Could Cyproheptadine activate panic attacks?
Question:
Im diagnosed with anxiety disorder with some depression these days.
I was cleaning stuff here and found pills that i tried to take 3 years ago before i started having the symptoms. These pills are from another country, and they are for weight gain and appetite stimulant. Im on the thin side.
This is what they have in the ingredients:
Cyproheptadine 2mg
Tricalcium phosphate 250mg
Cyanocobalamin 250mg
Just for curiosity i started looking in Wikipedia for these drugs so i can find something similar here in the states.
And then i saw that Cyproheptadine plays with Serotonin and SSRI stuff. now i wonder if i started having problems because of this... because i recall to have taken this medicine a couple of weeks before i started having the attacks.
The thing is that i just used this medicine for 3 days or so.. and stoped taking it because it was too drowsy
Answers:
Hi, sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. I'm not sure about Cyproheptadine, but the following steps will help with your panic attacks, anxiety and depression:
1.Breathe properly - if you control your breathing, you control panic. As soon as you notice the signs of anxiety, check your breathing: breathe in slowly through your nose pushing your tummy out (to the count of 5 or so). Breathe out slowly and for a bit longer (to the count of 7 or so) through your mouth. Do not breathe rapidly or shallowly (in the chest area). This will soon restore the balance of oxygen and you will feel a lot better.
2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy! CBT is proven to be very effective for panic attacks, depression and anxiety etc. It takes a bit of work, but it is super effective. (After 15 years of panic attacks, mine stopped completely). You can speak to your doctor about taking a course or you can take a course for free online at: www.livinglifetothefull.com
3. Try relaxation exercise tapes (progressive muscular relaxation). They really help if you practise often enough. You can get free downloads online, e.g. http://www.studentservices.utas.edu.au/c...
With each step practise makes perfect. (i.e. practise the steps every day, not just when you are feeling bad). I hope you feel better soon. Best of luck!
the common misconception is that things can trigger panic attacks, nothing can but your own mind. its all in your head and there are no real symptoms allthough you feel them, (your brain has the power to make you think ANYTHING, your brain knows you better than you do) you think your heart rate is going up and that you might faint, but youre not, look at a clock, your heart is beating normal.
there is no drug that produces panic attack-like symptoms. if you think it can trigger them, then its no different than doing something like drinking tap water that you think is poisoned and having a panic attack and thinking that that is what the water is doing to you.
next time you have one just say to yourself "im fine, im not going to faint, nothing is wrong with me, its going to be over in a little while, and im going to be just fine" because all those things are true
as the previous person said, i have to disagree
DO NOT try to control your breathing, that makes you hyperventalate (because you overcompensate). if youre thinking about breathing, its impossible to breathe properly.
and yes, CBT will help, i am currently seeing one of the founders of CBT and they teach you things like i am telling you, and debunk the misconceptions so the panic attacks dont cause you to freak out, so you can learn "im going to be fine, its just a panic attack, not anything else" and once you can do that, they eventually go away forever.
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