times I experienced this, 30 mins prior I had had coffee house coffee, you know the black stuff that keeps you going every day. Well that idea didn't work.

I really thought it may have been coffee. Tonight kinda proved me wrong on that with no coffee, driving city and county streets in the dark. This is not something that happened over years, it's only started in the last week.

I'm just talking here, and I am no source of real information - this is just my opinion (perhaps fake news) and this is why I think I created this problem, based on other people's experience with this drug. There are a lot of reports on google with anxiety/panic issues connected to Carvedilol - by taking it. Me, I never EVER had a problem taking a 25mg dose twice a day. What happened was, and I really think this is it - I ran out of Carvedilol 9 days ago and was holding off refilling it until my Lisinopril needed to be refilled too.

I think I made a HUGE mistake by not refilling my rx right away by itself.. Getting off of Carvedilol (Coreg) of this magnitude (50mg) may be a challenge! Wow. I have talked with other people that I know that have panic/anxiety attack issues, but none of them match my situation - and I've never had one myself until now. I really appreciate the crap that people that have to suffer this type of condition more than ever.

Anyways folks thanks for this forum. One thing I've figured out yet again - is that I'm not the smartest bulb on the planet. If your meds work and you have no problems, keep them refilled and keep taking them. Carvedilol has worked for me really well, never had a problem, until I didn't refill it when it was supposed to be. That is what I THINK is causing my psycho issues atm.

Take care all.
PS: I will continue to pursue this issue. The only real thing that worries me is that I may have to stop driving, which would kill everything in my life dead. And btw, my Carvedilol rx will be refilled tomorrow first thing. All this drug stuff makes me fell so stupid. If I'm right on this, (and it may take a number of days for this freak show to stop once back on it), well either way I will post a report - about Missing a dose of Carvedilol. Keywords: Getting off Carvedilol Anxiety, Hyperventilation, Driving, Night driving, Freeway Driving. Carvedilol has been good for me. Hello Google Search Results!

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Hey buddy @predictable - I think I responded earlier, but just wanted to reiterate that my symptoms are exactly that of 'hyperventilation - syndrome', however there must be a root cause for it. My bp was within range when I visited my cardiologist that day... even previous blood work results were like perfect. There is a mental dysfunction switch for any type of situation that could be dangerous imo. Mine at that time - simply turned off - like the no-fear of driving at speed on a crowded freeway. I LOST that confidence, that I had had for more than 40 years. It's a real switch.

I'm not saying that I'm cured, but I am definitely on the watch list, and watching myself. Heh, I will tell you there is a devil on my shoulder shaking his head in disgust saying to me - You're joking about this right?

I'm like - YEP! It is a joke. Unfortunately this has crawled into my head like an alien and I fight it with fake insults. I works though.
Take care and thanks!

REPLY
@doug_58

Interesting Thread. 58yo and I have CHF with a great prognosis from my cardiologist a few days ago. I've been on Carvedilol 25mg twice a day for two years - Never had a problem. He gave me my latest blood analysis as fantastic. The only reason why I went in to see him is because I started hyperventilating whenever I went into high speed, really heavy freeway traffic (70 mph+). This is no joke. So the last couple of days, I have stayed off the freeway.

But tonight broke the bank for me. Driving county roads and thorofares, (can't spell right now - I'm freaked) after dark, with traffic caused the hyperventilation incidents to re-occur. (What I think is, basically the pre-cursor to a full blown panic attack, yet not knowing what it really was).

The first time this happened (Wednesday) I pulled off at an exit and had my son pick me up and take me to my cardiologist, where he gave me my previous blood test results and had no explanation for the hyperventilation incidents. Blood work was perfect.

At first, I thought perhaps it was coffee doing me in, because the two times I experienced this, 30 mins prior I had had coffee house coffee, you know the black stuff that keeps you going every day. Well that idea didn't work.

I really thought it may have been coffee. Tonight kinda proved me wrong on that with no coffee, driving city and county streets in the dark. This is not something that happened over years, it's only started in the last week.

I'm just talking here, and I am no source of real information - this is just my opinion (perhaps fake news) and this is why I think I created this problem, based on other people's experience with this drug. There are a lot of reports on google with anxiety/panic issues connected to Carvedilol - by taking it. Me, I never EVER had a problem taking a 25mg dose twice a day. What happened was, and I really think this is it - I ran out of Carvedilol 9 days ago and was holding off refilling it until my Lisinopril needed to be refilled too.

I think I made a HUGE mistake by not refilling my rx right away by itself.. Getting off of Carvedilol (Coreg) of this magnitude (50mg) may be a challenge! Wow. I have talked with other people that I know that have panic/anxiety attack issues, but none of them match my situation - and I've never had one myself until now. I really appreciate the crap that people that have to suffer this type of condition more than ever.

Anyways folks thanks for this forum. One thing I've figured out yet again - is that I'm not the smartest bulb on the planet. If your meds work and you have no problems, keep them refilled and keep taking them. Carvedilol has worked for me really well, never had a problem, until I didn't refill it when it was supposed to be. That is what I THINK is causing my psycho issues atm.

Take care all.
PS: I will continue to pursue this issue. The only real thing that worries me is that I may have to stop driving, which would kill everything in my life dead. And btw, my Carvedilol rx will be refilled tomorrow first thing. All this drug stuff makes me fell so stupid. If I'm right on this, (and it may take a number of days for this freak show to stop once back on it), well either way I will post a report - about Missing a dose of Carvedilol. Keywords: Getting off Carvedilol Anxiety, Hyperventilation, Driving, Night driving, Freeway Driving. Carvedilol has been good for me. Hello Google Search Results!

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Well @mrsdeecee yeah, that's the scary part for me. When the condition arises, my body knows it and knows its' limitations. I still have the situation creep up in heavy fast traffic from time to time but my brain corrects it rather quickly now. I'm the guy in traffic that aggressive ppl hate, when they are on my ass wanting to do 75 when I'm doing 72, I'm 100 yards behind the other car in front of me with PLENTY of stopping distance ahead. I have a dash cam that I use 24/7, and today I decided to face it backwards because that's where all of the threats are. (But not because I fear them, I just love having driving idiocy on the record - I call it my bash cam instead of a dash cam).

When I first had to deal with this situation last month, it WAS a full blown panic attack and I had no idea what it was! That was why I pulled off and called my son to come get me because I didn't feel safe driving at all. I was hyperventilating walking around a gas station and it was so hard to control. I have been driving in this soup since 1974 (I think).

It is and will always be the craziest thing I have ever dealt with in my life.
This is not something, once it takes control even sub-consciously, is easy to deal with. I thank God I have found a mechanism that helps me cope with it so well! Driving is great again! I am blessed and lucky.

REPLY
@doug_58

Interesting Thread. 58yo and I have CHF with a great prognosis from my cardiologist a few days ago. I've been on Carvedilol 25mg twice a day for two years - Never had a problem. He gave me my latest blood analysis as fantastic. The only reason why I went in to see him is because I started hyperventilating whenever I went into high speed, really heavy freeway traffic (70 mph+). This is no joke. So the last couple of days, I have stayed off the freeway.

But tonight broke the bank for me. Driving county roads and thorofares, (can't spell right now - I'm freaked) after dark, with traffic caused the hyperventilation incidents to re-occur. (What I think is, basically the pre-cursor to a full blown panic attack, yet not knowing what it really was).

The first time this happened (Wednesday) I pulled off at an exit and had my son pick me up and take me to my cardiologist, where he gave me my previous blood test results and had no explanation for the hyperventilation incidents. Blood work was perfect.

At first, I thought perhaps it was coffee doing me in, because the two times I experienced this, 30 mins prior I had had coffee house coffee, you know the black stuff that keeps you going every day. Well that idea didn't work.

I really thought it may have been coffee. Tonight kinda proved me wrong on that with no coffee, driving city and county streets in the dark. This is not something that happened over years, it's only started in the last week.

I'm just talking here, and I am no source of real information - this is just my opinion (perhaps fake news) and this is why I think I created this problem, based on other people's experience with this drug. There are a lot of reports on google with anxiety/panic issues connected to Carvedilol - by taking it. Me, I never EVER had a problem taking a 25mg dose twice a day. What happened was, and I really think this is it - I ran out of Carvedilol 9 days ago and was holding off refilling it until my Lisinopril needed to be refilled too.

I think I made a HUGE mistake by not refilling my rx right away by itself.. Getting off of Carvedilol (Coreg) of this magnitude (50mg) may be a challenge! Wow. I have talked with other people that I know that have panic/anxiety attack issues, but none of them match my situation - and I've never had one myself until now. I really appreciate the crap that people that have to suffer this type of condition more than ever.

Anyways folks thanks for this forum. One thing I've figured out yet again - is that I'm not the smartest bulb on the planet. If your meds work and you have no problems, keep them refilled and keep taking them. Carvedilol has worked for me really well, never had a problem, until I didn't refill it when it was supposed to be. That is what I THINK is causing my psycho issues atm.

Take care all.
PS: I will continue to pursue this issue. The only real thing that worries me is that I may have to stop driving, which would kill everything in my life dead. And btw, my Carvedilol rx will be refilled tomorrow first thing. All this drug stuff makes me fell so stupid. If I'm right on this, (and it may take a number of days for this freak show to stop once back on it), well either way I will post a report - about Missing a dose of Carvedilol. Keywords: Getting off Carvedilol Anxiety, Hyperventilation, Driving, Night driving, Freeway Driving. Carvedilol has been good for me. Hello Google Search Results!

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I had a friend like that she would be driving fast and go into a full blown panic attack? Only while driving? Hope you don't have another attack god forbid pull over and calm yourself with deep breathing and try to relax!!

REPLY
@lola63

The Carvedilol was prescribed by my primary. When I went to the ER because I was having other issues, he saw my BP was still high and said I could increase it to 25mg in am and stay at 12.5 pm. Like I mentioned, I believe my high bp was d/t my body fighting an infection but at the time it was not known I had the infection. (bladder) It was missed at my very first UC visit which was 2 weeks until it surfaced. I have since weaned myself off the carvedilol but am still having some tremors and anxiety but less hopefully each day. I am going to set up an appt. with a cardiologist as I really haven't seen one in several years. He basically gave me the all clear a couple years after my heart attack. This has been a terrible med for me physically and psychologically and I don't think I should have been put on it in the first place. I have had many blood tests since then, an upper gi, bladder checks, and everything is coming out good so far. I just need to shake this feeling I have. It does get relieved if I take the .25 of lorazepam. Hopefully that will lessen each day. Not sure how long the carvedilol can stay in the body. And my blood pressure seems to be coming back down to somewhat normal.

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Thank you for all the feedback. It has now been two weeks since I stopped the Carvedilol and I am probably 90 % better in how I feel. I check my bp every AM and it has been around the 120's over 70-80's. (low 80's). Occasionally it's a little higher than I think it should be (130-140's over 70-80's) I also haven't needed to take the lorazepam since 2/12. I have a cardiology appt. set up for 4/3. I'm a little reluctant to even call my gp doctor to tell her I stopped the Carvedilol and the Zoloft. I think she should have probably suggested to me to see a cardiologist to begin with instead prescribing heart meds herself. And I'm somewhat irritated that she thinks all my symptoms were classic of "anxiety" and that's why she prescribed the Zoloft. And not only that, she started me out on a 50mg dose instead of starting lower. I know some meds work with some people, but the Carvedilol and Zoloft just were not the ones for me. They both really messed with my body and my head. I had all the same symptoms @teatime had except I was able to sleep ok d/t the fact that I was taking benadryl and melatonin, until I would wake and then feel the "surge of adrenaline" like feeling run through my body. Also, I did have kidney function tests done which came back normal, however I was found to have a kidney stone. Hopefully this will all be figured out when I see the cardiologist.

REPLY
@doug_58

Thanks for the interest Colleen,
The same way I went after my manic-depression issues in the late 90's. I thought about it a CRAP-TON every day and took meds to help me thru work. That was then and I had a friend helped me with zoloft while I worked through it.

But not this time.
I am in really heavy traffic and fast moving thru atlanta every day, like all day. The back story is this: Every day for the last few years every time I got on the freeway (which here is MASSIVE and fast and crazy), I asked myself, at what age and when will I have to quit doing this because it just becomes too scary and ridiculous for me to handle it? I mean, you never see elderly people driving on these mega roads... This was a mental issue with me. Take it one step further, and age-versus-competence thing. It's like... Can you drive forever in these conditions as you get older? (Question to self). Apparently, I've not been paying attention that much, and as the calming effect of (25/50mg) Carvedilol wore off (because I didn't refill it), the symptoms that I were really feeling started to show up in true form in sub-consciously going into hyperventilation when I was driving! This was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to handle in my life.

This is such a new thing for me. I had no idea that the brain had 'switches' that could be turned off and on like this so quickly as I have done. To stop driving here would have taken me out financially and I would have become destitute.

To reiterate - and to acknowledge @predictable 's support of using Carvedilol, I gotta say - this drug, for all I can tell is one of the best things for CHF patients, but in this dosage, is very powerful, and has side effects. I take like 10 different things for my condition, most are supplements like potassium, magnesium (usual stuff for diuretics), and if you met me you would never know I was living with chf. It's a testament to my cardiologists and medical tech these days. 20 years ago I figure people like me would be half dead already. I'm not and I work my ass off every day. I enjoy it.

As an example my daily dose of 50mg which is 2 x 25mg Carvedilol, literally makes my stomach muscles want to churn/spasm or tighten up. I used to think it was the hydralazine doing this, but now I know better. It also put a huge clamp on my psycho-issues with driving fear. I am so used to this, since 2015.

Honestly, I am so lucky I think. I have spent the last week talking with other ppl that deal with panic and anxiety attacks and stuff, none which take the meds that I do - and I figured out that this kind of thing can happen to anyone.

For me, and I must say it was awesome that I figured this out so quick!

It almost sounds stupid! Yesterday I changed my habits in driving and I started bitching at the other cars and trucks on the freeway thru atlanta like I'm a Rock God on the road and everybody else sucks, are immature, and is probably texting and doing facebook, like I'm better than they are. Crap this worked. I drove 60 miles through heavy crap traffic and never had a single episode of fear, or even impending hyperventilation.

Today did it again - only this time, I paid much less attention to being an alpha male ass (I wanna kick trucker butt), and thought about other things. Drove 120 miles round trip through atlanta. My confidence was back. Not even a hint of stress doing my usual thing.

There is a lot to process here. 1 week ago I was passing out on the side of the road - either that or having to stop because I was hyperventilating. Today I'm back to normal. I thank God for the revelations that have enabled me to gain control of my life again.

At 58 years old, this is the most insane thing I have ever dealt with.

Thanks for listening. Hope everyone is well.

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Thanks for the link. Holy cow, these ppl are like my condition times 10! Yikes, this is scary stuff!

REPLY
@doug_58

Thanks for the interest Colleen,
The same way I went after my manic-depression issues in the late 90's. I thought about it a CRAP-TON every day and took meds to help me thru work. That was then and I had a friend helped me with zoloft while I worked through it.

But not this time.
I am in really heavy traffic and fast moving thru atlanta every day, like all day. The back story is this: Every day for the last few years every time I got on the freeway (which here is MASSIVE and fast and crazy), I asked myself, at what age and when will I have to quit doing this because it just becomes too scary and ridiculous for me to handle it? I mean, you never see elderly people driving on these mega roads... This was a mental issue with me. Take it one step further, and age-versus-competence thing. It's like... Can you drive forever in these conditions as you get older? (Question to self). Apparently, I've not been paying attention that much, and as the calming effect of (25/50mg) Carvedilol wore off (because I didn't refill it), the symptoms that I were really feeling started to show up in true form in sub-consciously going into hyperventilation when I was driving! This was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to handle in my life.

This is such a new thing for me. I had no idea that the brain had 'switches' that could be turned off and on like this so quickly as I have done. To stop driving here would have taken me out financially and I would have become destitute.

To reiterate - and to acknowledge @predictable 's support of using Carvedilol, I gotta say - this drug, for all I can tell is one of the best things for CHF patients, but in this dosage, is very powerful, and has side effects. I take like 10 different things for my condition, most are supplements like potassium, magnesium (usual stuff for diuretics), and if you met me you would never know I was living with chf. It's a testament to my cardiologists and medical tech these days. 20 years ago I figure people like me would be half dead already. I'm not and I work my ass off every day. I enjoy it.

As an example my daily dose of 50mg which is 2 x 25mg Carvedilol, literally makes my stomach muscles want to churn/spasm or tighten up. I used to think it was the hydralazine doing this, but now I know better. It also put a huge clamp on my psycho-issues with driving fear. I am so used to this, since 2015.

Honestly, I am so lucky I think. I have spent the last week talking with other ppl that deal with panic and anxiety attacks and stuff, none which take the meds that I do - and I figured out that this kind of thing can happen to anyone.

For me, and I must say it was awesome that I figured this out so quick!

It almost sounds stupid! Yesterday I changed my habits in driving and I started bitching at the other cars and trucks on the freeway thru atlanta like I'm a Rock God on the road and everybody else sucks, are immature, and is probably texting and doing facebook, like I'm better than they are. Crap this worked. I drove 60 miles through heavy crap traffic and never had a single episode of fear, or even impending hyperventilation.

Today did it again - only this time, I paid much less attention to being an alpha male ass (I wanna kick trucker butt), and thought about other things. Drove 120 miles round trip through atlanta. My confidence was back. Not even a hint of stress doing my usual thing.

There is a lot to process here. 1 week ago I was passing out on the side of the road - either that or having to stop because I was hyperventilating. Today I'm back to normal. I thank God for the revelations that have enabled me to gain control of my life again.

At 58 years old, this is the most insane thing I have ever dealt with.

Thanks for listening. Hope everyone is well.

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Well I had no choice. It was like a last resort for me bc I had to drive 60 miles home thru insane traffic. and I'm like FU people I am NOT gonna go hyperventilating out of FEAR of YOU assholes! hahaha. (That's the internal me fighting back). In previous days I would just get angry and ask myself "WTF is going on? This is not ME?!!! I'm angry at myself!". This time I changed the focus of anger from myself to everyone else and rebuilt my manhood on the spot. Yes that's what it was. A very debilitating situation but it is, what it was.
Thanks for the link.
🙂

REPLY
@doug_58

Thanks for the interest Colleen,
The same way I went after my manic-depression issues in the late 90's. I thought about it a CRAP-TON every day and took meds to help me thru work. That was then and I had a friend helped me with zoloft while I worked through it.

But not this time.
I am in really heavy traffic and fast moving thru atlanta every day, like all day. The back story is this: Every day for the last few years every time I got on the freeway (which here is MASSIVE and fast and crazy), I asked myself, at what age and when will I have to quit doing this because it just becomes too scary and ridiculous for me to handle it? I mean, you never see elderly people driving on these mega roads... This was a mental issue with me. Take it one step further, and age-versus-competence thing. It's like... Can you drive forever in these conditions as you get older? (Question to self). Apparently, I've not been paying attention that much, and as the calming effect of (25/50mg) Carvedilol wore off (because I didn't refill it), the symptoms that I were really feeling started to show up in true form in sub-consciously going into hyperventilation when I was driving! This was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to handle in my life.

This is such a new thing for me. I had no idea that the brain had 'switches' that could be turned off and on like this so quickly as I have done. To stop driving here would have taken me out financially and I would have become destitute.

To reiterate - and to acknowledge @predictable 's support of using Carvedilol, I gotta say - this drug, for all I can tell is one of the best things for CHF patients, but in this dosage, is very powerful, and has side effects. I take like 10 different things for my condition, most are supplements like potassium, magnesium (usual stuff for diuretics), and if you met me you would never know I was living with chf. It's a testament to my cardiologists and medical tech these days. 20 years ago I figure people like me would be half dead already. I'm not and I work my ass off every day. I enjoy it.

As an example my daily dose of 50mg which is 2 x 25mg Carvedilol, literally makes my stomach muscles want to churn/spasm or tighten up. I used to think it was the hydralazine doing this, but now I know better. It also put a huge clamp on my psycho-issues with driving fear. I am so used to this, since 2015.

Honestly, I am so lucky I think. I have spent the last week talking with other ppl that deal with panic and anxiety attacks and stuff, none which take the meds that I do - and I figured out that this kind of thing can happen to anyone.

For me, and I must say it was awesome that I figured this out so quick!

It almost sounds stupid! Yesterday I changed my habits in driving and I started bitching at the other cars and trucks on the freeway thru atlanta like I'm a Rock God on the road and everybody else sucks, are immature, and is probably texting and doing facebook, like I'm better than they are. Crap this worked. I drove 60 miles through heavy crap traffic and never had a single episode of fear, or even impending hyperventilation.

Today did it again - only this time, I paid much less attention to being an alpha male ass (I wanna kick trucker butt), and thought about other things. Drove 120 miles round trip through atlanta. My confidence was back. Not even a hint of stress doing my usual thing.

There is a lot to process here. 1 week ago I was passing out on the side of the road - either that or having to stop because I was hyperventilating. Today I'm back to normal. I thank God for the revelations that have enabled me to gain control of my life again.

At 58 years old, this is the most insane thing I have ever dealt with.

Thanks for listening. Hope everyone is well.

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Thanks for sharing details of your history and recent resurgence of dealing with anxiety pre and post heart issues. Interesting that this manifested itself while driving. @thankful shares a similar story in this post, describing a panic attack that "came out of nowhere one day driving back from the OR coast over the Yaquina bridge of Newport."... Read more here: http://mayocl.in/2k9T8hz

Your method of taking control by talking (yelling 🙂 at the other drivers is truly creative. Whatever it takes to break the pattern, right? Good for you!

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