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Issues with hypokalemia: Can't tell if I'm having panic attacks or low potassium issues?

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Brodolo
Brodolo

Hello everyone, this is my first post here. I'm hoping to get some help with some issues with anxiety and hypokalemia (low potassium levels).

For background, I have anxiety, OCD, and depression. I have been working with a psychiatrist on changing medications from Zoloft since September. I recently started on a starting dose of Prozac (10mg) on November 2nd (a little over a week ago), and I have been on 100mg of Wellbutrin for about a month now . I have been on 300mg of Seroquel for about two years now. My anxiety has been very bad since ending Zoloft, which is why my psych has started me on Prozac in addition to Wellbutrin. I also have semi-frequent panic attacks.

So, on Tuesday night (about 4 days ago) I had taken my 300mg of Seroquel at 11:00pm and felt a bit jittery and couldn't go to sleep, which was very strange for me. Around 12:10am I got up for a third time to go to the bathroom when my heartrate suddenly spiked to 168 bpm. I called my mom to come over and sat down, which brought my heartrate down to 146 bpm. It did not feel like any panic attack I ever had. I felt sick, lightheaded, out of breath, like I was going to pass out. I ended up calling 911 because I felt like it was something weird with my heart. For background, my mom has bad atrial fibrillation and my symptoms were identical to an afib attack, so I really didn't want to take any chances.

The responders came and said my EKG was normal and my heart rate went down to 120bpm. They said it was just a panic attack. I got up to go to the bathroom and my heartrate spiked again. At that point, I asked if I could go to the ER because I did not feel normal at all. I felt somewhat normal once I was in the ambulance, which is when I thought maybe it was a panic attack after all. I got blood work done and EKG tests and they said the only thing that was off was my potassium levels, which were at 3.3 when they should be between 3.5 and 5.0. So, it was only barely low. They said it can causes heart palpitations and irregular heart beats, but I was also having a panic attack which made it worse. Told me to eat more potassium-rich foods. They also told me that my Prozac could have something to do with that, so I should contact my psychiatrist. I have since been taken off Prozac by my psychiatrist and I have an appointment with him on November 21st.

Since then, I have had issues with anxiety and physical symptoms. For example, on Friday when I was at work, I took a physical nosedive during a meeting where I got light-headed, sick, dizzy, headache, etc. and I went home for the day. This happened at about 2:30pm. Yesterday (Saturday) I had been feeling completely normal until 4:00pm when I went to lunch with my family. Again, I took a physical nosedive with the same symptoms: 130bpm, light-headed, headache, panicked feeling and had to leave immediately. My heartrate has been high pretty much all day, everyday (in the 90 to 110 bpm range). I seem to get bad around the 4 to 5 pm and get better around 8pm. The thing is, I have no idea if this is psychological or physical. I have zero clue whether these attacks are panic attacks or potentially issues with low potassium.

So, after that huuuuge block of text, I have a few questions:

  • Does Prozac cause issues with hypokalemia? Will being off it reduce these symptoms? If so, when can I expect to see improvements?
  • Does hypokalemia cause anxiety issues? Are these any links between low potassium and anxiety?
  • Can panic attacks cause these physical symptoms I'm having? I've never had these symptoms with panic attacks before.
  • Has anyone else experienced this kind of thing before?

I am seeking advice because I can't contact either my doctor or psychiatrist until tomorrow. These symptoms are making my life extremely hard and I have been non-functioning.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • vicky60291
    vicky60291 Brodolo

    Posted

    Hi , yes low potassium causes a lot of symptoms including panic attacks , anxiety , heart palpitations , dizziness , headaches , numbness , blurred vision , shortness of breath , tingling /vibration of the muscles , spikes of the heart rate . Just to name a few . I would go ahead a talk ti your dr tomorrow .. I was on prozac but had to stop as it made me worse . Best wishes to you

  • Shepherd514
    Shepherd514 Brodolo

    Posted

    just returned from the emergency room last night. yesterday my heart was pounding out of my chest, my blood pressure was high and i was freaking out. after almost 24 hours of tests the doctors said i was having an anxiety attack and sent me home. It was my second time going to the ER in a year for this and returning home with this diagnosis was extremely frustrating. However, on the way out of the hospital the nurse handed me my paperwork and said . . ,"the only thing that wasn't normal was your Potassium levels. They were extremely low". Thank God for that nurse! Following My last visit to the hospital for this my Potassium levels were extremely low. I bought a Potassium supplement and am eating things like spinach and avocados. so far i feel OK. i anticipate some set backs but hopefully this course of action will pay off.

    For some back ground . . . i have NEVER experienced this kind of anxiety/heart rate issue before. I am a retired Navy pilot and have dealt with a ton of stress in my life without this kind of anxiety. Hoping that Potassium supplementation will work.

  • seigan
    seigan Brodolo

    Edited

    (Male, 28, France)

    Thank you, this is the first thread I find about anxiety-induced hypokalemia, which I seem to also have.

    Last year, out of nowhere, I started having severe panic attack episodes (chest pain, heart rate over 130 with palpitations, numb limbs). I went to the ER a dozen times for this and half the times they only detect low Potassium levels in my blood (between 2.5 and 3.5 mmol/L).

    I've been taking Potassium supplements (Diffu-K) for 9 months, and I also eat a lot of banana chips. It has made my life better (fewer episodes) but I'm always flirting with the lower Potassium limit (3.5-3.8 every month).

    Contrary to what I can read everywhere, my attacks last between 1 and 4 hours and not just 20 mins.

    Out of the 6 specialists I consulted, no one could tell me where my Potassium is vanishing (stool and urine levels are OK) and whether it is the cause or the consequence of my attacks. On the one hand, a Psychiatrist told me it's impossible for a panic attack to induce hypokalemia, on the other hand an Internist explained that it is possible if I hyperventilate during the attack. I'm 100% sure that I don't hyperventilate during attacks though, my relatives witnessing me during those could confirm.

    So it's been over a year and the only leads I'm given are genetic diseases : Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (negative) or Gitelman syndrome (waiting for the results).

    @Brodolo, @Shepherd514 : I would be interested to know how your symptoms evolved ?

  • jen02920
    jen02920 Brodolo

    Posted

    My son has hypokalemia and yesterday he had a terrible panic attack. His hands froze he was hyperventilating. They told me the hyperventalating can cause the low potassium,something about it changing into the cells.

  • stephanie33184
    stephanie33184 Brodolo

    Posted

    Hi, I know this post is 2 years ago but I couldn't believe it when I read someone had the same problem I do because it's just not taken seriously. I was having major panic attacks 2 years ago. I went to the urgent care (my psychiatrist moved to Texas) so kind of on my own ever since. Why I'm having a problem finding a psychiatrist that's a whole other story. Anyway, they did some blood work and my potassium was 2.7. I never knew I had a potassium problem and after going to urgent care 4 or 5 times with low potassium, the doctor finally tells me I could have my kidneys leaking out potassium but as long as I'm stable with the Klor con 20 mq it's okay. I had a normal potassium reading after taking the Klor con for over a year and eating sometimes as many as 3 bananas a day. I agree with the prozac having something to do with it. I have been on a prozac and Wellbutrin combo for 15 years and used to work great until I started having potassium issues. Now, it does bring on panic attacks although I take a teeny- weeny dosage for energy and my OCD. I have to open the capsules and take some out.

    I was hoping someone might be able to share some other reasons you could develop hypokalemia. I still have a problem with it the tablets mess up my stomach and I have nausea all day. I need to take zofran.

    I take a potassium pill when I'm having a panic attack and it actually subsides. I know this all sounds strange to people who have never experienced it.

    My hope is you are doing well now and have been able to find help.

    When I finally convinced a doctor to send me to a kidney specialist, my potassium came out normal so I don't know what the problem is and may never know.

    If there is anybody out there reading this... I thank you and I wish the best to everyone who has had this problem or currently has this problem. Take Care

    • grant74130
      grant74130 stephanie33184

      Posted

      hi im 25 i also had these problems almost

      identical symptoms as you all, 2-3 ago i came down with the flu i was put on antibiotics too clear the infection, while being on antibiotics for about a week i had these same problems out of nowhere i had tingling in my nose which lead to my lips and stomach also arms and hands , i do have a problem with anxiety and i found it off too have a random panic/ anxiety attack out of nowhere because the feeling was a bit different in a way , later on i found out i was low on potassium and magnesium , antibiotics deplete vitamins from your body including potassium ,magnesium and calcium all things your nerves need to generate the body, I'm not a doctor but i thought id put it out there that antibiotics can cause this issue for anyone who's had this problem and also has been put on antibiotics during the time of having these issues, i recently just got my wisdom teeth pulled and was put on antibiotics again and im currently dealing with this same problem as before low potassium , so for anyone that might be asking what else could cause this perscription antibiotics could be your problem , for anyone whos nervous eat alots of fruit and dont worry your body will work it all out for you !

    • lian40919
      lian40919 stephanie33184

      Posted

      i was told when my potassium was 2.8 that hyperventilating can cause the low potassium. do you know what your blood Ph was when your potassium was 2.7?

  • lian40919
    lian40919 Brodolo

    Edited

    i was told when my potassium was 2.8 that hyperventilating can cause the low potassium.

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