Anyone with this defect? Strattera seems to make mine worse-since upping to 40mg. Chest pain all day. This is also a warning on the prescribing information. Stopping the Strattera like the product info sheet states to do and calling the doctor on Tuesday. Immediately isn't possible on weekends!

Anxiety and panic attacks are a common feature of the defect too. Sometimes stimulants can make those worse.

So, this is a conundrum of diagnosing and treatment of multiple conditions for me now. However, I did not notice the chest pain with stims like Concerta. Paxil is excellent for panic disorder, even that caused by Mitral Valve Prolapse. So I may ask for a trial of that and stop taking the Trazodone that interacts with SSRI's-at least for me.

Printing out what I researched to take to the doctor and making an appointment with my internist.

I the meantime, treating it with lots of fluids, magnesium, salt-intake, things I did the last time my MVP presented life-interrupting symptoms. I have been symptom free for years, but major life changes and high stress can trigger recurrances. It can lead to heart attack or other complications-so I am a bit worried and need to get on top of this right away. At least I am understanding what is going on now and don't feel like I am a nutcase!

If you have MVP, share your story here.

Mitral Valve Prolapse HEY RADDMOM WOULD YOU EXPAINE WHAT IT MEANS SO I CAN UNDERSTAND IT.. AS FOR PAKINY ACCTACITS I TAKE BETT BLOCKERS MYSELF THEY WORK WELL.....WITH ANT ASICDS TO CLAIM TUMMY AND I ADVOIED 90%THINGS THAT STRESS ME OUT SO I HAVE LESSS PAINK ACCTS FOR A FEW YEARS....AND WAS ALL THE TIME 15 TO 20TIMES A DAY SO I HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.....TAKEING TIME FOR YOUR SELF ALSO HELPS AS! WITH THE STREEES AT YOUR WORK AT THIS TIME WILL NOT HELP!!! CUT THAT DWON WITH WHAT YOUR DOING AND IT SHOULD HELP ALSO WORKING HARD WITH CUTING E NUMBERS OUTER.... FOOD! YOU BE SEPIAUSED HOW MUCH THIS HELPS AND COS LIKE ALL DRUGS AS WELL THAT YOUR ON WILL HAVE SAID EFFCTS WITCH WONT HELP... THERES NO EASY WAY AROUND THESE TRHINGS BUT LOOKING INTO IT WILL HELP..... IF YOU WENT TO KNOW MORE HOW I HLPE MYSELF WITH THINGS LIKE THAT RADDMOM AS A FREIND NOT AS DOTOCTER ... SMILESS THEN PM ANYTIME HUN!.........

YOU KEEP SAVE AN KNOW YOU HAVE FREINDS HERE WHO CARE AN ALLWAYS THERE

DORMY

Hi VI, If you can't reach your, doctor you can always go to the ER if the chest pains continue -- sounds pretty scary. I know you've been under a lot of stress. And unfortunately, sometimes meds can make conditions worse. My personal theory is that meds that are constantly in your system might be harder on the body in some ways than regular stimulents -- at least your body has a bit of down with with them. Who knows -- please check it out tomorrow with your doctor!!! I don't want anything happening to you!


Take very good care!
Scattered

Thanks Scattered! I had a great reply, then the computer went down-darn Bill Gates and MS Office!

I am better. Stopped the Strattera like the label says and am calling 2 docs tomorrow! Amazing since I treated the MVP with fluids, salt intake, magnesium-no anxiety or just a tiny bit. Huge, huge, huge change from the last few weeks.

I have been dehydrated at work-probably the physical reason for the emotions and feeling of being unwell that wouldn't go away. The high heart rate was the big clue that is helping me straighten this whole dx conundrum out! Took Concerta today-no problemos at all, no panic or anything. First time in a long time to not have any anxiety!

ME

Hiya,

Yup, I understand that MVP (mitral valve prolapse) can cause Panic Attacks.

Have you had:
(a) EKG?
(b) Cardiac Echo? {ask if this is needed; i can't say}

NB. This is all the information I can give. I only got a "B" in my 4th Year Critical Care Nursing. No post-grad cardiac courses.

My Mom has very mild MVP and so does my little Shih-Tzu, Chewie. (The latter's is a 5/5 murmur & she takes 2 heart meds.) :S

I'm glad you're taking care of yourself and feeling better. Let us know what the doctor says.


Hugs,
Scattered

Thanks Scattered,

I sure hope they are in the office tomorrow, or it won't be until Tuesday. It always happens like this doesn't it?

ME

Yeah, I got thinking about it being President's Day. How is your heart feeling today? Any more pain?

Scattered

Scattered,

Rate is down to 80 and falling-Strattera half-life is slowly falling. With my back and neck pain it is sometimes hard to tell the two apart.

I am trying to get into my first psychiatrist who knows me very well and have a report sent to the fitness doctor. I also have a call into my gyn, sometimes they will do some primary care-I need an EKG and possibly and echo if the EKG shows anything. I have seen my gyn since 89 and he takes very good care of me all the time.

At least I know this is not psychiatric-even at its worst, I never had panic or emotional lability compared to the last few weeks. But the Strattera caused problems I never had on Concerta and ritalin together!

Taking magnesium and out to store for some b vitamins too. Also staying on my xanax until this is resolved, it seems to help quite a bit too. Part of it is my nervousness that something has gotten worse-but that is most likely wrong-the sense of doom is part of mitral valve prolapse symptoms too.

Thanks for the ongoing concern and care, it truly means more than you know.

ME

Our bodies are amazing in how they sense something is wrong, even before it comes to our full consciousness of it. I'm glad your getting follow up care with this.

Strattera is actually a tricyclic anti depressant (which I didn't know until recently), but since it affects norepherine is can also help ADD. Seems to me, just from what I've observed here that while it works great for a few people, I see a lot less happy customers on Strattera than on the stimulents.

McTavish, a psychologist who specialized in treating kids with ADD and who used to post here a lot was actually hospitalized with a bad reaction to Strattera. I think it affected his blood pressure or something like that.

Hope things continue to improve as it leaves your system. Me being ADD, I hate having anything in my system that isn't out within 12 hours! When I was on Prozac and had a bad reaction, it seems like forever until I was clear of the stuff.

Take care,
Scattered

I see my old psychiatrist tomorrow. I need a second opinion anyways and he knows me really well. If I was working, I could not do this. So, thanks boss! He is a really good guy, I thought he had retired!

I know he will get a report out to the fitness for duty doctor without delay. Plus, he admires me, understands the school system-it sucks, and knows I am an intelligent, rational, stable, human being who is honest and open about what is going on in my life!

That's great that you got into see your old doctor -- you need someone who respects you in your corner -- isn't it funny how things that looked bad can turn out to be blessings.


Hugs,
Scattered

I am glad too. He is a really comfy man, like old slippers. So kind and understanding.

My heart rate is way down! Strattera must be out of system. The ache in my chest is almost gone. STill have some anxiety though. Hate that part of MVP-it happens for no real reason. I have been through some really bad stress before without all the anxiety/panic attacks several times before. So I know this is MVP and anxiety together. What a relief!

Fought off a headache today, probably the result of the high heart rate and weather. Also forgot that I took sudafed pe too, that was a double whammy that no one warned me about. Don't combine sudaphed of any kind with strattera without consulting a doc or pharmacist.

Dr. D will know what meds to put me on for anxiety and ADD that do not aggravate my heart. He will listen and I will leave feeling well taken care of and understood. It is nice to know that. I will have him send a report to my new pdoc. Don't know if I will go back to him though.

Scattered, I really do appreciate your checking in on me. It means more than I can say in words.

ME

Your welcome! Have a good appointment! I'm very glad you're feeling better. I hope the anxiety eases soon. Between ADD and anxiety, I'll take ADD any day -- anxiety is miserable!


Have a wonderful day!:)
Scattered

Great appointment! Cleared by this doc to go back to work! Yeah! One more to go! Also sending letter to school stating that I have ADD and need 3 specific accommodations. Especially technology that allows me to use my assistive devices!

He agreed with the Strattera problem and upped my xanax to 2 1mg does during the day and .5 in the evening-just while I get through this situation. It really helps. I stay on my usual Concerta/Ritalin dosage! Don't have to see him until early April. That is how stable he considers me to be!

Yes, ADD over panic anyday! He also said, of course you are having panic attacks and crying due to the stress and treatment I am receiving. Guess what? I AM NORMAL-as it gets! Will stay with this doctor like I should have all the time.

No more crying, I am empowered, know my rights, and found out that HR is understanding and responsive to my needs.

When I go back to work I don't know, but it is the best gift the principal could give me. Had I stayed, he could have broken me down even more. This has strengthened me. Sometimes evil backfires. Don't you love it?

ME

That is really great news!!!:D This doctor definately sounds like a keeper -- maybe we can clone him and share him with others whose psy doctors are not as up on how ADD and stress can affect one!


Glad you hear you feeling empowered!

Take good care,
Scattered

Thanks Scattered!

He also gave me clearance to return to work.

Carnitine is one thing to consider.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=351712

Taurine may help too.

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/304/3/129

Thanks, will look into it. Magnesium is the best thing I have found to date other than hydration and walking!

ME

Magnesium can treat some types of MVP but, it's always important to consult with a doc when taking them as too much or too little can make it worse. Most times taking calcium in the correct dosage to even the magnesium out and vice-versa is very important.

Glad to here this is working well for you. I've dealth with that for quite a long time and always wanted to try Magnesium to help treat it and maybe even help with the ADD.

Few months late on this but, there ya go. :-D

D