Hello :)

[Bright Eyes]

Hello
I found this site because I seem to be having panic attacks, possibly brought on as a side effect to Travatan eye drops (prescribed by an opthalmologist to lower pressure in the eyes, due to suspected glaucoma)
I wonder if anyone has ever heard of this before? Anxiety is listed as a possible but uncommon side-effect for this drug.
I have not used Travatan now for almost a week, but the attacks seem to be more frequent, which is frightening :(
My GP yesterday prescribed beta blockers to slow down my heart and lower my blood pressure (I had an attack in her surgery and my bp was 205/140)
I'm on my second day of beta blockers today and have had a mild attack this morning .. currently I have palpitations .. I wonder if anyone else is using beta blockers and what their experiences have been.
I am trying to keep calm, but I do feel quite overwhelmed :( I'm also wondering whether acupuncture might be a useful addition to the beta blockers to help stop my mind racing.
Thanks for listening :)

[freakle]

Hi Bright Eyes,

I'm afraid I don't know anything about Travatan eye drops but I can welcome you to the forum! Hope you find it helpful :)

Zoe x

To be pushed is unwillingness, to push yourself is courage

[Wannabeloved85]

Hello Bright eyes.

Welcome to the site.

I havent actually heard of panic attacks as a side effect from eye drops, but i have heard of them as side effects from other drugs and medication. I think its alot more common than you think.

I hope you feel much better soon. Maybe consider some self hypnosis cd's and relaxation treatments, including acupuncture!

Becci x

[Bright Eyes]

Hi
Thanks for being kind enough to reply :) It's comforting to know that other people understand how this feels (even though you wouldn't wish this problem on anyone).
The beta blockers I'm taking are Propranolol. If anyone else here has any experience of these I'd be grateful to hear about it, as I am a bit concerned that I'm still having palpitations even though I'm taking it three times a day.
Thanks again for your kindness :)

[chelsea]

Hi bright eyes i have been taking beta blockers for two months now, what you are experiencing is the same as me. But it does improve like most things takes time. But the benefits from taking them are your panic's will be far less intense.

take care babexxxxxxx

donna

[yorkylover]

Hi bright eyes,im on beta blockers to and agree with chelsea,they do make the attacks less intense.Did you read the side affects before starting the eye drops?Sometimes just reading about the side affects can trigger the anxiety.
Take care;)

Ellen XX

[Bright Eyes]

<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Hi bright eyes,im on beta blockers to and agree with chelsea,they do make the attacks less intense.Did you read the side affects before starting the eye drops?Sometimes just reading about the side affects can trigger the anxiety.
Take care;)

Ellen XX

<div align="right">Originally posted by ELLEN - 28 September 2006 : 13:16:59</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

Hi Eleen
Thanks for replying :) No, I didn't know about this side effect. The opthalmologist discussed the most common side effects with me before it was prescribed but this is a less common one. I had palpitaions within about 3 hours of first using the drops and things gradually worsened each day until I was woken in the night with a full blown PA (I didn't know what on earth it was - and I hadn't been lying awake winding myself up!)
I haven't used the drops for nearly a week now, but the panic has been getting worse. I'm not sure how long it takes to get out of your system.
I've been told I can't use any herbal supplements while taking beta blockers (I wonder if you know if that's true) I use camomile tea, rescue remedy and Menolife herbal menopause capsules .. I've also been told not to drink ordinary tea (which I miss a lot as I find a cup of tea very comforting). I wonder what you think?
Thanks a lot for your help
Hope you're having a good day today.

[Bright Eyes]

<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Hi bright eyes i have been taking beta blockers for two months now, what you are experiencing is the same as me. But it does improve like most things takes time. But the benefits from taking them are your panic's will be far less intense.

take care babexxxxxxx

donna

<div align="right">Originally posted by chelsea - 28 September 2006 : 11:50:01</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

Hi Donna
Thanks for replying :) I must admit I am a bit stressed about taking another strong drug to counteract the side effects of the first. I wonder if you can tell me what to expect and also if there's anything I should or shouldn't do while taking them? For instance - as I mentioned in my other reply, I've been told I can't take anything herbal or drink tea :(
Hope you're feeling well today :)
Thanks again

[yorkylover]

Hi again,I have been told you cant take certain herbal things while on medication.Check out the side affects with your gp,give you piece of mind.You may need it changing.The fact he told you the side affects probably didnt help you,you seem very anxious pet.PA's are scarey,I know,especially the first one.If you havent used the drops for a week,then it sounds more like anxiety.
Iv had attacks in the surgey,if this happens to me I tell the receptionist and they put me in a room away from the waiting room.They usually are pretty good and understanding.;)

Ellen XX

[nomorepanic]

Hi and welcome aboard. Hope you get some great support here.

Here are some posts for you to read...

Propranolol

Propranolol ?? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4447)

Propranolol (Inderal) (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=172)

Propranolol help please (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2271)

new to propranolol (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6891)

Doc just prescribed Propranolol to start new job (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6629)

Propranolol and Alcohol? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3756)

Changing Medication to Propranolol ? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2163)

propranolol (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7215)

Inderal - Beta Blockers (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=896)

Inderal/propanolol - side effects? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=352)

i have been put on propranolol (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=12382)




Nicola

[Bright Eyes]

<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Hi and welcome aboard. Hope you get some great support here.

Here are some posts for you to read...


Nicola

<div align="right">Originally posted by nomorepanic - 29 September 2006 : 19:18:21</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

Hi Nicola
Thank you for the links to the posts about beta blockers .. it's cheered me up a bit because I was feeling pretty low beforehand ..
I'm on day 3 of taking them today (40 mg x 3 per day) and I must be honest, I have felt really ill almost all day .. I think the side effects are really kicking in now :(
I'm going to persevere with them, but I'm praying that I'll feel a bit better tomorrow, because i don't know how long I can cope with feeling so bad, it is really getting me down :( (My head is so bad, plus I've been feeling very sick)
I'm taking them for PAs, but also because my BP was so high when the doctor took it .. I had a PA while waiting to see the nurse who was checking the BP ..
Anyway, sorry to sound so negative, it was so nice to read how well everyone else seems to have got on with these tablets .. I hope I'm going to get lucky :)

[clickaway]

Just wanted to say "Welcome", Bright Eyes.

Love the name, and it's nice to see you are getting help here already.

Take Care,


Ray


http://www.anxietyrelease.org.uk/

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
~Mark Sanders and Tia Sillers

[manmoor]

Hi Bright Eyes,

A big warm welcome to you.

Take Care

Mandyxx

[wobily_lin]

Hi Bright Eyes,

A big warm welcome to the site. You will find great support on here.

Take care,

Lin.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[trac67]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum, you will get a lot of good advice here and make some new friends.

Take care

Trac xx

'Live your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten'

[Bright Eyes]

Hi again :)
Thanks to everyone for your lovely supportive messages .. One thing I've discovered already about PA/anxiety sufferers is that they're a really nice bunch of people :)

[Granny Primark]

Hi Bright eyes,

Welcome to the site.
Ive taken betablockers for 21 years for high b/pressure.
I take 4 b/p tabs a day. But last year i was taken off the betablockers and given another tab instead.
A couple of months after i had my first panic attack.
I never knew they were also prescribed for panic. Consequently I am now back on them. I do wonder if that stupid doctor hadnt stopped me taking them i wonder never have started suffering with panic and anxiety.

Im really glad youve found this site Bright eyes, your are so right when you say about the members on this site, they really are a great bunch of people.

Take care
LYNN xx

[scoobygirl2005]

Hi.

Welcome to the forum. You will find lots of help and support here and make some new friends too!

Scooby2005
x x